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to make complaint about ticket inspector who detained child and took their phone?

342 replies

SmellsLikeTeenSpirits · 04/07/2024 23:45

15 yo DD bought wrong train ticket today. She got off at stop after the one she'd bought ticket for because of a last minute change of plan with her friends. So a £2.70 journey rather than a £3 one.

At the final destination her and her friend were stopped by ticket inspector. They tried to explain what had happened and pay the excess. He wasn't having any of it. I can kind of sympathise with that.

What I would like your view on / experience of is this:

He detained them for 20 minutes. DD called me and was a bit shaken. I heard him say - you can't talk to your mum now - and then her phone went off. I tried calling and she messaged saying she'd call back in 5. He took her phone off her and went through her apps to try and prove she was over 15 (she looks 16 maybe - no older). In the end he accepted that she was in fact 15 and has written on the fine notice that he verified her age through her Vinted app. DD said she felt really uncomfortable as he went through her vinted page (where she is modelling some crop tops etc) and scrolled through the pictures. I got through to her again on the phone and asked her to put him on the phone but he refused.

Eventually he gave her a fine of £52 and let her go on her way.

Is this acceptable? Am I being unreasonable if I complain. I don't feel that an adult man should be detaining 15 year olds and confiscating their phones? She had the wrong ticket - just issue the fine if you need to?? Or am i being unreasonable - not having correct ticket is a crime - suck it up - the guy was just doing his job?

OP posts:
Squareplate · 05/07/2024 09:26

Nolongera · 05/07/2024 09:22

I suggest you post what happened on here

https://www.railforums.co.uk/forums/disputes-prosecutions.152/

Well worth a scan though too.

I doubt most train inspectors even know what vinted is, let alone try and use it for age verification.

This is the bit that doesn't quite ring true for me. DD must have offered her Vinted account for age verification, otherwise why on earth would anyone think of looking for that?

Anyway, yes report if you think it's as you say, I'm sure they do go for the easy targets and his bodycam will soon clarify things.

Does DD want you to report?

I'm also not sure that you've spoken to the parents of a whole load of 15yos, if I'm honest. I mean, who even knows all the parents of their 15yo's crowd?

Myblindsaredown · 05/07/2024 09:25

Yeah I’m not sure about this either, how did he get her phone and also access it, I’m really struggling to believe he took it against her will, gained access and then found her vinted , he was so clued up and could then use it to verify her age, sounds to me like she used it to verify her age to reduce the fine.

lemonmeringueno3 · 05/07/2024 09:25

I wouldn't 'drive over' myself.

To complain that they stopped a fare dodger, that they issued a fine, that they treated her like an adult until she could prove she was 15, that he looked at the app she showed him?

Just feels like middle class 'how dare you stop someone like us' to me.

I'm sure it was unpleasant and she was worried, that his brusque manner was different to what she's used to at home or at school, but lesson learnt really - get off at the stop you paid to get off at.

Nolongera · 05/07/2024 09:22

SmellsLikeTeenSpirits · 05/07/2024 08:55

Well this would be the tabloid version of the story for sure 😆.

I suggest you post what happened on here

https://www.railforums.co.uk/forums/disputes-prosecutions.152/

Well worth a scan though too.

I doubt most train inspectors even know what vinted is, let alone try and use it for age verification.

Notaboozy · 05/07/2024 09:21

Please report this man's completely inappropriate power trip at the expense of a young girl!

Gilo2024 · 05/07/2024 09:17

Please report him! Male, female, adult, whatever - in this situation, no one should have their phone taken off them and gone though. Massive invasion of privacy and unlawful. Report to the police as well as rail company.

Notacrab · 05/07/2024 09:10

I don't know why the usual suspects are having a dig at you Op. Of course you're not being unreasonable and should raise a complaint.

Mummyoflittledragon · 05/07/2024 09:03

LemonaBiscotti · 05/07/2024 08:55

but it’s really frightening to have an aggressive man having a go at you.
Some posters think it's fantastic and the OP's daughter deserved it. Envy

Yes I know. It’s disgusting (edit - referring to his behaviour). My dd has just turned 16. She’d be very scared.

faceid81 · 05/07/2024 09:02

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ellenfan · 05/07/2024 09:01

Report. I reported an overzealous train manager who took his bad day out on the (late) train. I got a very good reply.

Ignore the strange angry responses here saying your child is a liar etc.

Tracker1234 · 05/07/2024 09:01

Think there are some pork pies being told here. Why would a ticket inspector ramdomly check Vinted for age verfication? And take the phone from your daughter who then claims there were pictures of her with little on?

Do you really believe all of this because your daughter told you this and of course teens are never economical with the truth are they? I would be careful about make accusations about this man otherwise you might find yourself looking rather foolish.

Putting · 05/07/2024 09:00

@faceid81 why do you need to know what someone’s DH thinks? Are you one of those who thinks a man’s view must be more valid?

Absolutely no reason to think OP’s daughter is lying.

faceid81 · 05/07/2024 08:57

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faceid81 · 05/07/2024 08:56

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housethatbuiltme · 05/07/2024 08:55

Appeal the fine.

Report him.

Also don't most trainlines now hold policies for vulnerable people that allow free travel. I don't know the name as I don't use trains but its along the lines of Ask for Angela (pub harassment) or Ask for Henry (free food) because I remember the adverts when it started. I'm sure bosses would not be happy about someone in their employ harassing a child/girl over 30p given that they are suppose to protect them from that.

SmellsLikeTeenSpirits · 05/07/2024 08:55

Tracker1234 · 05/07/2024 08:32

Are you 100% certain this is the whole story? A ticket inspector grabbing her phone and scrolling through and finding pics of your daughter in skimpy clothes? All for 30p?

Well this would be the tabloid version of the story for sure 😆.

OP posts:
LemonaBiscotti · 05/07/2024 08:55

but it’s really frightening to have an aggressive man having a go at you.
Some posters think it's fantastic and the OP's daughter deserved it. Envy

Herewegoagainandagainandagain · 05/07/2024 08:54

She deserved to be pulled up for not having a valid ticket for her journey. 15 is old enough for the consequences of her actions.

If she wears crop tops in public and also poses with them on the internet how it that any different to someone seeing them via her phone? If that worries her then stop posting then.

If the story unfolded exactly the way you tell it, then definitely complain as he should not have taken her phone without permission, but I would be prepared to hear another side of the story too.

Putting · 05/07/2024 08:54

I hope your daughter isn’t too upset by this - some ticket inspectors are awful.

I remember almost being kicked off a train as a teenager because the inspector was convinced I had the wrong ticket (I didn’t - it was one of those that allowed you to travel via X or Y and the twat thought it was for travel via X and Y). Thankfully there was an off-duty staff member in the same carriage who sorted it out but it’s really frightening to have an aggressive man having a go at you.

SmellsLikeTeenSpirits · 05/07/2024 08:53

Nolongera · 05/07/2024 08:44

This.

They were off the train and in the station.

OP posts:
SmellsLikeTeenSpirits · 05/07/2024 08:52

Inthesnug · 05/07/2024 08:46

What train company/station was it?

The penalty fare notice was issued by GWR. But I couldn’t say whether the inspector works for them or a sub contractor. Going to drive over later today.

OP posts:
LemonaBiscotti · 05/07/2024 08:51

WTH???
This is my fear for my teen and I feared I was paranoid. Also security stopping them in shops on the suspicion of shoplifting. I try and tell mine not to put their mobile in and out of their pocket as I could be misconstrued as shoplifting if any security guy fancies a power trip.

The ticket iffier was bang out of order, I hope he gets dealt with.

faceid81 · 05/07/2024 08:48

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SmellsLikeTeenSpirits · 05/07/2024 08:46

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It’s not relevant to the question I asked the group. Of course I spoke to the parents of other child that was present- and the parents of the kids who were waiting at station for them - before sense checking with a group of strangers on internet. The friend - a boy - had ID with him so his phone was not taken. But he also called his parents and was told he could not speak to them. They are also up for making some form of complaint.

OP posts:
Inthesnug · 05/07/2024 08:46

What train company/station was it?