Should I re appeal a train penalty fine? If yes how can I do it more efficiectevly?

Don't take this the wrong way, but do you want to re-appeal more efficiently or more effectively?
Or is that a smashing new word that means both?
 
One of the reasons for rejection of my appeal was that I should have provided sufficient time to purchase a ticket, but what is sufficient time? If the ticket office is open but no one is answering, then what is sufficient time, 20 mins, 40mins, genuine question Is not turning up to an open ticket office and requesting to be served not sufficient time, even if no one responds?
 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
You are, but it depends on who gets to you first. If it's the conductor and they're of a decent disposition you pay the fare. Otherwise you may be hit by the fare plus the added tax.
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Conductors (and platform barrier staff) used to get bonuses for every ticket they sold. To motivate them to catch fare-dodgers. Even the accidental ones.
Don't know if that us still the case.
 
Rofesleg said:
Don't take this the wrong way, but do you want to re-appeal more efficiently or more effectively?
Or is that a smashing new word that means both?
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I take it as effectively, because they have rejected my appeal so I want to be effective as win the 2nd appeal. If it's a **** take , soz my mood is a bit moody tonight so have missed it.
 
exeterboro said:
One of the reasons for rejection of my appeal was that I should have provided sufficient time to purchase a ticket, but what is sufficient time? If the ticket office is open but no one is answering, then what is sufficient time, 20 mins, 40mins, genuine question Is not turning up to an open ticket office and requesting to be served not sufficient time, even if no one responds?
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I suppose they'll get round that with the availability of ticket machines.
The better argument might be that you just thought you could buy on the train. Do they have loads of signs saying that you can't?
 
exeterboro said:
I take it as effectively, because they have rejected my appeal so I want to be effective as win the 2nd appeal. If it's a **** take , soz my mood is a bit moody tonight so have missed it.
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Not a p1sstake, just a light hearted observation. No offence intended.
 
The one thing I do not understand really is what stage you are at. Have you just been fined or have you had a fine imposed or an appeal refused?

I would've refused the fine on the basis that the ticket office wasn't available because the machines don't offer the full range of fares.

I would refuse to pay and get the train company to check their video records of you trying to get staff to deal with you.

However as said before it depends on whether its worth your time.

*sorry just seen that last post.
 
There's usually quite a few signs now informing you that you must have a valid ticket before travel. In the old days I think plenty would chance not getting stopped on the train and if they did would just pay the conductor and claim they didn't have time to buy a ticket beforehand, so there was no real risk of being accused of fare dodging. So the companies changed the process and made it an offence to board without a valid ticket unless you could prove you were unable to buy one.

Annoying, but makes it clearer for the train companies to catch fare dodgers. Like others have said, if you haven't used trains for a while it's easy to be caught out by the change. Mind you if fares were reasonable in the first place there would be less dodgers.
 
Jonny_Rondos_Disco_pants said:
Use the app to buy 🤷‍♂️
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My phone is on its way out, so couldn't get proper data connection. A little more of the Backstory to the fine:-

•I had been at an all day training session at a place north of newton Abbott
•after the training at 1630, I had a lift to Teignmouth train station, the traffic was horrendous and we arrive about 3-4 minutes before the train was due. My mate pulled right up to the main entrance of the ticket station but didn't see the ticket machine, which was there, as I get older I find my observing capacity diminishes a little.
• Tried at the ticket office as discussed previously
•I there is no ticket machines on the platforms, the ticket conductor must have watched me then approached me as I got on the train. I didn't see him because the platforms were busy, that isn't an excuse but a fact.
 
While most conductors still do let you buy on the train unfortunately the rules are that you have to buy one in advance. If you want to still appeal, you would be best to point out (a) that you had a reasonable expectation that an open ticket office would be staffed and (b) there is nothing in the rules regarding the time you have to arrive at the station. What if there was a queue of 10 people for example?
Difficulty with all of that is that you likely had the opportunity to buy from the ticket machine - so by the letter of the law you are stuck in my view.
 
GingerTravel said:
. If you want to still appeal, you would be best to point out (a) that you had a reasonable expectation that an open ticket office would be staffed and (b) there is nothing in the rules regarding the time you have to arrive at the station. What if there was a queue of 10 people for example?
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But doesn't this apply to the rail company as well , without specifying an exact time they cannot say I have not allowed sufficient time especially as they did not have a body at the ticket office when it was open.

When does 'not sufficient time' become 'sufficient time', it can't just be when you get a ticket because that does not factor into any thinking poor service by the rail company.
 
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