Buying tickets on train when TOD machine won't accept cash.

[TUC]

The TOD machine at Selby has had the coin slot marked as out of order and been card-only for the last couple of years. It is likely not the only station with this issue. The Conditons of Carriage refer to the need to have a ticket before you board a train unless the ticket office is closed and there are no self-service machines in full working order, and also that in most cases only full fare tickets will be sold on the train.

Given that a machine is not in full working order if its cash slot is broken, could a passenger, regardless of whether they were paying by cash, decide to buy a ticket on the train, with discounts where appropriate, where a station's TODs are not accepting cash?

 

[Merseysider]

I fail to see how a Byelaw offence could be avoided if the opportunity to pay by card was provided, and this opportunity was ignored in order to pay on board.

If the machine does not accept cash and cash is the only available payment method available to the passenger, then they are entitled to the full range, with discounts, if paying by cash on board.

 

[yorkie]

I concur with JakeF

The TOD machine at Selby has had the coin slot marked as out of order and been card-only for the last couple of years. It is likely not the only station with this issue. The Conditons of Carriage refer to the need to have a ticket before you board a train unless the ticket office is closed and there are no self-service machines in full working order, and also that in most cases only full fare tickets will be sold on the train.

Given that a machine is not in full working order if its cash slot is broken, could a passenger, regardless of whether they were paying by cash, decide to buy a ticket on the train, with discounts where appropriate, where a station's TODs are not accepting cash?

If a passenger is paying by cash, then clearly there is no opportunity to purchase from Selby if the ticket office is closed and no machine takes cash.

Obviously a passenger who is paying by Rail Travel Voucher (RTV) would also not have an opportunity to pay if the ticket office is closed.

However I disagree with "regardless of whether they were paying by cash".

A passenger who is paying by debit/credit card would be required to use the machine, as that method of payment is available.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

A passenger who is paying by debit/credit card would be required to use the machine, as that method of payment is available.

Isn't this a previous debate? If you have a debit or credit card in your possession are you compelled to use it? You might not wish to if you are at its credit or overdraft limit or wish to retain the existing limit for some other purchase.

 

[najaB]

Isn't this a previous debate? If you have a debit or credit card in your possession are you compelled to use it? You might not wish to if you are at its credit or overdraft limit or wish to retain the existing limit for some other purchase.

Yes, it was a previous debate, which went on for some time. The majority of posters agreed that if your intent was to pay with cash, you weren't obliged to pay with a card.

 

[yorkie]

Isn't this a previous debate? If you have a debit or credit card in your possession are you compelled to use it? You might not wish to if you are at its credit or overdraft limit or wish to retain the existing limit for some other purchase.

It was a previous debate but its obvious to all but a small minority that a passenger wishing to pay by an accepted payment method (in this case cash) is entitled to do so.

You are absolutely right there is no compulsion to pay by card and I'm informed the rail industry will clarify that is the case in due course. This should stop that small minority making claims to the contrary.

 

[D6975]

The machines by the car park at Temple Meads had their cash payment facility withdrawn a while ago due to the number of attempted break-ins. I suspect that many other places are doing the same.

 

[Failed Unit]

The machines by the car park at Temple Meads had their cash payment facility withdrawn a while ago due to the number of attempted break-ins. I suspect that many other places are doing the same.

Most of scotrails are card only.