Hi there, hopefully somebody will be able to help me,
Today I was issued with a penalty fare for the second time in 2 weeks (both times the 12:13 train from Wokingham on a Friday, heading towards Sandhurst.
Since September, I have been buying a Return Ticket from Winnersh to Bracknell, and breaking my journey at Wokingham to branch off to Sandhurst on a Return. This works out as the cheapest way for me to travel from Winersh to Sandhurst, onto Bracknell, and finally back home to Winnersh.
I get my travel expensed on the train, so I must provide evidence of all my train tickets, and as such I keep all receipts and tickets I get each month.
I have bought my connecting ticket from Wokingham to Sandhurst on the train every week, but 2 weeks ago the man on the train wasn't interested, and issued me a penalty fare for boarding the train without a valid ticket. As it was only £20, I felt it was less hassle to pay the penalty and move on - just ensuring I buy my ticket at Wokingham from now on.
This is exactly what I did last Friday, but unfortunately I lapsed back to old habits today and only realised 2-3 minutes before the connecting train at Wokingham arrived. I felt that the best option therefore would be to board the train and buy my ticket from the driver, scared that I would be issued another penalty fare.
I boarded the train on the carriage with the driver, and walked direct towards him, but met a ticket inspector/guard first. I saw he had his machine so asked to buy it from him instead. He issued me a penalty fare on the spot, even though I had every intention of buying a valid ticket.
He said at the end that he was being kind to me and that as this was my second offence, he should be interviewing me over it (I didn't catch the reason as to why, but he pointed that as I was over 18 that I was responsible, so this could this mean criminal offence?)
I want to know what the best option for me is - I feel the penalty was unfairly given and I can prove that I had every intention of buying a ticket, backed up by having a valid ticket from the same morning for my previous train, as well as tickets and receipts for every other journey I have taken this month.
Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks
Tom
Today I was issued with a penalty fare for the second time in 2 weeks (both times the 12:13 train from Wokingham on a Friday, heading towards Sandhurst.
Since September, I have been buying a Return Ticket from Winnersh to Bracknell, and breaking my journey at Wokingham to branch off to Sandhurst on a Return. This works out as the cheapest way for me to travel from Winersh to Sandhurst, onto Bracknell, and finally back home to Winnersh.
I get my travel expensed on the train, so I must provide evidence of all my train tickets, and as such I keep all receipts and tickets I get each month.
I have bought my connecting ticket from Wokingham to Sandhurst on the train every week, but 2 weeks ago the man on the train wasn't interested, and issued me a penalty fare for boarding the train without a valid ticket. As it was only £20, I felt it was less hassle to pay the penalty and move on - just ensuring I buy my ticket at Wokingham from now on.
This is exactly what I did last Friday, but unfortunately I lapsed back to old habits today and only realised 2-3 minutes before the connecting train at Wokingham arrived. I felt that the best option therefore would be to board the train and buy my ticket from the driver, scared that I would be issued another penalty fare.
I boarded the train on the carriage with the driver, and walked direct towards him, but met a ticket inspector/guard first. I saw he had his machine so asked to buy it from him instead. He issued me a penalty fare on the spot, even though I had every intention of buying a valid ticket.
He said at the end that he was being kind to me and that as this was my second offence, he should be interviewing me over it (I didn't catch the reason as to why, but he pointed that as I was over 18 that I was responsible, so this could this mean criminal offence?)
I want to know what the best option for me is - I feel the penalty was unfairly given and I can prove that I had every intention of buying a ticket, backed up by having a valid ticket from the same morning for my previous train, as well as tickets and receipts for every other journey I have taken this month.
Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks
Tom