cjohnson
Member
- Joined
- 3 Sep 2009
- Messages
- 597
A friend travelled from a London terminus at the weekend. Running late for a wedding, he didn't buy a ticket before boarding. Upon arrival at his destination station, he approached a member of staff at the ticket barriers offering to pay the fare due. The man at the barrier said that a penalty fare was now due as my friend had not purchased a ticket before his journey when there was an opportunity to do so. The penalty fare amount was in the region of £40-£50.
The staff member was beginning to write out the PF details on his pad. My friend, frustrated that he was already running late and at the length of time it was taking for the RPI to fill out the PF form, asked to be 'let off' due to the circumstances. The RPI then said that my friend could just hand over £20 to settle the matter and be on his way. The RPI pocketed the £20, issued no receipt, ticket or PF form, and let my friend through the ticket gates.
With the caveat that I wasn't present during the events above (but I have no reason to doubt my friend's story) that seems like pretty poor behaviour from the RPI. How easy is it to get away with such things and make an extra few quid on the sly every day? Should he raise the matter with the TOC concerned?
The staff member was beginning to write out the PF details on his pad. My friend, frustrated that he was already running late and at the length of time it was taking for the RPI to fill out the PF form, asked to be 'let off' due to the circumstances. The RPI then said that my friend could just hand over £20 to settle the matter and be on his way. The RPI pocketed the £20, issued no receipt, ticket or PF form, and let my friend through the ticket gates.
With the caveat that I wasn't present during the events above (but I have no reason to doubt my friend's story) that seems like pretty poor behaviour from the RPI. How easy is it to get away with such things and make an extra few quid on the sly every day? Should he raise the matter with the TOC concerned?