Trains: aggressive ticket inspectors

[ShesGottaTicket2Ride]

I know that the ticket inspectors at major stations have a tough time with people who want to 'ride for free'.. as well as drunks, injuries, bad pay etc...(and I am VERY sympathetic) .. HOWEVER, my dd just had a really difficult time with the local ticket inspectors (we are in a big city). She'd forgotten her 16-25 railcard (had never forgotten it before)... and was travelling a long distance. It's her fault (and we told her so) but the ticket inspectors apparently reduced her to tears while 5 other ticket chaps stood there staring. The chap in question told her that she would get a criminal record, stood intimidatingly close to her, wanted to know her height (?... what was THAT about), and apparently said: well I don't know how you'll get home!.....' it's just that dd is a timid sort and the treatment seemed a bit heavy-handed. I don't know if any other parents have similar stories (I would be interested to know). I was talking to the local police (on another matter) and mentioned this incident... kind police lady said: yes - we've been getting a lot of reports about this sort of behaviour... do let us know if you have a problem like this again...

At 15, 4 years ago, my son was travelling on a train from Brighton to South Wales to visit his grandparents. He forgot his railcard and had no money on him, both his fault. The inspector refused his pleas to speak to one of us on his phone or his complete assurance that his grandfather would pay the extra in Cardiff. Instead he was put off the train in Portsmouth. My husband had to go to a local station, buy a new ticket and then they faxed it through and he could take another train. We were furious.

luckylavender --

well that is exactly the sort of obstructive behaviour I mean.... sure - no excuse for your son to forget money or railcard but the behaviour of the inspector just fails me in terms of common sense and decency. Not even a phone call? and he was a teen (child)?

as for posts on this thread from ticket inspectors - agreed.. most of you are conscientious, work hard and get treated badly .. it's just the occasional few...

I wonder if the rail companies could institute better training and some sort of check list/decision matrix/flow chart for dealing with ticket forgetters/ fare evaders etc... right now (judging from this thread) it sounds like the wild west out there! ..