What personal information should you give if stop by a Ticket Inspector?

[Jan Mayen]

Following on from another thread concerning use of the electoral roll in identification, I was wondering what information you should give if a ticket Inspecter (or RPI, or whatever the correct title is for someone who is reporting you for prosecution or Penalty Fare) asks for.
I can understand correct name and address, but if be wary of giving DoB, NI number and account numbers.
Do they in fact ever ask for anything more than name and address?

 

[bkhtele]

D of b, is also a legal requirement & is recordrd on penalty fare etc.

 

[221129]

D of b, is also a legal requirement & is recordrd on penalty fare etc.

No it isn't. The legal minimum is Name and Address.

 

[bkhtele]

Yes I think you are correct, just name & address. I do think they normally ask for d of b & there is a space to record it on penalty fare.

 

[221129]

The only information you are legally obliged to provide is name and address. Nothing else. However being uncooperative isn't likely to help you in achieving an out of court settlement should it be required.

 

[SteveM70]

How many people would be able to provide their NI number when stopped? Nowadays they’re not even accompanied by a credit card sized plastic card when they’re issued. Oddly enough I could, because it happens to be incredibly easy to remember, but I’d bet 99.9% of people couldn’t

 

[philthetube]

I am one of the 0.1% then,

Seriously more people know them now than a few years ago as since the driving licence counterfoil disappeared you need it to get a report of your endorsements etc,(have no idea what it is called) when hiring a car.

 

[Tallguy]

Following on from another thread concerning use of the electoral roll in identification, I was wondering what information you should give if a ticket Inspecter (or RPI, or whatever the correct title is for someone who is reporting you for prosecution or Penalty Fare) asks for.
I can understand correct name and address, but if be wary of giving DoB, NI number and account numbers.
Do they in fact ever ask for anything more than name and address?
Following on from another thread concerning use of the electoral roll in identification, I was wondering what information you should give ...

You give the information you are required to give under law - your name and address. And make sure you give your real name and address as giving false information is a further offence. An RPI, ticket inspector etc can ask for additional information but you do not have to supply it. Whilst the TOC may view that as you being un co-operative, they will not be able to use your disinclination to give additional information against you in court, although as others have said the TOC may see it as a reason not to settle out of court And to continue with a prosecution, although I have not seen any proof of that.

I remember watching an episode of The Tube on the tellybox a few years ago when a TFL RPI Or whoever asked someone he had stopped for not having a ticket to turn out his pockets, something that the RPI has absolutely no power to do and should never have asked.

If stopped give the information you are required to under law, give it truthfully and give nothing else in my book.

Moderator note: the discussion relating to buying the right ticket has been moved to: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...re-you-guaranteed-to-have-it-accepted.212698/

 

[Jan Mayen]

Thank you all for your replies.
I always travel with a ticket (unless boarding at somewhere like Gomshall which doesn't have ticket issueing facilities), however occasionally I get stopped and told my ticket is not valid.
Once at Hove, where I was told my Tonbridge - Portsmouth season wasn't valid for break of journey (it was, see other thread), another,on a London Bus, where I was told my season ticket photocard was not correct.
In both cases, they were sorted out at the time by being nice and polite. However, it struck me they could have gone down the penalty Fare route (even though the tickets were correct) hence my question.
Thanks again for the replies.

 

[bkhtele]

I am sure 99%+ of people are never asked to give even their name & address. It is good to be aware of your legal rights then you can choose your approach to achieve a good outcome for yourself

 

[philthetube]

You give the information you are required to give under law - your name and address. And make sure you give your real name and address as giving false information is a further offence. An RPI, ticket inspector etc can ask for additional information but you do not have to supply it. Whilst the TOC may view that as you being un co-operative, they will not be able to use your disinclination to give additional information against you in court, although as others have said the TOC may see it as a reason not to settle out of court And to continue with a prosecution, although I have not seen any proof of that.

It is highly unlikely that I will ever be in this situation as I always buy the correct ticket but if I was faced with this, I certainly wouldn’t be giving out bank details, NI numbers etc and yes I can remember both my NI and Driving licence numbers!

I remember watching an episode of The Tube on the tellybox a few years ago when a TFL RPI Or whoever asked someone he had stopped for not having a ticket to turn out his pockets, something that the RPI has absolutely no power to do and should never have asked.

If stopped give the information you are required to under law, give it truthfully and give nothing else in my book. Easy for me to say mind, I’ve never been stopped for having the wrong or no ticket. Nor will I ever be stopped for this as I always buy the correct ticket.

But to be blunt, if you buy the right ticket you‘ll have nothing to worry about.

I hate fare dodgers.

They can ask, they have no power to enforce.

 

[island]

You are, as mentioned above, required to provide your name and address to railway officers, nothing further. You do not need to supply date of birth, occupation, NI number, nor any ID. Nor do you need to produce or show your wallet or its contents. Nor stay around whilst a railway officer seeks to verify that the name and address you have provided is genuine.

Non-cooperation may result in the consequences of any breach that you have committed being magnified. But if you are certain you're in the right...

 

[SteveM70]

If this happened to me I’d give my name and address, and if I had it on me (I normally do) I’d show my driving licence as evidence. If they tried to note down the number of my licence I’d politely ask them to stop, the same if they asked for NI number, bank details etc

 

[scrapy]

It should be noted that train companies are under no obligation to offer penalty fares notices or unpaid fares notices so whilst there is no legal requirement to provide details other than name and address, failure to provide the details required on the notice or to sign it will probably result in a Travel Irregularity report and prosecution more likely.

 

[Anonymous10]

why am i so grateful i live on a small branchline which means i can still buy the ticket off the conductor