Why do some people begrudge showing their ticket?

[Dave1987]

I think what amazes me is how many ppl who have been caught fair evading in one capacity or another think the person catching them is being a jobs worth/rude/inconsiderate etc

 

[Flamingo]

I've had somebody screaming at me how he was going to write to customer services and see me fired - as he was being hauled, handcuffed, down the platform at Paddington. The magistrate did him for fare evasion and assault.

 

[theboywho]

Going off thread for a moment, it wasn't until I started working on the railway that I realised there are so many rude and unreasonable people out there, who think the world owes them a living, think they know all their rights, but will not accept that they have any responsibilities (be that only occupying one seat on busy trains, keeping to the T&C they accepted when deciding to travel and buy that ticket, or indeed, showing their ticket when asked to in a calm and reasonable manner).

That is because we live in a world marred with selfishness and pride. This attitude is especially prevalent among those who commute to London. I am absolutely flabbergasted by the attitude of the commuting majority, who appear to be under the belief that season ticket prices should be unreasonably low priced.

We can thank the likes of the BBC for giving airtime to these people and sensationalising ordinary economic issues.

 

[Starmill]

Wow. I can't tell you how surprised I am at this whole "London Commuter vs RPI/guard" thing. I had no idea this was such a battleground. I've been on 3 "bashing" days out in the capital and not had sight nor sound of a single RPI, be them TfL, FCC, SO, SE, SWT or LM. Haven't seen a single guard either, but that could just be because I was on DOO trains, I'm hopeless at which-are-which.

Obviously... these were weekend trips... is it just that nobody cares enough to employ RPIs at the weekend?

For god's sake, I've now made two AP returns with Virgin and NO CHECK by the TM (nor at Manchester, obviously, so my only check was the manual at Euston, and then only on boarding!).

Guess you learn summat new every day, cos I am now almost begging for a real person to ask to look at my ticket!

 

[Flamingo]

Most commuters are OK, but given the numbers involved, a small percentage will be a large number (if you get what I mean).

They are creatures of habit, though, and will always want to stand / sit in the same place. Which is why I have to sometimes (politely but firmly) tell them to leave the first class vestibules as some will stand in First Class even when there is several hundred empty seats on the train.

On occasions, this has resulted in letters complaining about how rude I was, and demanding my immediate dismissal for gross misconduct - usually from some arrogant SOB who doesn't want to be told.

I have had several letters complaining about my "rudeness" over my career. None of them have ever been upheld. My favorite was from one gentleman in who I had found in First Class with no ticket at all who was refusing to purchase one (he was demanding my dismissal), which was followed by several from the First Class passengers sitting around him which praised my professional handling of a difficult customer. So I suppose "rudeness" is a matter of perspective.

 

[AndyLandy]

I have had several letters complaining about my "rudeness" over my career. None of them have ever been upheld. My favorite was from one gentleman in who I had found in First Class with no ticket at all who was refusing to purchase one (he was demanding my dismissal), which was followed by several from the First Class passengers sitting around him which praised my professional handling of a difficult customer. So I suppose "rudeness" is a matter of perspective.

I suspect that falls into the point I made earlier. Some people expect staff in a customer-facing service role to be totally obsequious. "Yes sir. No sir. Three bags full, sir" and if you're anything less than that, they'll accuse you of being outright rude and obnoxious, even when you're being totally reasonable. If you aren't acquiescing to their every whim, you're an rude, obstructive jobsworth idiot who doesn't deserve to have a job.

You get customers like that in retail occasionally, but I can imagine the problem is a whole lot worse on the railways.

 

[Dennis C]

On occasions, this has resulted in letters complaining about how rude I was, and demanding my immediate dismissal for gross misconduct - usually from some arrogant SOB who doesn't want to be told.

What is a SOB?

 

[Flamingo]

An American expression, implying their mother was of canine extraction...

 

[AlexS]

The unfortunate part of working on the railway is that sometimes you are required to enforce rules and regulations that some people present, whether customers or criminals who decide the law doesn't apply to them, do not like.

If someone is running for a moving HST pulling out of the platform and going to grab the door handle, I won't politely say 'please stand clear, sir'. I'll bellow at the top of my lungs to get back, and add a please if I have time to think about it. The result isn't intended to please the passenger, it's intended to shock them into an immediate response to remove them from an unsafe position. If they don't like it afterwards, then I generally explain myself, but won't apologise, as they're putting themselves in a position that is unsafe.

Equally, if someone is a fare evader, or committing a byelaw offence (refusing to stop smoking etc) or trying to breach the Vagrancy Act then it becomes more about enforcing the rules than advising and assisting them, up to and including having said individual dragged off the premises, which again, they don't tend to like.

However dealing with legitimate, annoyed passengers in the case of for example delays or poor service provision, should never be met with rudeness on the part of the employee - you can always walk away which may be seen as rudeness, but is in reality defusing the situation.