Portable rail ticket dispensing machines

kizzyboi · 30th June 2012, 17:00

Hi guys,
I got on a train at Bearsted, Kent going up to London Victoria.
I hadn't got a ticket because its an unmanned station and its permit to travel machine didnt work.
As i got on the train i made myself known to the conductor so he was aware i needed a ticket.
He came down the train and i went to pay for my ticket by my Debit Card knowing i had the cash on my card to pay for it.
My card was declined.
Tried again.
Again it was declined.
So the Conductor told me to wait till i get to my station.
As i got of the Train at London Victoria i got stopped by revenue protection officers who penalty fared me for not having a ticket.
I explained and they said they didnt care.
I have since appealed the decision and won the case.
But im just wondering if anyone else has had this problem before because the card machines on trains decline a card.

GadgetMan · 30th June 2012, 17:16

Cards getting declined on board is very common indeed as some cards won't allow offline transactions. You were incorrectly penalty fared and rightly had your appeal upheld.

kizzyboi · 30th June 2012, 17:32

To a point i could understand why i was penalty fared because i had no ticket to travel but he wouldnt even let me try to buy a ticket at victoria

island · 30th June 2012, 17:34

Sounds like the right outcome in the end.

There are multiple threads about Visa debit cards which don't behave well offline.

kizzyboi · 30th June 2012, 17:39

i did find it abit odd because ive never had this problem before

Brucey · 30th June 2012, 18:31

When I lived in Bristol and used to buy at the gateline, I always started off: "Hi, I've just arrived from Redland which doesn't have a ticket machine and would like to buy x". Prevented any stupid questions or threats of penalty fares and always worked a treat.

ian13 · 30th June 2012, 18:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brucey

When I lived in Bristol and used to buy at the gateline, I always started off: "Hi, I've just arrived from Redland which doesn't have a ticket machine and would like to buy x". Prevented any stupid questions or threats of penalty fares and always worked a treat.

Bristol Temple Meads staff are pretty good with issuing from local stations (as they should be!)

Regarding card payment, it's not your fault that the machine didn't like your card* - you should have been offered the chance to pay at your destination, and not penalty fared. Pleased to hear your appeal was upheld.

*Some Visa Debit cards, don't allow for 'offline' transactions, or impose unknown limits as to quantity. Additionally, sometimes they just reject for no apparent reason.

sonic2009 · 30th June 2012, 19:19

I don't believe the OP was incorrectly given a Penalty Fare at the time. ( Although i could be wrong)

Bearsted has self service ticket machines, also it depends what time of day the OP was travelling and on what day.

http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk...formation/BSD/

Robinson · 30th June 2012, 19:22

deleted - as I misread the post.

34D · 30th June 2012, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic2009

I don't believe the OP was incorrectly given a Penalty Fare at the time. ( Although i could be wrong)

Bearsted has self service ticket machines, also it depends what time of day the OP was travelling and on what day.

http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk...formation/BSD/

Once the guard has offered the full range of tickets, I would suggest that later staff can not then go back a stage - I could also be wrong.

30th June 2012, 17:00	#1
kizzyboi Noob Member Join Date: 18 Jun 2012 Location: Ashford, Uk Posts: 14	Portable rail ticket dispensing machines Hi guys, I got on a train at Bearsted, Kent going up to London Victoria. I hadn't got a ticket because its an unmanned station and its permit to travel machine didnt work. As i got on the train i made myself known to the conductor so he was aware i needed a ticket. He came down the train and i went to pay for my ticket by my Debit Card knowing i had the cash on my card to pay for it. My card was declined. Tried again. Again it was declined. So the Conductor told me to wait till i get to my station. As i got of the Train at London Victoria i got stopped by revenue protection officers who penalty fared me for not having a ticket. I explained and they said they didnt care. I have since appealed the decision and won the case. But im just wondering if anyone else has had this problem before because the card machines on trains decline a card.

30th June 2012, 19:19	#8
sonic2009 The Secret Warrior Established Member Join Date: 19 Jan 2010 Location: Atherstone Posts: 3,022	I don't believe the OP was incorrectly given a Penalty Fare at the time. ( Although i could be wrong) Bearsted has self service ticket machines, also it depends what time of day the OP was travelling and on what day. http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk...formation/BSD/ __________________ I'm a Real Human, as well as a Cartoon Character Last edited by sonic2009; 30th June 2012 at 19:25.

30th June 2012, 19:22	#9
Robinson Member Join Date: 1 Aug 2010 Location: Southampton Posts: 491	deleted - as I misread the post. __________________ "This train, Faith will be rewarded" - Bruce Springsteen. www.facebook.com/keir.robinson318

30th June 2012, 17:16	#2
GadgetMan Member Join Date: 9 Jan 2012 Posts: 639	Cards getting declined on board is very common indeed as some cards won't allow offline transactions. You were incorrectly penalty fared and rightly had your appeal upheld.

30th June 2012, 17:32	#3
kizzyboi Noob Member Join Date: 18 Jun 2012 Location: Ashford, Uk Posts: 14	To a point i could understand why i was penalty fared because i had no ticket to travel but he wouldnt even let me try to buy a ticket at victoria

30th June 2012, 17:34	#4
island I'm from M390 Established Member Join Date: 30 Dec 2010 Location: SE12 Posts: 5,602	Sounds like the right outcome in the end. There are multiple threads about Visa debit cards which don't behave well offline.

30th June 2012, 17:39	#5
kizzyboi Noob Member Join Date: 18 Jun 2012 Location: Ashford, Uk Posts: 14	i did find it abit odd because ive never had this problem before

30th June 2012, 18:31	#6
Brucey Just a Passenger Member Join Date: 7 Jan 2010 Posts: 458	When I lived in Bristol and used to buy at the gateline, I always started off: "Hi, I've just arrived from Redland which doesn't have a ticket machine and would like to buy x". Prevented any stupid questions or threats of penalty fares and always worked a treat.