Jona26
Member
Last week I was travelling on the return portion of a Chester to Fleet Off Peak Return and wished to break my journey at Clapham Junction, resuming a couple of days later (still well before the expiry date on the ticket). I had previously checked the Fares & Ticketing Guide to make sure this was allowed.
Knowing that my ticket wouldn't activate the barriers I approached the SWT gateline assistant to be let through. The assistant at first claimed BOJ wasn't allowed at all on the ticket then conceded that it was but had to be resumed on the same day.
I asked if he was sure about this, he said he was and so I asked to speak to a ticket office supervisor. The supervisor maintained that this was the case. I argued quite calmly that I understood that I could break and resume an unlimited number of times at unlimited locations within the permitted routes and the ticket expiry date.
As this conversation was held in front of the ticket office queue (the supervisor came out onto the concourse) other passengers could hear the conversation and I was made to feel as if I was trying my luck to evade the proper fare. The ticket ended up being marked with the location, date and 'RA'. I decided it wasn't worth trying to discuss further and left the station.
On my way out I passed the SWT Station Duty Manager. I asked him if he had knowledge of ticketing issues and he snapped at me "If it's about BOJ you've already been given the answer!"
When I resumed my journey at Euston a few days later the ticket was passed by the Virgin staff prior to boarding without question even though the markings were quite visble and noticed by the member of staff.
While I can perhaps understand the gateline assistant not having extensive ticketing knowledge, this seems to be quite a basic issue and the fact that the ticket office supervisor was giving me incorrect info seems inexcusable, along with the rude attitude of the Duty Station Manager.
I didn't have to purchase any additional tickets so I'm not looking for reimbursement or compensation but do people think I should complain to SWT about the lack of knowledge and attitude of their staff or am I getting worked up unnecessarily?
Thanks
Knowing that my ticket wouldn't activate the barriers I approached the SWT gateline assistant to be let through. The assistant at first claimed BOJ wasn't allowed at all on the ticket then conceded that it was but had to be resumed on the same day.
I asked if he was sure about this, he said he was and so I asked to speak to a ticket office supervisor. The supervisor maintained that this was the case. I argued quite calmly that I understood that I could break and resume an unlimited number of times at unlimited locations within the permitted routes and the ticket expiry date.
As this conversation was held in front of the ticket office queue (the supervisor came out onto the concourse) other passengers could hear the conversation and I was made to feel as if I was trying my luck to evade the proper fare. The ticket ended up being marked with the location, date and 'RA'. I decided it wasn't worth trying to discuss further and left the station.
On my way out I passed the SWT Station Duty Manager. I asked him if he had knowledge of ticketing issues and he snapped at me "If it's about BOJ you've already been given the answer!"
When I resumed my journey at Euston a few days later the ticket was passed by the Virgin staff prior to boarding without question even though the markings were quite visble and noticed by the member of staff.
While I can perhaps understand the gateline assistant not having extensive ticketing knowledge, this seems to be quite a basic issue and the fact that the ticket office supervisor was giving me incorrect info seems inexcusable, along with the rude attitude of the Duty Station Manager.
I didn't have to purchase any additional tickets so I'm not looking for reimbursement or compensation but do people think I should complain to SWT about the lack of knowledge and attitude of their staff or am I getting worked up unnecessarily?
Thanks