My daughter had the unpleasant experience of receiving a Penalty Fare Notice last week. I believe this was very harshly given and think she should appeal, but am I right?
Please see her letter below. I'd be interested to hear whether you agree she should appeal or not and also any pointers for her to improve her letter.
Many thanks in advance,...
Dear Sir / Madam,
Re: Appeal against Penalty Fare Notice: FCC xxxxxx
I am writing to appeal most strongly against the above Penalty Fare Notice that was unfairly issued to me on 7 June 2012. The basis for my appeal is the following:-
1. Lack of appropriate discretion shown by the ticket inspector
2. No readily available information regarding which stations are considered London Terminals
3. I did not attempt to and neither did I deprive the train company of any money
Ticket I purchased (enclosed):
Anytime Day Return from Shortlands to London Terminals at £7.50
Ticket I apparently should have purchased:
Anytime Day Return from Shortlands to Farringdon at £7.50
Background
I have just returned home from my first year at University and Wednesday 7th June was my first day working as a summer intern at the Childrens Society, based in Farringdon. I purchased my Anytime Day Return ticket from Shortlands to London Terminals as I have done on many occasions before whenever travelling into central London.
I was stopped at the barriers at Farringdon station and told that my ticket wasnt valid as Farringdon is not a London Terminal station. Now I did not know this and had purchased my ticket believing it to be valid.
Lack of appropriate discretion
I believe the appropriate discretion in this instance would have been to advise me that in future I need to ensure my ticket is specifically to Farringdon.
Which stations are London Terminals?
Information for which stations are considered London Terminals is not readily available. There are no displays at Shortlands station advising which stations are or are not considered a London Terminal. After extensive use of Google, I discovered a list of London Terminal stations on the Internet. I also discovered that a station does not have to be a terminus to be considered a London Terminal.
Below I show which stations on my route are London Terminal stations. I also show the cost of an Anytime Day Return ticket from Shortlands to each specifically named station it is £7.50 in all cases, the same price as the ticket I purchased from Shortlands to London Terminals, hence my accusation of a complete lack of appropriate discretion being shown on the part of the ticket inspector.
Journey Start from Shortlands to:
Blackfriars, IS London Terminal, Anytime Day Return is £7.50
City Thameslink, IS London Terminal, Anytime Day Return is £7.50
Farringdon, IS NOT London Terminal, Anytime Day Return is £7.50
St Pancras International, IS London Terminal, Anytime Day Return is £7.50
Given the above, it is clear that I did not intend or attempt to defraud the railway company of income. Further as the price of the ticket I apparently should have purchased is the same as the ticket I did purchase, I did not defraud the railway company of any income. I therefore ask that you rescind this Penalty Fare Notice, refunding the £20 to me as soon as possible.
Yours faithfully,
Please see her letter below. I'd be interested to hear whether you agree she should appeal or not and also any pointers for her to improve her letter.
Many thanks in advance,...
Dear Sir / Madam,
Re: Appeal against Penalty Fare Notice: FCC xxxxxx
I am writing to appeal most strongly against the above Penalty Fare Notice that was unfairly issued to me on 7 June 2012. The basis for my appeal is the following:-
1. Lack of appropriate discretion shown by the ticket inspector
2. No readily available information regarding which stations are considered London Terminals
3. I did not attempt to and neither did I deprive the train company of any money
Ticket I purchased (enclosed):
Anytime Day Return from Shortlands to London Terminals at £7.50
Ticket I apparently should have purchased:
Anytime Day Return from Shortlands to Farringdon at £7.50
Background
I have just returned home from my first year at University and Wednesday 7th June was my first day working as a summer intern at the Childrens Society, based in Farringdon. I purchased my Anytime Day Return ticket from Shortlands to London Terminals as I have done on many occasions before whenever travelling into central London.
I was stopped at the barriers at Farringdon station and told that my ticket wasnt valid as Farringdon is not a London Terminal station. Now I did not know this and had purchased my ticket believing it to be valid.
Lack of appropriate discretion
I believe the appropriate discretion in this instance would have been to advise me that in future I need to ensure my ticket is specifically to Farringdon.
Which stations are London Terminals?
Information for which stations are considered London Terminals is not readily available. There are no displays at Shortlands station advising which stations are or are not considered a London Terminal. After extensive use of Google, I discovered a list of London Terminal stations on the Internet. I also discovered that a station does not have to be a terminus to be considered a London Terminal.
Below I show which stations on my route are London Terminal stations. I also show the cost of an Anytime Day Return ticket from Shortlands to each specifically named station it is £7.50 in all cases, the same price as the ticket I purchased from Shortlands to London Terminals, hence my accusation of a complete lack of appropriate discretion being shown on the part of the ticket inspector.
Journey Start from Shortlands to:
Blackfriars, IS London Terminal, Anytime Day Return is £7.50
City Thameslink, IS London Terminal, Anytime Day Return is £7.50
Farringdon, IS NOT London Terminal, Anytime Day Return is £7.50
St Pancras International, IS London Terminal, Anytime Day Return is £7.50
Given the above, it is clear that I did not intend or attempt to defraud the railway company of income. Further as the price of the ticket I apparently should have purchased is the same as the ticket I did purchase, I did not defraud the railway company of any income. I therefore ask that you rescind this Penalty Fare Notice, refunding the £20 to me as soon as possible.
Yours faithfully,