E ticket scan

[paul09871]

I had an e ticket which did not cover my full journey. I tried to scan it at the exit barrier and it seemed to not be working (not sure why and there wasn't an obvious error code). I was advised to have my ticket scanned by someone from the train operator and who was wearing a camera, and who was by the barrier.

He scanned my e ticket and asked me how I paid for an earlier part of the journey that was not on the ticket but that I made (I'm not sure how he knew). I think he could see that I did not scan the e ticket at the station shown on the ticket.

There wasn't a big scene but I left and got back on the train to another station. He said don't bother buying another ticket.

He did not take my name or ask me to pay a penalty fare. But he did scan my e ticket. What does this mean? Can the train operator investigate me from the scan the guy took?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@paul09871. Welcome to the forum. Obvious question is... Did you have valid, in date, tickets for the entirety of your journey, and purchased prior to travel? In other words, an additional ticket or tickets for the other part of your journey. And would you be able to prove that? If so, doubt you have anything much to worry about.

 

[drueberflug]

I had an e ticket which did not cover my full journey. I tried to scan it at the exit barrier and it seemed to not be working (not sure why and there wasn't an obvious error code). I was advised to have my ticket scanned by someone from the train operator and who was wearing a camera, and who was by the barrier.

He scanned my e ticket and asked me how I paid for an earlier part of the journey that was not on the ticket but that I made (I'm not sure how he knew). I think he could see that I did not scan the e ticket at the station shown on the ticket.

There wasn't a big scene but I left and got back on the train to another station. He said don't bother buying another ticket.

He did not take my name or ask me to pay a penalty fare. But he did scan my e ticket. What does this mean? Can the train operator investigate me from the scan the guy took?

First of all, while I do not wish to make accusations, it should be noted in general that short-faring is never a good idea, though using split tickets (which are totally legal and valid) may have the same outcome in this case.

However, I would say that you shouldn't worry about investigations in this case, but you are right that each ticket scan is normally logged.

 

[paul09871]

@paul09871. Welcome to the forum. Obvious question is... Did you have valid, in date, tickets for the entirety of your journey, and purchased prior to travel? In other words, an additional ticket or tickets for the other part of your journey. And would you be able to prove that? If so, doubt you have anything much to worry about.

.possibly I'm not sure what counts

 

[jfollows]

There is no requirement to scan a ticket, either at the starting point or at the end point of a journey. There are plenty of stations without barriers, and those that do often leave them open. The fact that a ticket hasn’t been scanned on entry or exit is not - in itself - a reason for a transgression of some sort.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

No I did not have a valid ticket.

If that's the case, then you may possibly be accused of short-faring. Which is the train operating company at the station you were briefly stopped at? Possible that they may now contact you.

They possibly might not, but if they do write to you, please come back on here for further advice.

 

[paul09871]

Sorry, I'm panicked. I should have said that when the person who scanned my ticket questioned me, I fumbled and notsure what I said

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Friday at 11:46 ==

If that's the case, then you may possibly be accused of short-faring. Which is the train operating company at the station you were briefly stopped at? Possible that they may now contact you.

not sure possible GTR or Southern

 

[AlterEgo]

Sorry, I'm panicked. I should have said that when the person who scanned my ticket questioned me, I fumbled and sort of admitted that I had another part of the journey.

I was also caught before and had to a huge fine which was some time ago.

Caught for what? How “huge” was the “fine”? Was this a Penalty Fare or a settlement following a report for prosecution?

 

[paul09871]

Caught for what? How “huge” was the “fine”? Was this a Penalty Fare or a settlement following a report for prosecution?

Ss

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Friday at 12:07 ==

@paul09871. Welcome to the forum. Obvious question is... Did you have valid, in date, tickets for the entirety of your journey, and purchased prior to travel? In other words, an additional ticket or tickets for the other part of your journey. And would you be able to prove that? If so, doubt you have anything much to worry about.

How long will it take usually for me to be contacted?

 

[drueberflug]

possible GTR or Southern

They're both the same company, Govia Thameslink Railway, nowadays.

Settlement.

As already said, I wouldn't worry in this specific case, but please, do not short-fare ever again, I wouldn't be too sure whether GTR would be willing to settle again if you were to be caught.

 

[paul09871]

They're both the same company, Govia Thameslink Railway, nowadays.


As already said, I wouldn't worry in this specific case, but please, do not short-fare ever again, I wouldn't be too sure whether GTR would be willing to settle again if you were to be caught.

Thank you, yes of course. It was stupid and panicked situation but I don't go into details.

May I ask why you think that this won't be pursued?

 

[drueberflug]

Thank you, yes of course. It was stupid and panicked situation but I don't go into details.

May I ask why you think that this won't be pursued?

They'd normally interview you under caution if they would want to pursue that, but you've said the following yourself:

He did not take my name or ask me to pay a penalty fare.

 

[John R]

.possibly I'm not sure what counts

It’s not a difficult question. Did you or didnt you have tickets that covered your full journey.

If the ticket you presented to the barrier was from a known station used for short faring, it’s quite likely that the rail company had programmed it to reject it and have the ticket checked manually, especially if it’s somewhere where contactless would usually be used for a journey between the two stations.

 

[paul09871]

They'd normally interview you under caution if they would want to pursue that, but you've said the following yourself:

But by scanning my e ticket he would get all of my details as it's linked to my account?

He was also wearing a camera

 

[Haywain]

How long will it take usually for me to be contacted?

You may or may not be pursued, but if you are it will within normal timescales of up to around 6 weeks (but could be longer). As you are already on their records and have agreed a previous settlement it is not out of the question that they will follow this up. And, to be frank, as you have not learned from the previous settlement the uncertainty that you now have to deal with is not undeserved.

 

[paul09871]

You may or may not be pursued, but if you are it will within normal timescales of up to around 6 weeks (but could be longer). As you are already on their records and have agreed a previous settlement it is not out of the question that they will follow this up. And, to be frank, as you have not learned from the previous settlement the uncertainty that you now have to deal with is not undeserved.

I have learnt my lesson but please don't judge when you don't know the situation

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I have learnt my lesson but please don't judge when you don't know the situation

If you want best advice, just be upfront about it so that the forum experts (and I'm not including myself there) don't have to tease out any relevant information, such as you having come to the railway's attention before and having had to stump up a sizeable settlement. It also wasn't entirely clear in post #1 whether you'd been split ticketing (usually legit) or short-faring (very likely not).

 

[WesternLancer]

I have learnt my lesson but please don't judge when you don't know the situation

Best thing is for you to state the journey you were on and state the details of the tickets held or upload copies of them if possible. People here will then know their exact validity and which routes and trains they could be used on.

That would arm you with clear information you could use if you are contacted about this or indeed if it escalated in any way.

 

[GadgetMan]

There wasn't a big scene but I left and got back on the train to another station. He said don't bother buying another ticket.

He did not take my name or ask me to pay a penalty fare. But he did scan my e ticket. What does this mean? Can the train operator investigate me from the scan the guy took?

When you say he didn't take your details...

Did he let you through the barriers and continue your journey, or have you refused to co-operate, turned around and boarded another train to escape the interrogation?

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

Forum members are happy to assist you but we need to know the full pictuire rather than be drip-fed information. Specifically, we need to know:

- The stations you were travelling between
- The station where the incident took place
- Extactly what tickets you posessed
- Were any railcard discounts applied and, if they were, do you possess the appropriate railcard.
- Have you a history of travelling with tickets that don't cover your full journey?

To answer some more general questions:

I had an e ticket which did not cover my full journey.

That's a criminal offence and the train company is entitled to prosecute you in the Magistrates Court if they want to.

I tried to scan it at the exit barrier and it seemed to not be working (not sure why and there wasn't an obvious error code).

There could be various reasons why a ticket doesn't operate the barriers, it doesn't necessarily mean the ticket is invalid.

I was advised to have my ticket scanned by someone from the train operator and who was wearing a camera, and who was by the barrier.

It sounds as though you were directed to a Revenue Protection Inspector so that further details could be obtained.

He scanned my e ticket and asked me how I paid for an earlier part of the journey that was not on the ticket but that I made (I'm not sure how he knew). I think he could see that I did not scan the e ticket at the station shown on the ticket.

It sounds as though the inspector believed you had short fared. To use a good example from a different line, someone presenting a Wembley Stadium to London Marylebone ticket having just got off a train that doesn't call at Wembley Stadium station is highly likely to have short fared.

There wasn't a big scene but I left and got back on the train to another station. He said don't bother buying another ticket.

Were you given any paperwork by the inspector? If so, can you upload a redacted copy of it in this thread.

He did not take my name or ask me to pay a penalty fare. But he did scan my e ticket. What does this mean? Can the train operator investigate me from the scan the guy took?

If your ticket was scanned then they can find out who the ticket retailer was and get your details, and details of your ticket purchasing history from the ticket retailer.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Friday at 13:57 ==

As already said, I wouldn't worry in this specific case, but please, do not short-fare ever again, I wouldn't be too sure whether GTR would be willing to settle again if you were to be caught.

I don't think we can assume that no further action will be taken. Train companies often obtain contact details following from ticket scan data and send follow-up letters or emails.

 

[paul09871]

Welcome to the forum!

Forum members are happy to assist you but we need to know the full pictuire rather than be drip-fed information. Specifically, we need to know:

- The stations you were travelling between
- The station where the incident took place
- Extactly what tickets you posessed
- Were any railcard discounts applied and, if they were, do you possess the appropriate railcard.
- Have you a history of travelling with tickets that don't cover your full journey?

To answer some more general questions:


That's a criminal offence and the train company is entitled to prosecute you in the Magistrates Court if they want to.


There could be various reasons why a ticket doesn't operate the barriers, it doesn't necessarily mean the ticket is invalid.


It sounds as though you were directed to a Revenue Protection Inspector so that further details could be obtained.


It sounds as though the inspector believed you had short fared. To use a good example from a different line, someone presenting a Wembley Stadium to London Marylebone ticket having just got off a train that doesn't call at Wembley Stadium station is highly likely to have short fared.


Were you given any paperwork by the inspector? If so, can you upload a redacted copy of it in this thread.


If your ticket was scanned then they can find out who the ticket retailer was and get your details, and details of your ticket purchasing history from the ticket retailer.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Friday at 13:57 ==


I don't think we can assume that no further action will be taken. Train companies often obtain contact details following from ticket scan data and send follow-up letters or emails.

It wasn't a ticket revenue inspector (I think the uniform would say so but didn't). And no paperwork was given to me

 

[Hadders]

It wasn't a ticket revenue inspector (I think the uniform would say so but didn't). And no paperwork was given to me

I’d say it was odds on they were an inspector (maybe a Rail Enforcement Officer) if they were wearing a body cam.

Can you answer the other questions so we can give proper advice?

 

[ainsworth74]

It’s not a difficult question. Did you or didnt you have tickets that covered your full journey.

Agreed, the OP needs to answer this question if any useful advice is to be given at all.

@paul09871 please would you confirm if you held tickets that covered your whole journey? There's no need to distract with reference to whether or not these tickets were scanned or not we simply need to if you held tickets when you got on at your actual origin station that covered your whole journey to your destination. Please would you answer this question next.