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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate having my ticket checked?

79 replies

HaydeeofMonteCristo · 10/11/2015 08:39

I suspect I am being very unreasonable. I have no objection whatever to buying a ticket BTW.

I travel alot on trains for work, often long/ longish journeys and all different.

My job is quite stressful plus I have dcs 7 and 1. Dh works even longer hours than me so we are always busy. I also suspect I am an introvert by nature.

On trains I really like to just zone out, whether it be into a book, mn, playing a game or just my own thoughts. It really bugs me when the collectors intrude on my thoughts with "tickets please", especially when they shout it as they come into the carriage expecting everyone to wait with their tickets out til they come to you.

The obvious response is, how else will they know if people have paid. There are barriers at every station. But I guess I'm not really saying they shouldn't do it, just wondering if anyone else hates it.

I am never rude about it, just show my ticket in silence quite a lot.

Is it weird to see time on the train as really precious quiet time?

To recap, I'm not really saying they shouldn't do it, just wondering if anyone else hates it.

OP posts:
UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 10/11/2015 08:44

Yes, you are weird and U.

But I feel exactly the same Grin

diddl · 10/11/2015 08:45

I don't mind it it happens quite soon & then I know that I can doze for the rest of the journey!

Pootles2010 · 10/11/2015 08:45

No i agree that time on train is precious time, but can't see a way around it - not all stations have barriers, certainly ours didn't - they looked into it, but weren't allowed as it's listed.

scribblegirl · 10/11/2015 08:45

I love getting my ticket checked! I often travel between two stations which don't have barriers and if they don't check my ticket I'm always resentful that I bought one when I 'didn't have to' Grin

(For the avoidance of doubt I always do!)

Catsize · 10/11/2015 08:48

I know what you mean.
But then I am usually the person juggling two toddlers who can't find the ticket at the bottom of a bag of nappies.

BorderTerrierControl · 10/11/2015 08:50

YANBU. I can't chill properly until the whole ticket checking malarky is done and dusted. Properly bugs me when they wait a few stops before getting it over with. You know the inevitable interruption is coming so you're just in limbo, waiting...

Twizzelgrl · 10/11/2015 08:57

I don't travel on trains in the UK anymore. But are tickets still a thing? Isn't there an app for that? I hated having these bits of paper , very bad for the environment also.

Original poster
HaydeeofMonteCristo · 10/11/2015 08:58

Thanks! Good to know I'm not the only one.

catsize that would be me on a non working day, but then I wouldn't be getting to chill anyway.

Seeing other people juggling with kids on the train is the thing that makes me count my lucky stars when travelling alone and be less bothered re ticket checks and other minor interruptions.

OP posts:
diddl · 10/11/2015 09:00

Are tickets still a thing?

Yes!

And I hope that they are for a long time to come!

I don't have a smart/iphone whatever& I don't bloody well want want!

diddl · 10/11/2015 09:00

want one!Blush

Twizzelgrl · 10/11/2015 09:01

Hun there might be a deal for you on black Friday x

ARV1981 · 10/11/2015 09:05

I try to get a table seat, and just put my ticket on the table ready when I get on the train. That way, they don't have to wake me up if I fall asleep...

Original poster
HaydeeofMonteCristo · 10/11/2015 09:08

Ha ha, nice one twizzel, carina ;-)

OP posts:
Original poster
HaydeeofMonteCristo · 10/11/2015 09:10

Wink even

OP posts:
JaWellNoFine · 10/11/2015 09:13

Well. This morning our trains are horrendous. 1 hour in on a 40 minute journey and I have moved 4 stations. So yes, when the ticket inspector walked through 5 minutes ago I was not happy .. Was actually annoyed at the audacity and told him he should be offering refunds instead.

PinkSquash · 10/11/2015 09:17

We don't have gatelines in my area of the network and probably won't for many years.

Being a Ticket Examiner or Conductor is a valuable job on the railway Wink

Be thankful you don't come up against Revenue Protection Inspectors doing ticket 'blocks' Grin

specialsubject · 10/11/2015 09:19

if everyone could be trusted to buy a ticket, there would be no need. Also some stations are unmanned with broken machines so those that WANT to buy a ticket have to wait for the collector.

you can spare a minute at your ultra-precious time.

whining at the person doing their job for 'audacity' is also incredibly unreasonable, although other adjectives would be more appropriate. He doesn't maintain the network and I can guess what he thinks of you.

Original poster
HaydeeofMonteCristo · 10/11/2015 09:20

What is a ticket block out of interest?

Nb - the conversation with twizzel is re another thread.

OP posts:
NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 10/11/2015 09:24

scrabblegirl yoh resent paying for a service that your using regardless of wether your ticket is checked? Do you resent paying for goods if there's no one at the tills. Seriously you don't have to but a ticket because it might be checked you are buying a ticket to use a service! Do you generally get your electricity/petrol for free do you resent paying for thaf!

I'm like you op my time travelling is very much my time I like losing myself in my phone or daydreaming and yeah quite q lot of the time I just hand my ticket to the inspector in silence!

TattyDevine · 10/11/2015 09:26

It brings out the rebellious teenager in me too.

Makes me want to take my time a bit and show him when I'm good and ready Grin

I know it is unreasonable.

The irony is that in my home town, I did this very job for over a year, and we could issue on the spot fines and arrest people for not giving their details etc. So I know they are only doing their job!

Generally what I would do was put my ticket out on the table in front of me and doze off anyway. Then they could check it at their leisure and I didn't get my rebellious pants in a bunch.

PoppyBlossom · 10/11/2015 09:30

Do you not just rest your ticket on the pull down table in front of you? That's what I usually do/see sleeping train passengers do.

TurnWifiOn · 10/11/2015 09:44

I just flash my ticket from my Credit card wallet (Window bit), I make sure that you can see the date and the Ticket person nods, I do it as though I am flashing an important Badge and often tempted to shout FBI! or similar.

OP Yabu, he is just doing his job

Oldsu · 10/11/2015 09:44

The obvious response is, how else will they know if people have paid. There are barriers at every station

And???? the ticket inspectors are not just there to see if a person has a ticket, but to ensure the person has the correct ticket.

Take a few examples, a second class ticket when a passenger is sitting in first or a ticket paid only to a destination a couple of stops before.

Also pricing structures are such that certain cheap fares only apply to certain trains, your ticket will get you through the barrier and onto the station but people do try and use these tickets to get on a another train where their ticket is not valid.

It happened to me once I had a cheap ticket that allowed me on a train that left a station at 3pm but not the one before, I got to the platform at 2.55 and jumped on the train believing it to be the 3pm, when my ticket was checked I was on the wrong train, it was the one before which was running late and so had to pay the difference, a stupid mistake on my part but it was my fault

Oldsu · 10/11/2015 09:46

Oh and I never hand my ticket to the ticket collector in silence - what appalling manners. I always smile and interact with them

Bumdance · 10/11/2015 09:49

It's my job. I don't really care if you don't like it as long as you're not one of those rude passengers who holds a ticket in my vague direction without even looking up from your phone/book. If you do that I will hold it in your vague direction once I've checked it, without looking up from my machine. Yes, I know that two wrongs don't make a right Grin

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