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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to use someone else's train ticket?

45 replies

whyohwhywhy · 28/01/2011 10:31

My DH and I both commute into work. The price of our ticket went up by 13% last month to the point we can barely afford to actually travel to work, DH pays £450 a month and I pay £350 a month.

There is one day a week when DH works at home which means he is not using his paid for train ticket. To try and save money and because it is a valid ticket I have been using DH's ticket. It saves me about £25 a day so a total saving of £100 a month which is not to be sniffed at. We struggle financially as it is to pay for childcare so it really helps.

I thought nothing of this but a friend pointed out that if British Transport Police check my ticket I could be fined.... The ticket does have my DH's name on it so it would be obvious to anyone who checked that it was his ticket and not mine.

BUT DH has paid for the ticket and is not using it so I don't think I'm BU to use it. What do you think?

OP posts:
MrsWobble · 28/01/2011 11:01

It's wrong and it's fraud but you know that. If you worked for my employer you could lose your job if caught and convicted - and yes - I do know someone this happened to so it's not just a theoretical risk. Your employer may not take the same view but you might want to check.

Crispmonster · 28/01/2011 11:02

I would use it and wouldn't feel guilty whatsoever. Train companies rip commuters off on a daily basis

Strictly · 28/01/2011 11:02

Considering someone just got a massive fine for getting off a stop early on the train there is no way I'd risk it. A fine and a possible court appearance.. no thanks!

It's fraud, it's like parking your car without a ticket, saves you money til the day you get caught and towed!

cantspel · 28/01/2011 11:04

It is not just an on the spot £10 fine that you are risking but a criminsl conviction, a fine of upto £1000 and court costs of £100,s as well.

Is it still worth it?

Mumwithadragontattoo · 28/01/2011 11:06

Some tickets are transferable so you should check. Assuming it isn't I have been tempted to do this. My DH has a season ticket but as I only commute 2 days a week I just pay daily fare. When he is away he still has his valid season ticket which he isn't using and I have considered using it and it would get me through the barriers at each end. I never have done it though because I am too scared of the ticket inspector. I think the consequences of having someone else's ticket might actually be worse than having no ticket. You can always bluff a lost ticket or rushing and not having time to get one as train leaving but using someone else's is more obviously deliberate. The fine wouldn't be too bad but if I was prosecuted I would probably lose my job.

Strictly · 28/01/2011 11:06

Plus the humiliation of getting kicked off the train goodness knows where!

bubblewrapped · 28/01/2011 11:16

I cant see why the Op doesnt use her own ticket? She says she has a monthly ticket anyway.

minibmw2010 · 28/01/2011 11:18

I don't think OP has said she has a monthly ticket, just that she has told us what the cost of her ticket is per month. I take that to mean she either buys weekly or daily tickets.

Original poster
whyohwhywhy · 28/01/2011 11:18

no I said I spend £350 per month for my ticket. I commute 3 days a week, so pay for daily tickets. It doesn't work out cheaper to buy a season ticket unfortunately, I've checked.

OP posts:
bubblewrapped · 28/01/2011 11:19

Thats just daft though. You save a fortune by buying a monthly ticket. Most employers will give season ticket loans too.

bubblewrapped · 28/01/2011 11:20

Ah right. Cross posted.

Well, its your risk. How often do you get asked for your ticket when you are travelling?

Original poster
whyohwhywhy · 28/01/2011 11:24

Monthly tickets assume people work full-time and are using the trains 5 (or even 7) days a week every week. It doesn't cater for the fact that nowadays many people are working part-time or are working from home and so don't need to use their ticket every day.

When I did work full-time and had a season ticket it was bad enough paying for a 7 day weekly ticket when I knew that I only ussed it Mon-Fri and yet was being charged for a weekend too...

OP posts:
coraltoes · 28/01/2011 11:27

Oh just play the innocent "what? oh sh*t i've picked up my husband's ticket instead of my own!!!" and look mortified. But i'd say if you get caught dont do it again!!

Original poster
whyohwhywhy · 28/01/2011 11:33

Never ever been stopped by a ticket inspector, there are no ticket inspectors on the train. Simple case of putting ticket through automatic barriers.

of course now I've said that there'll be a whole fleet of ticket inspectors bombarding trains and stations...

OP posts:
Mumwithadragontattoo · 28/01/2011 11:48

If there's no inspector normally and the fine for first offence is £10 I would risk it. Just have the "Damn I've picked up my husband's ticket by mistake" line ready if an inspector does get on.

LadyOfTheManor · 28/01/2011 11:53

I agree with MUM I'd say "oops I've picked up my husband's ticket, he's going to look funny carrying a ticket with a woman's name on it..etc"

YANBU. The prices of public transport shouldn't be so extortionate. especially when the lazy bastards are always on strike.

MrSpoc · 28/01/2011 12:02

i think this is re-donkylous.

It is a paid for ticket that is not being used. Therefore the travel has been paid and does not matter who uses it.

The law is an ass. Yes it is illegal and you can be fined but seriously if i buy a theme park ticket and decied not to use it but give it to someone else then no one is out of pocket.

And Shock at the cost of travel, have you concidred relocating to be nearer work.

How can the rail companies justify these charges when the goverment are trying to encourage people to use trains as an alternitive form of commutting. Ill stick to my car thanks. (sorry went on a little)

tethersend · 28/01/2011 12:07

First capital cunts connect by any chance, OP?

KittaKatta · 28/01/2011 12:13

I think I?d try it and brazen it out if caught.
I agree it?s a ridiculous amount and a ridiculous system.
I also commute by train, and when I was working 5 days a week a monthly ticket was ok, but now I work from home 2 days a week it?s silly.
I really don?t understand why they don?t do more of a Oyster card system on the trains too. It would surely make sense for the companies too as I?m sure that most people would load up their card monthly, or whatever and then the companies would have all that money to play with in advance. And it would be quicker, it?s the faff of having to queue for a ticket every morning too.

VagosaurusRex · 28/01/2011 12:15

I agree. This actually makes me quite angry. The money has been paid, FFS. And those who spout the illegality of the act, thinking that it supercedes its unfairness also make me angry. Why do we have to be slaves to this greed? Why can't we, as passengers, all go on strike? Just all of us refuse to pay until prices and ticketing rules are more reasonable. Surely train companies wouldn't take hundreds and hundreds of people to court at the same time?

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