Portable rail ticket dispensing machines

[kizzyboi]

Hi guys,
I got on a train at Bearsted, Kent going up to London Victoria.
I hadn't got a ticket because its an unmanned station and its permit to travel machine didnt work.
As i got on the train i made myself known to the conductor so he was aware i needed a ticket.
He came down the train and i went to pay for my ticket by my Debit Card knowing i had the cash on my card to pay for it.
My card was declined.
Tried again.
Again it was declined.
So the Conductor told me to wait till i get to my station.
As i got of the Train at London Victoria i got stopped by revenue protection officers who penalty fared me for not having a ticket.
I explained and they said they didnt care.
I have since appealed the decision and won the case.
But im just wondering if anyone else has had this problem before because the card machines on trains decline a card.

 

[GadgetMan]

Cards getting declined on board is very common indeed as some cards won't allow offline transactions. You were incorrectly penalty fared and rightly had your appeal upheld.

 

[kizzyboi]

To a point i could understand why i was penalty fared because i had no ticket to travel but he wouldnt even let me try to buy a ticket at victoria

 

[island]

Sounds like the right outcome in the end.

There are multiple threads about Visa debit cards which don't behave well offline.

 

[kizzyboi]

i did find it abit odd because ive never had this problem before

 

[Brucey]

When I lived in Bristol and used to buy at the gateline, I always started off: "Hi, I've just arrived from Redland which doesn't have a ticket machine and would like to buy x". Prevented any stupid questions or threats of penalty fares and always worked a treat.

 

[ian13]

When I lived in Bristol and used to buy at the gateline, I always started off: "Hi, I've just arrived from Redland which doesn't have a ticket machine and would like to buy x". Prevented any stupid questions or threats of penalty fares and always worked a treat.

Bristol Temple Meads staff are pretty good with issuing from local stations (as they should be!)

Regarding card payment, it's not your fault that the machine didn't like your card* - you should have been offered the chance to pay at your destination, and not penalty fared. Pleased to hear your appeal was upheld.

*Some Visa Debit cards, don't allow for 'offline' transactions, or impose unknown limits as to quantity. Additionally, sometimes they just reject for no apparent reason.

 

[sonic2009]

I don't believe the OP was incorrectly given a Penalty Fare at the time. ( Although i could be wrong)

Bearsted has self service ticket machines, also it depends what time of day the OP was travelling and on what day.

http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/your-journey/station-information/BSD/

 

[Robinson]

deleted - as I misread the post.

 

[34D]

I don't believe the OP was incorrectly given a Penalty Fare at the time. ( Although i could be wrong)

Bearsted has self service ticket machines, also it depends what time of day the OP was travelling and on what day.

http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/your-journey/station-information/BSD/

Once the guard has offered the full range of tickets, I would suggest that later staff can not then go back a stage - I could also be wrong.