dutchtraveler
New Member
- Joined
- 18 Apr 2012
- Messages
- 2
Dear fellow travelers,
Having recently moved to the UK, I made my first trip by train a few days ago. I traveled from London to York with East Coast, for which I had booked an advance ticket.
At the station, a notice board mentioned one train to York, which I boarded. There I found out that I was on the wrong train. There were two trains to York, a fast one and a slow one. I had boarded the slow one which departed 8 minutes after the fast one. By then the fast train had already left. I ran out and asked the official standing on the platform what to do. He pointed to the front of the platform and said that I should ask someone (I didn't understand exactly who he meant) to let me on the train and then it would be alright. After runing in the direction he pointed, I saw some other officials and asked them. They pointed me towards another guy who after I showed my ticket said I should take the slow train that I had boarded earlier.
Later, when the ticket inspector checked my ticket, she said I had to buy another ticket, and that I shouldn't have asked platform staff for advice.
As I felt at least a bit mislead (correct train not on notice board, no-one mentioning that I had to find the ticket inspector or I would have to buy an extra ticket etc.), I decided to appeal. However, when I wanted to look up my UFN on the website of the RPSS (called "penaltyfares"), I got the following message:
"The notice details you have entered do not match any record on our system. Please call 0844 259 4786 for assistance or send your appeal in writing, by post, to the appeals address shown on the notice."
I checked the records for a different UFN number, and it did have a record for that, so it looks like I did enter the correct numbers. Now I'd like to gauge your opinion on the following:
1. Although, technically I have no leg to stand on, isn't there some responsibility of the train services to provide enough information for mistakes like this not to happen?
2. Has anyone ever had an UFN that didn't appear in the online system? And might it be best to let sleeping dogs lie, or is it most likely that I will be sent very scary letters or prosecuted even if it is not in the system? (FYI, I am not on the electoral roll, as I've only recently moved to the UK)
Thanks in advance!
Having recently moved to the UK, I made my first trip by train a few days ago. I traveled from London to York with East Coast, for which I had booked an advance ticket.
At the station, a notice board mentioned one train to York, which I boarded. There I found out that I was on the wrong train. There were two trains to York, a fast one and a slow one. I had boarded the slow one which departed 8 minutes after the fast one. By then the fast train had already left. I ran out and asked the official standing on the platform what to do. He pointed to the front of the platform and said that I should ask someone (I didn't understand exactly who he meant) to let me on the train and then it would be alright. After runing in the direction he pointed, I saw some other officials and asked them. They pointed me towards another guy who after I showed my ticket said I should take the slow train that I had boarded earlier.
Later, when the ticket inspector checked my ticket, she said I had to buy another ticket, and that I shouldn't have asked platform staff for advice.
As I felt at least a bit mislead (correct train not on notice board, no-one mentioning that I had to find the ticket inspector or I would have to buy an extra ticket etc.), I decided to appeal. However, when I wanted to look up my UFN on the website of the RPSS (called "penaltyfares"), I got the following message:
"The notice details you have entered do not match any record on our system. Please call 0844 259 4786 for assistance or send your appeal in writing, by post, to the appeals address shown on the notice."
I checked the records for a different UFN number, and it did have a record for that, so it looks like I did enter the correct numbers. Now I'd like to gauge your opinion on the following:
1. Although, technically I have no leg to stand on, isn't there some responsibility of the train services to provide enough information for mistakes like this not to happen?
2. Has anyone ever had an UFN that didn't appear in the online system? And might it be best to let sleeping dogs lie, or is it most likely that I will be sent very scary letters or prosecuted even if it is not in the system? (FYI, I am not on the electoral roll, as I've only recently moved to the UK)
Thanks in advance!