Fare evasion?

[slipdip]

My wife traveled from Farringdon at 1820 and arrived in St.Albans at 1910 with an off-peak ticket, ticket covered all 6 zones and She was told that she traveled illegally. Is this correct?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

From reading the timetable, though none of the times you provided match up, it does appear that an Off-Peak ticket would have been invalid, yes.

 

[Bald Rick]

From FCC restrictions, sorry old chap...

Travelling on an Off-Peak Day Return, Off-Peak Day Travelcard, Family Travelcard or DaySave
Your ticket is not valid for travel from Zone B (Central) to Zone D (Outer Urban) if the service departs from Moorgate, King’s Cross or St Pancras International (including pass-throughs) between 1630 and 1901 Monday to Friday.

Farringdon is in 'B' and St Albans is in 'D'

 

[EM2]

It depends on the exact type of ticket held.

 

[34D]

From FCC restrictions, sorry old chap...

Travelling on an Off-Peak Day Return, Off-Peak Day Travelcard, Family Travelcard or DaySave
Your ticket is not valid for travel from Zone B (Central) to Zone D (Outer Urban) if the service departs from Moorgate, King’s Cross or St Pancras International (including pass-throughs) between 1630 and 1901 Monday to Friday.

Farringdon is in 'B' and St Albans is in 'D'

I seem to remember St Albans used to be the same zone as Welwyn http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/tickets-and-fares/off-peak-tickets/travel-off-peak/ticket-restrictions/

Re the OP's wife, what happened? The correct treatment I believe is an excess.

 

[transmanche]

My wife traveled from Farringdon at 1820 and arrived in St.Albans at 1910 with an off-peak ticket, ticket covered all 6 zones and She was told that she traveled illegally. Is this correct?

If by 'all 6 zones' you're referring to the London Travelcard zones, then St. Albans is outside those zones anyway.

 

[RJ]

My wife traveled from Farringdon at 1820 and arrived in St.Albans at 1910 with an off-peak ticket, ticket covered all 6 zones and She was told that she traveled illegally. Is this correct?

What was the ticket and how much did it cost? Was it a St Albans to London Zones 1-6 Travelcard for £15.90 or simply a London Zones 1 - 6 Travelcard for £8.50?

Or was it a Travelcard from somewhere completely different? The origin is important as if it's not on the line out of St Pancras, it's likely it wasn't valid as St Albans is not within any of the London zones.

 

[tony_mac]

It's in the NRCoC - you don't get charged a penalty fare for this (unless it's an advance ticket or similar).

if a restriction applies and the ticket you
are using is not valid for the train you are travelling in, then:
(a) you will be liable to pay an excess fare (the difference between the price
paid for the ticket you hold and the price of the lowest priced ticket
available for immediate travel that would have entitled you to travel in that
train for the journey shown on the ticket); or
(b) in the case of some types of discounted tickets (as indicated in the notices and
publications) the relevant parts of Condition 2 or 4 will apply.

I don't think they would expect to prosecute for something that is covered by the NRCoC (unless intent to avoid payment could be shown).

 

[First class]

It's in the NRCoC - you don't get charged a penalty fare for this (unless it's an advance ticket or otherwise).

There's a suggestion it was out of area as St Albans isn't with the Zones AS WELL as invalid due to a time restriction.

 

[tony_mac]

Ah, yes, I see - although it's all rather academic without clarification of what actually happened.