Son inadvertently purchased child ticket

[rdwarr]

Child In disgust: 'I'm 6!!!

Perhaps it was just a horrible child - like I was

When I was a kid the buses were free if you were under three. When I was two that was great for my Mum, but bad for me because I didn't get a ticket. And I wanted a ticket.
"How old's the boy?"
"He's two"
"No, I'm THREE Mum"
Normal outcome was that she'd produce a birth certificate, explain what "I was like" and I'd get some sort of ticket from a sympathetic bus conductor.

 

[Agent_c]

If someone wishes to consider an out of court settlement a bribe and in some way wrong or immoral, simply don't pay it and go to court.

I gotta agree with those who call it a bribe, at least when the TOC prosecutes. The TOC is taking cash to not prosecute and then (as I understand it) pocketing the cash, the "profit" on which will eventually be disbursed to shareholders or used for their own financial gain. I wonder if there is a procedural bar to stop another would be private prosecutor demanding their pound of flesh.

When the DPP are involved we can at least theorise that the DPP are doing it on behalf of the community at large / the state, and the funds are added to general revenue which (theoretically) is spent on the common good.

But all of that is probably neither here nor there as this situation is concerned, so we should say no more

 

[DaleCooper]

Pendantically (although not entirely seriously) I think it's a bribe if a payment is offered to the TOC but blackmail if the TOC asks for payment.

 

[Deerfold]

I gotta agree with those who call it a bribe, at least when the TOC prosecutes. The TOC is taking cash to not prosecute and then (as I understand it) pocketing the cash, the "profit" on which will eventually be disbursed to shareholders or used for their own financial gain. I wonder if there is a procedural bar to stop another would be private prosecutor demanding their pound of flesh.

It would appear not - there was the recent case in where the commuter paid £43,000 to SouthEastern. There was then talk of BTP prosecuting (it's not clear if that's still going ahead but there was no talk of the £43,000 having any effect).

 

[Scotrail84]

Sorry, the lad was at it. Now he has been caught he will have to face any punishment that comes his way. Hope to settle out of court.

 

[jon0844]

My three year old always wants a ticket so he gets the collection receipt. And staff always accept it too!

 

[CharlieSpotted]

Perhaps it was just a horrible child - like I was

When I was a kid the buses were free if you were under three. When I was two that was great for my Mum, but bad for me because I didn't get a ticket. And I wanted a ticket.
"How old's the boy?"
"He's two"
"No, I'm THREE Mum"
Normal outcome was that she'd produce a birth certificate, explain what "I was like" and I'd get some sort of ticket from a sympathetic bus conductor.

This rings true for me - my nephew is three, and obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine and trains in general. When we last went to see him (we've moved away, and go by train) he wanted to know everything about the train journey, and I gave him my ticket and explained it to him as best I could. He didn't let go of it all day. Absolutely obsessed with it. And just kept saying "Thank you for my ticket, I love it!" and giving it a hug. Strange boy.

He'll be a member of this forum one day, I suspect.

(Sorry, horribly OT, I know)

 

[jon0844]

My son is the same. Grips the 'ticket' throughout the journey!

I did scribble ALR on one for him to show to an RPI, but sadly he didn't check it thoroughly enough. Well, technically speaking, that's what he has!

 

[Flamingo]

I once had one, insisting at first to me, then BTP -"I'm 15, ring and ask my mum".
So BTP do - "Hello, Mrs Jones, Police here, how old is your son John? Twenty one? Thank you!"

 

[Scotrail84]

I once had one, insisting at first to me, then BTP -"I'm 15, ring and ask my mum".
So BTP do - "Hello, Mrs Jones, Police here, hold old is your son John? Twenty one? Thank you!"

Call their bluff