I am being threatened with a criminal record over a 70p shortfall in a train fare.
I am 67, and not at all dopey or infirm. Recently, I started to travel once a week into Manchester from Bolton station. Due to overcrowding I decided to try from Bolton Lostock instead.
When I arrived at the station the ticket office was closed for refurbishment. I planned to pay the conductor on the train but one did not appear – probably due to the overcrowding.
At my destination, Manchester Piccadilly, I queued up to buy my ticket and when my turn eventually came I was asked where I had got on the train – I said Bolton, not Bolton Lostock. I was issued with the ticket at a cost of £3.90. As I set off I felt a firm hand on my shoulder. An official explained that Northern Rail was clamping down on “fare dodgers”. He asked me three times why I had not bought a ticket at the station, and I told him three times that it was because the office was closed.
When he pointed out it was not possible, I realised my mistake and told him I’d got on at Bolton Lostock. He said there was a price difference of 70p, but he wouldn’t accept my payment and instead spent 30 minutes taking down my details.
I am now being pursued for fare evasion and have been told I owe 70p and an £80 fine. If I don’t pay I face £150 legal costs and a criminal record. I have sent them the 70p but told them I will not be paying their £80 fine as I am not guilty of their accusations. AD, Bolton
As we have often pointed out, train companies insist that passengers put up with their mistakes – their inability to hire enough drivers/too few working ticket offices/not enough rolling stock/trains not running on time etc – but if a passenger makes the tiniest error they get this kind of treatment.
You were understandably angry at being threatened with a criminal record over 70p. You have to wonder who at Northern Rail thought it was a good idea to pursue a first-time offender like this for such a small sum. Do these people all live such perfect lives?
We asked the company about your case. Originally, it stuck to the line that it would prosecute you if you failed to pay the £80 fine. “It is our duty to make it as easy as possible for our customers to purchase a ticket before they board our trains,” it told us. After we pointed out that it had not made it possible for you to buy a ticket, the company eventually relented.
“We are committed to a firm but fair approach in preventing and reducing fare evasion on our services and in order to do this we must have a consistent approach,” it says. Northern Rail has now accepted your 70p payment for the shortfall and closed the file.
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