Context: Ive been in the uk for 2 years, not that long but also not short enough to not know the what to expect on normally at the tube. The thing is, I've never seen or had an inspection before. I may have heard it but at most a passing thought, I didn't really now they existed (beyond just assuming the existence of tfl security)
So I was on the way home and it was a slightly empty train and 2 inspectors came up to me. Now it may be cause Im too paranoid, but I full heartedly thought it was a scam. Mainly because they were in normal clothes (which I later found is normal?) and they were very aggressive in the way they spoke.
To be honest its hard to remember because I got so frazzeled I blanked but they kept threatening (by saying Ill be fined, how theyre going to take down my information, or theyll take me out at the next station). Fortunately enough, the next stop was actually my last stop so I just went with them on that thought, saying sure lets go out (because then we can talk to the staff, again I was probably wrong but I was fully assuming this was a scam at this point by how unprofessional everything was).
They showed me their badge as proof and their scanner, but to someone who knows nothing about this, I could not be sure that they were real because... I dont know what a real one is meant to look like. Since I tap, they wanted me to tap the scanner and Ive heard of more than enough payment scams to just do it so easily. They pointed to an individual in the back saying he taped (it was pretty empty and only a few others were in) but to me this didn't prove anything as its not hard to believe they could get an extra to act for them (and I didnt even see the interaction).
Even more, as we walked out the tube they kept complaining about this wasting time and how I should just tap, but the thing was they werent even in any haste to get to the staff (heck they kept stopping every now and then walking to and up the stairs). Even at the end after everything was resolved, one partonized me saying I was too paranoid while the other complained how I now made him miss his train. Which are both fair arguments but... man its not something needed to be said and just seemed so unproffesional.
At the end we did reach a staff at the toll and I also quickly check online that there are tfl inspectors, so I tapped my phone on their device in the end (proving that yes I payed my fares). To be honest even if it wasnt one, everything just felt like a scam but now,
Question: I'm actually worried if they could still fine me in the future for any foreseeable reason.
Apologies for the long message, Im both actually worried and also just needed to see if what happened was indeed normal. And if anyone knows, is there any sure way to make sure tfl inspectors are real? besides just looking at their id.
So I was on the way home and it was a slightly empty train and 2 inspectors came up to me. Now it may be cause Im too paranoid, but I full heartedly thought it was a scam. Mainly because they were in normal clothes (which I later found is normal?) and they were very aggressive in the way they spoke.
To be honest its hard to remember because I got so frazzeled I blanked but they kept threatening (by saying Ill be fined, how theyre going to take down my information, or theyll take me out at the next station). Fortunately enough, the next stop was actually my last stop so I just went with them on that thought, saying sure lets go out (because then we can talk to the staff, again I was probably wrong but I was fully assuming this was a scam at this point by how unprofessional everything was).
They showed me their badge as proof and their scanner, but to someone who knows nothing about this, I could not be sure that they were real because... I dont know what a real one is meant to look like. Since I tap, they wanted me to tap the scanner and Ive heard of more than enough payment scams to just do it so easily. They pointed to an individual in the back saying he taped (it was pretty empty and only a few others were in) but to me this didn't prove anything as its not hard to believe they could get an extra to act for them (and I didnt even see the interaction).
Even more, as we walked out the tube they kept complaining about this wasting time and how I should just tap, but the thing was they werent even in any haste to get to the staff (heck they kept stopping every now and then walking to and up the stairs). Even at the end after everything was resolved, one partonized me saying I was too paranoid while the other complained how I now made him miss his train. Which are both fair arguments but... man its not something needed to be said and just seemed so unproffesional.
At the end we did reach a staff at the toll and I also quickly check online that there are tfl inspectors, so I tapped my phone on their device in the end (proving that yes I payed my fares). To be honest even if it wasnt one, everything just felt like a scam but now,
Question: I'm actually worried if they could still fine me in the future for any foreseeable reason.
Apologies for the long message, Im both actually worried and also just needed to see if what happened was indeed normal. And if anyone knows, is there any sure way to make sure tfl inspectors are real? besides just looking at their id.
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