Darren1664
Member
- Joined
- 1 Jun 2019
- Messages
- 11
Hello
I'm sure you must all get tired of these threads but I really do not know where else to get advice. So appreciate any in advance.
My wife recently boarded a train at Telford without a ticket and, as the conductor did not make their way down the train, looked to purchase a ticket at barriers at Shrewsbury where she was then interviewed by a member of TIL. The initial reaction was anger and to be honest still is.
On the night in question her usual bus home was cancelled and so her next option to use the trains. She is unfamiliar with Telford train station and was not aware (and still not aware, although a online search confirms it) that there were self service ticket machines. She didn't plan the journey so did not have much time before boarding the train.
The situation made us feel so angry at the train service that our reply to their initial letter was probably too strongly worded and they have now passed her details to the local courts.
It all seems a bit extreme for a simple and honest mistake. We often just board the train and pay on board and we never get told we shouldn't by on board staff. We also regularly pay for tickets at barriers and have never been advised what we are doing is against the law. We now always purchase using the Trainline APP.
There was no intent to avoid payment but simply an understanding that she could pay on the train or at the barriers. It feels to me very heavy handed. It might be worth noting this is the first time.
I also think the more we have tried to explain the evening in question and why she got on the train without a ticket the bigger the hole we have dug for ourselves. We are just trying to be honest and explain that she had no intention of not paying but they are now claiming she was rushing and therefor clearly had no intention of paying.
Again any advice on these matters would be appreciated.
By the way they did offer a admin charge of £85 but in our anger we said that we wouldn't pay as she did nothing wrong, we now wish we could take that back.
All the best
Darren
I'm sure you must all get tired of these threads but I really do not know where else to get advice. So appreciate any in advance.
My wife recently boarded a train at Telford without a ticket and, as the conductor did not make their way down the train, looked to purchase a ticket at barriers at Shrewsbury where she was then interviewed by a member of TIL. The initial reaction was anger and to be honest still is.
On the night in question her usual bus home was cancelled and so her next option to use the trains. She is unfamiliar with Telford train station and was not aware (and still not aware, although a online search confirms it) that there were self service ticket machines. She didn't plan the journey so did not have much time before boarding the train.
The situation made us feel so angry at the train service that our reply to their initial letter was probably too strongly worded and they have now passed her details to the local courts.
It all seems a bit extreme for a simple and honest mistake. We often just board the train and pay on board and we never get told we shouldn't by on board staff. We also regularly pay for tickets at barriers and have never been advised what we are doing is against the law. We now always purchase using the Trainline APP.
There was no intent to avoid payment but simply an understanding that she could pay on the train or at the barriers. It feels to me very heavy handed. It might be worth noting this is the first time.
I also think the more we have tried to explain the evening in question and why she got on the train without a ticket the bigger the hole we have dug for ourselves. We are just trying to be honest and explain that she had no intention of not paying but they are now claiming she was rushing and therefor clearly had no intention of paying.
Again any advice on these matters would be appreciated.
By the way they did offer a admin charge of £85 but in our anger we said that we wouldn't pay as she did nothing wrong, we now wish we could take that back.
All the best
Darren