This isn't about me, I'm not seeking help on penalty fares, fines and other post-travel ticketing issues, so this matter doesn't fit into the Disputes & Prosecutions thread....
It seems that by not collecting his tickets, Mr Mueller managed to get the fare refunded, though he did make the journey... Weird....
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/how-simple-misunderstanding-saw-man-16432658
He didn't use those tickets and they are not going to be accepted after the journey by Transport Investigations (who are ruthless) so he may as well get a refund on the unused tickets.
Why? Did he accidentally apply for a refund or what?
When did he apply for the refund? If it was after the incident, and TIL made it clear that they would not accept the tickets retrospectively, then a refund may as well be claimed.
I didn't bring my tickets on a journey a few weeks ago, so I had to pay again, so I claimed a refund on the originals. This isn't surprising nor is it newsworthy.
So he books online and elects to collect his tickets at the station. There is a machine at Abergele.
He then receives a refund for his tickets, but doesn't realise, and assumes they're still valid for travel.
Are you sure it happened that way round?
If it was, why did the article say "Trainline said they have
since refunded Mr Mueller his £14..."?
It sounds to me like he requested the refund after he made the journey and presumably after TIL made it clear that the tickets would not be accepted retrospectively.
He thinks he can travel on the confirmation e-mail, despite warnings to the contrary on the email.
The generous conductor gives him the benefit of the doubt and tells him to print his ticket at Chester.
There is an excess fares window on platform 3 on the train-side of the barriers.
He doesn't see that and goes through the barriers, and wonders why he's stopped.
Hmmm!
Good to see the standard of reporting in the North Wales Post hasn't changed.
The photo of "Abergele railway station" is actually looking away from it, towards Rhyl, with a telephoto lens.
Here's spare photo of some railway tickets, in case you don't know what we're talking about.
Oh, and here's a railway station, [Crewe?] just in case you're still bewildered.
It's not newsworthy at all; they could have reported on almost any of the similar cases in our Disputes & Prosecutions section!
Leaving aside the choice of photos, it really is poor "journalism" by one Kelly Williams, isn't it?
And even worse editing - if the North Wales Post has an editor, that is.
If you read it with only half a brain working, it still leaves you with more questions than the piece answers.
Like the guy didn't read the first email, yet chose the print ticket option - and ignored the reminder that he had to print his tickets, and this was "unfortunate" - as the Trainline put it. Ridiculous.
Agreed, it's poor journalism.
But one thing the passenger is right about is that it is now pretty crazy to have a system where you buy online and then have an additional stage in the purchasing process where you then obtain a physical ticket.
Depending on the journey, you may get a choice of fulfilment methods. Each can have its own advantages and disadvantages. But we are moving towards a universal system where a physical ticket is NOT needed.
In the meantime, most websites make the options and requirements quite clear.
The only aspect of this that makes it in any way 'newsworthy' in my opinion is the fact that this is considered to be a
criminal matter. It should be a civil matter. Yes the person made a mistake and should pay for it, but criminalisation of this is wrong.
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