This morning I boarded a service having not had an opportunity to purchase a ticket. That is I had insufficient time to purchase at my interchange, and no opportunity afforded itself on the first train.
Once aboard, and when I was approached by the ticket examiner, I provided proof of the previous train I'd used, requested my fare and showed my Disabled Railcard.
I was told in no uncertain terms that I could not have a railcard discounted fare and I was to pay for the full undiscounted fare. I was told I should have purchased at the interchange station even if that meant missing this train and being delayed 45 minutes. My connection was 'official'. That is the minimum connection time for the interchange station was met. A couple of minutes of that time were lost due to late arrival of my first train. Station layout and a late platform alteration to my second train left me with insufficient time to attempt to make a purchase prior to boarding.
I patiently explained those reasons for not having an opportunity to purchase prior to boarding, and I also said I was only prepared to offer the amount due for the railcard discounted fare. This was refused and the ticket examiner said she would call an RPI on the phone. The phone was passed to me and the RPI wouldn't listen to my reasons for not already having a ticket, cutting in and saying that I was being recorded and the CCTV would be passed to BTP. Then he hung up while I was in mid sentence.
I stood up in the aisle and gave the CCTV camera a hopefully clear image! I offered the ticket examiner my details but she declined to write them down or engage with me further once she was aware I was recording our conversations.
So instead, I wrote my details down on a piece of paper and handed it to her before I alighted at my stop. Just ensuring I couldn't be later charged with failing to provide, regardless of the outcome of the fare dispute.
I once more offered to pay the railcard discounted fare before alighting, but this was again declined.
I immediately called Customer Services where I recounted the incident in detail. Less than 90 minutes later I was informed there would be no further action, and £30 in RTVs as a goodwill gesture would be sent. There was an acknowledgement that both the Conditions of Carriage and the TOCs Disabled Persons Policy had not been adhered to.
Once aboard, and when I was approached by the ticket examiner, I provided proof of the previous train I'd used, requested my fare and showed my Disabled Railcard.
I was told in no uncertain terms that I could not have a railcard discounted fare and I was to pay for the full undiscounted fare. I was told I should have purchased at the interchange station even if that meant missing this train and being delayed 45 minutes. My connection was 'official'. That is the minimum connection time for the interchange station was met. A couple of minutes of that time were lost due to late arrival of my first train. Station layout and a late platform alteration to my second train left me with insufficient time to attempt to make a purchase prior to boarding.
I patiently explained those reasons for not having an opportunity to purchase prior to boarding, and I also said I was only prepared to offer the amount due for the railcard discounted fare. This was refused and the ticket examiner said she would call an RPI on the phone. The phone was passed to me and the RPI wouldn't listen to my reasons for not already having a ticket, cutting in and saying that I was being recorded and the CCTV would be passed to BTP. Then he hung up while I was in mid sentence.
I stood up in the aisle and gave the CCTV camera a hopefully clear image! I offered the ticket examiner my details but she declined to write them down or engage with me further once she was aware I was recording our conversations.
So instead, I wrote my details down on a piece of paper and handed it to her before I alighted at my stop. Just ensuring I couldn't be later charged with failing to provide, regardless of the outcome of the fare dispute.
I once more offered to pay the railcard discounted fare before alighting, but this was again declined.
I immediately called Customer Services where I recounted the incident in detail. Less than 90 minutes later I was informed there would be no further action, and £30 in RTVs as a goodwill gesture would be sent. There was an acknowledgement that both the Conditions of Carriage and the TOCs Disabled Persons Policy had not been adhered to.