VOID VOID VOID from TVM

[Freddie]

Morning all,

I've had a search, but can't seem to find a definitive answer to this. Apologies if its in the wrong place.

I've noticed that quite often when I buy or collect tickets from a TVM, I also get a blank with VOID printed across the middle of it. Any idea why this is? Obviously, I see the point in printing VOID instead of just churning out blank stock, but what's the point in doing it at all?

Cheers,

Freddie

 

[Nick O. Teen]

Good morning Freddie; nice to know it's not just me up at silly o'clock!

I don't know the answer. I imagine it's all part of the pointless generation of paperwork that seems to go with the job...

 

[Ivo]

I can't say I know the answer either, although I would suspect that it would be printed should the ticket data accidentally be corrupted during printing (if that's actually possible). Tickets saying VOID and nothing else aren't as rare as many might think.

 

[bb21]

Reminds me of a Wessex conductor chucking out a load of "VOID" print-outs a few years back from his machine as it broke down. About 10 in total I think, the last few of which had very muddled prints.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Happy Birthday Ivo. Today? Yesterday? Been off a few days, not really noticed. Many happy returns. (Actually you mentioned a few days ago. Doh! )

And welcome Freddie. First post at 3.25am. Must be a record, of what I'm not too sure :grin:

 

[Freddie]

What about this pair, which Liverpool Lime St presented me with the other day?

Some kind of feed error, but you'd hope it'd notice. Then again, maybe that's why you get them, the machine suspects there's something wrong with the stock its printing on. Not a clue on the internals, but I'm guessing the only way for a ticket to go after the printhead is out into the collection slot, so it'd have to void it anyway.

Oh, and thanks bb21! I've been lurking a while, then curiosity got the better of me...

 

[LexyBoy]

They're for letting you out of the barrier at Birmingham New Street

 

[jopsuk]

I recently managed to get an actual blank from a TVM at Cambridge, most odd- though I think it may have been encoded on the magnetic strip as it was with a ticket which didn't work in the barriers.

 

[island]

I believe those are printer tests. But I could be wrong.

 

[LexyBoy]

I believe those are printer tests. But I could be wrong.

I think it's more likely to be when something goes wrong, e.g. the printer thinks the stock is misaligned or if the software tries to print a blank ticket.

I've come across TVMs which print a VOID with each ticket (coupon), so I assume that one of the two printers has something wrong with it.

I have a printer test ticket in one of my pockets, which is much more exciting than a VOID. I'll try and remember to scan it in when I get home.

 

[Geezertronic]

I would have thought that rather than chuck out a blank (which could effectively be used to "print" your own ticket), the machines chuck them out with void on them to make them unusable

 

[bb21]

I have a printer test ticket in one of my pockets, which is much more exciting than a VOID. I'll try and remember to scan it in when I get home.

Is that one with all the 1234567890, etc on?

 

[LexyBoy]

Is that one with all the 1234567890, etc on?

That's the one, AaBbCc etc. Apparently, it's not valid for travel.