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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Train conductor took bribe

133 replies

Truckingalong · 09/01/2017 08:05

On a train, woman with a dog, loud, outgoing, charming, bit quirky. Guard came for tickets. She asked him if she gave him a tenner, would he let her have a ticket for a pound (Durham to London). Unbelievably, he did. She was squealing with delight, kissed him and told everyone around her. He stuffed the money in his pocket and went on his merry way. I told her I couldn't believe that had just happened. She bellowed, oh fuck it, he's on low wages, who cares. WIBU to be shocked?

OP posts:
Original poster
Truckingalong · 09/01/2017 09:29

CX, I know, I thought that too but then it just feels odd to be in the uk and witness an ordinary working chap accepting bribes. It's just not in our culture to operate like that. I don't feel outraged by it - just a bit taken aback.

OP posts:
diddl · 09/01/2017 09:30

Ah that's interesting.

I come across to UK 2/3 times a year, usually into Gatwick & then take the train to the Midlands.

I can rarely get the barriers to take my ticket!

Goodness knows what I do wrong!

NormaSmuff · 09/01/2017 09:32

i reckon it was the admin fee

shovetheholly · 09/01/2017 09:34

I believe you - I've met people like this. I am in awe of her charm and brass neck! And I wouldn't report it, just see it as a lesson in the way bending the usual social rules can sometimes yield surprising results! Smile But then I have a kind of Dickensian pleasure in people watching, particularly when someone is a charming rascal.

User006point5 · 09/01/2017 09:34

Does anyone remember being in London in around 1980. Lots of people would travel on the underground with no ticket, and at the barrier just hand the member of staff 40p (minimum fare, even if they'd travelled across multiple zones), and he or she would let you through the barrier, no questions asked. Some days, the barrier person would have handfuls of cash. I was only about 18, and I couldn't believe there were so many dishonest people!

Daisyfrumps · 09/01/2017 09:43

Oh it MUST have been an admin fee for changing up to a return ticket... She was probably well aware it cost this much and was having you all on? He was playing along with it.

Ginorchoc · 09/01/2017 09:44

Sound like she was just flirting with him, I missed a train back from Kings Cross on the Virgin East coast and pleaded not to be charged full fare as it was a tube and flight delay and myself and daughter had been traveling for 13 hours. He charged a token fee and a £10 admin charge. If she is a regular she probably knew that and was just teasing if she was loud and flirty and he was going along with it to humour her.

DailyFail1 · 09/01/2017 09:49

I know at virgin the ticket inspector has some discretion over ticket charges. For example waiving 1st class upgrades, selling reduced fair tickets etc.

Ginorchoc · 09/01/2017 09:49

Just want to add the token fee and admin charge was on top of the £100 odd I'd already paid for the train I'd missed by minutes so no escaping the full ticket already paid incase someone complains Hmm

Original poster
Truckingalong · 09/01/2017 09:50

She wasn't a regular - I explained that earlier. It wasn't an admin fee either. His response and her response proved that. There were no hidden cameras or acting going on.

OP posts:
topofwelly · 09/01/2017 09:51

He must have issued the new type of ticket otherwise fare coded as B011-0X

This is the biggest load of crap that's been on here in a while. I do Durham to London twice a week, every week, and I know all the guards on these trains. There is no way they would take a bribe.

The woman was talking utter rubbish. Well done those of you who saw sense in the fact that she was probably excessing a £131 super off peak single into a £132 super off peak return, and paying the admin fee. Nothing like showing off for something that you are legally obliged to pay!

Manumission · 09/01/2017 09:51

I don't remember there being barriers that closed on the tube prior to 89 or 90 user.

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 09/01/2017 09:52

How much is a ticket? It wouldn't be £11 by any chance?

Wenchelda · 09/01/2017 09:53

I sell train tickets as part of my job and it is simply not possible (at least on any ticket machine I've come across) to issue a ticket at any price other than that which is already in the system.

Original poster
Truckingalong · 09/01/2017 09:54

She was flirting with him. She was flirting with everyone. She was a loud extrovert pain but charming and smooth with it. Very well spoken, which made the 'fuck it' sound very posh!!!

OP posts:
mothertruck3r · 09/01/2017 09:56

Well, this is the kind of thing that happens when lowly ticket inspectors see politicians and bankers getting away with corruption time and time again. Why should the little people act morally when their job probably pays peanuts and those lecturing them on how to behave are the worst possible role models who don't practice what they preach!?

zippey · 09/01/2017 09:57

I've had a conductor taking dodgy pay before from myself. It was a quiet train and some years ago. But I payed half the ticket price and he pocketed the money without giving me a ticket. We were both happy.

This kind of stuff does happen, I'd probably even do it now if they offered.

Christmasnoooooooooooo · 09/01/2017 09:59

Just tweet the train company with train details. And you have reported it .

WorraLiberty · 09/01/2017 10:09

On a train, woman with a dog, loud, outgoing, charming, bit quirky.

Yes but what was the woman like? Grin

BobbiTheCynicalPanda · 09/01/2017 10:16

M & S. Clothes have been awful for nearly two decades, now even the food's going downhill.

PickledCauliflower · 09/01/2017 10:16

He wouldn't be able to get away with pocketing any money if he supplied a ticket, as his ticket sales and cash takings wouldn't add up at the end of his shift.

BratFarrarsPony · 09/01/2017 10:17

no way did that happen.

Spam88 · 09/01/2017 10:22

Honestly it really sounds like she swapped her single for a return - £10 is the admin fee for changing your ticket with all train companies I think? It probably was a bit cheeky seeing as she was already on the return leg of her journey hence her bravado?

SparkleShinyGlitter · 09/01/2017 10:27

If something sounds too good to be true.................

User006point5 · 09/01/2017 10:29

Manumission There were barriers, just not automatic ones. At the barrier, you showed/gave up your ticket or, if you were dishonest, just gave 40p no questions asked!