Promise To Pay

[FreddyF]

hi,

i recently obtained a 'promise to pay' ticket for my journey as my phone had run out of battery (despite buying a ticket online!). during the journey i didnt see a ticket person and i alighted at a very rural stop- clearly with no way of paying.

im just curious what the legal situation is here, say if someone did this for many journies without being asked to buy a ticket. it doesnt seem like a fine could be given, at worst the person would just be expected to pay for the journies they made? (i plan on contuing to buy on my phone, regardless...im just curious)

cheers

freddy

 

[L401CJF]

Promise to pay is for when you are intending to pay using cash but there are no facilities to do so (eg a card only TVM). So you would exchange your promise to pay ticket at the first opportunity (either a conductor/inspector or at your destination at the ticket office) to pay with cash.

If stopped by a revenue inspector and you present a promise to pay, with no intention of paying using cash I would imagine it'd be a penalty fare or travel irregularity report etc.

If you are going from a station with no cash purchasing facilities, to another with no cash purchasing facilities, you should pay the conductor onboard the train.

 

[FreddyF]

Promise to pay is for when you are intending to pay using cash but there are no facilities to do so (eg a card only TVM). So you would exchange your promise to pay ticket at the first opportunity (either a conductor/inspector or at your destination at the ticket office) to pay with cash.

If stopped by a revenue inspector and you present a promise to pay, with no intention of paying using cash I would imagine it'd be a penalty fare or travel irregularity report etc.

If you are going from a station with no cash purchasing facilities, to another with no cash purchasing facilities, you should pay the conductor onboard the train.

sorry, maybe i didnt word it well enough ... i meant if someone did p2p journey(s) but there was no means of paying on board or at the station. what is the legal situation then

 

[L401CJF]

sorry, maybe i didnt word it well enough ... i meant if someone did p2p journey(s) but there was no means of paying on board or at the station. what is the legal situation then

Which operator would be running the train? I suppose it would be the old fashioned method of "pay train" style.

For example the Bidston-Wrexham line operated by Transport for Wales has no ticket facilities full stop at most stations, meaning if the guard doesn't come through (or has a dead machine etc) then it's a free ride as there was no opportunity to pay.

If we are talking Northern then all their trains have conductors onboard who will be able to sell the ticket. If they can't for whatever reason then you've had no opportunity to pay so not much can be done.

Just be aware using a promise to pay on Northern, if you arnt intending to pay with cash, could well land you in hot water.

It's a bit of a grey area!

 

[Watershed]

sorry, maybe i didnt word it well enough ... i meant if someone did p2p journey(s) but there was no means of paying on board or at the station. what is the legal situation then

This sounds like more than just a hypothetical situation, but in essence the legal position is that the fare remains due, but the practical position is that it's incredibly unlikely the TOC will be aware of the unpaid fare or therefore take any action.