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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Was I unreasonable to dob someone in?

391 replies

VulvicMineralWater · 27/04/2017 11:38

NC as this might be quite outing.

I commute to work on the train. I get on at stop A and off at stop D, both of which have ticket barriers. I always buy a ticket when I travel.

Stops B and C don't have ticket barriers.

A man got on at Stop B. The inspector came around asking for anyone who got on at Stop B. The inspector was very visible and called out "Stop B passengers" loudly enough for everyone to hear. The man didn't have headphones in. Yet, the man didn't show his ticket.

So, as the inspector passed I pointed out the man and said he'd got on at Stop B. Inspector then went to check his ticket and what a surprise the man didn't have one.

The man called me an interfering bitch. Meh, yeah, that's pretty accurate but it fucks me off that people feel as though buying a ticket is optional. It's not. You're using a service, you need to pay for it.

So was I unreasonable to dob this guy in?

OP posts:
JustAKitten · 27/04/2017 17:14

Should be nationalised.

Increasinglymiddleaged · 27/04/2017 17:30

I find it intriguing that there is such a strong idea that it is wrong to "tell" except in extreme circumstances.

I don't think I've ever actually said it is wrong to tell. The real criminals are the train companies to me here. You can disagree, fine, shrugs but that's how I see it. The 'criminal' doesn't take anything, marginal cost of them getting the train is zero. Prices go up by RPI regardless.

Lweji · 27/04/2017 17:44

I don't think this 'no one pays ever again' revolution is really going to happen anyway is it?

Because of people like you. Grin

Lweji · 27/04/2017 17:50

What do people here think it's fair to report other people on? Where do you draw the line between hero and interfering cow?
And don't use extreme examples, but the border line where you separate the two.

Ethylred · 27/04/2017 17:56

Worra, the OP asked whether she was being unreasonable. She found your response unconvincing and told you so. Good for her.

wasonthelist · 27/04/2017 18:00

Yet another post about someone policing others behaviour. Why anyone feels the need to do this is beyond me.

Well it's what we used to call "Society" pre-Thatcher.

Increasinglymiddleaged · 27/04/2017 18:01

Because of people like you.

[Grin] Grin

TBF I rarely get a train I can't claim back on expenses, one large corporate fleecing another. So in reality it doesn't raise me to suffragette-type levels or maybe I'm just a law abiding wimp (or wino as predictive texting suggested)

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 27/04/2017 18:15

Lewji

I would report assault , verbal abuse , suspected child abuse etc . Harm to people
I would also consider whistle blowing in the case of a major ethics breach

I think as petty crime like this can be linked to poverty - I tend to avoid

CherryMintVanilla · 27/04/2017 18:52

Good for you OP. I wouldn't do it myself, but train tickets are so expensive, how dare some people decide they don't have to pay!

I am currently 'linked to poverty' - very much so. I budget for train tickets - or I get the bus - or I ask for a lift - or I reschedule an appointment. But I don't steal. Being poor hasn't made my morals disappear.

LadyGlitterSparklesSeriously · 27/04/2017 18:57

He was probably absolutely skint. I used to fare dodge when living at home at 16, I didn't have money to buy myself tampons and food let alone pay for my train to college.

DH used to fare dodge when DS was small because we were 'working poor', zero-hour contracts and living in the arse-end of nowhere with just an expensive train running to the next town/civilization/his job. Getting caught was rare but when he did, we'd be badly worse off that week.

It's probably out of necessity, fare dodging is nerve-wracking.

But if you have the warm and fuzzies who cares eh?

Natsku · 27/04/2017 19:00

I'd report anything that causes harm to someone so I wouldn't report someone dodging ticket fees but I would report someone shoplifting from the corner shop (wouldn't in a big supermarket if its something like a loaf of bread or baby formula but if its something unnecessary like booze or a joint of beef I would)
I guess for me it boils down to would it be missed? Would someone suffer? Will reporting it result in justice?

AyeAmarok · 27/04/2017 19:36

I consider fare dodging to be just like shoplifting. And I don't think shoplifting is OK.

Plus, it's rarely those with no other option who do it, it's chancers who want to spend their money on other things that are more fun.

Increasinglymiddleaged · 27/04/2017 20:06

I consider fare dodging to be just like shoplifting. And I don't think shoplifting is OK.

The difference between the two for me is that shoplifting you physically remove something of value. The marginal cost is the cost of replacing what you stole so if it's a cost that may be £30. On the other hand with fare dodging (which OK is wrong) the marginal cost of someone getting the train is zero because it is running anyway whether or not the person who doesn't pay gets on. There is nothing physical lost, other than they should have paid. So I still think it is the lesser of the 2.

Increasinglymiddleaged · 27/04/2017 20:06

Coat I meant.

Natsku · 27/04/2017 20:09

Like increasingly said, there's a difference between shoplifting and fare dodging - shoplifting means someone loses value, fare dodging technically doesn't.

MarcelineTVQ · 27/04/2017 20:10

Imagine if they followed you off of the train and ... I don't want to finish that sentence. They could be anyone!

nixi86 · 27/04/2017 20:12

Lweji My ex neighbours son petrol bombed a small shop behind my old house, the shop keeper was in there at the time, he climbed over my back wall on his way home, didn't hesitate to report it to the police. Ended up getting threatened and graffiti put all over my house saying me and my children were next, didn't stop me giving evidence in court.

Ex manager stole £200 charity money I had raised so he had extra spends on holiday, reported to police and area manager.

Woman I seen shoplifting calpol, wouldn't dream of reporting.

Strangers on a train who have no impact on me or my journey, i honestly wouldn't of even noticed, nobody was physically or mentally hurt, people are employed to chase them up..... not my business.

Admittedly I don't use trains very often, I've got a £90 journey coming up for an interview, I will pay my fare because it's my fare, I won't be worrying about anybody else and if they've paid theirs

Lweji · 27/04/2017 21:05

I agree that telling about this person openly was either very brave or reckless, but I wouldn't say it was wrong on principle. I understand it can be a grey area in terms of opinions, but the OP certainly doesn't deserve the names she was called.

While one person not paying doesn't make a big dent, the more people don't pay, the worse the services are. Private or nationalised.

BTW, the reason off peak fares are cheaper is to encourage people to use transport at off peak times.
Sure, it's not really fair (cost wise) for those who need to use transport at peak times, but for transport companies (and those who pay to use them) it's best to have similar numbers of people using transport throughout the day instead of all at the same time.
At some points, trains will be to capacity with very short intervals between trains running and no extra space at stations.
So, if tourists, retired people, and workers on flexible time (such as me) decide to use off peak transport because it's cheaper, it puts less strain on services and the people who do have to travel at peak times can travel more comfortably.

Lweji · 27/04/2017 21:08

Woman I seen shoplifting calpol, wouldn't dream of reporting.

I agree. Although I'd probably offer to pay it for her. :)

I haven't reported anyone for not paying fares. At least not yet. I don't think I will or would. But I really can't condemn the OP for doing it either.

mtpaektu · 27/04/2017 21:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Headofthehive55 · 27/04/2017 22:35

The more that people fare dodge - the less income the companies get. The more pressure on fares. I am surprised that people can't see that.

GotToGetMyFingerOut · 27/04/2017 22:41

Nope you werent. I get the train once every couple of years. Kids asked to go on a day out somewhere on a train last week. Got on on the way home. Guy got on too. No barriers at that station. He went straight into the toilet.

Queue formed of about six people to go in toilet. One woman with a girl of about two who was saying she was bursting. Guy came out and got straight off the train when it stopped five stops later so he was likely hiding from ticket inspector as didn't even flush the toilet. Totally selfish.

NatureIsAWhore · 27/04/2017 23:03

I wouldn't have said anything.

But I do live in an area with many small unmanned stations. A few of which are at risk of being shut down. I use one of these stations and I pay on the train. The train companies need to see that these small stations are being used so as not to shut the down. Tickets is proof of this.

Saying that, I've been on the train 5 days this week, there and back. And on one day I didn't pay as both stations were umanned & I didn't see a conductor on the trains.

TheStoic · 28/04/2017 01:07

The OP didn't dob in him for not having a ticket.

She didn't KNOW he didn't have a ticket. She simply pointed out he got on at a certain stop.

If he'd done the right thing and bought a ticket, there'd be no harm done.

Surprised there are so many people who condone theft on Mumsnet. Would be interesting to see how this thread would have gone if the OP said she was the one dobbed in and she didn't have a ticket.

Increasinglymiddleaged · 28/04/2017 07:20

While one person not paying doesn't make a big dent, the more people don't pay, the worse the services are. Private or nationalised.

The lower the profits are of the company, it is highly simplistic to assume that the fares are all ploughed into track maintenance because they aren't.

Sure, it's not really fair (cost wise) for those who need to use transport at peak times, but for transport companies (and those who pay to use them) it's best to have similar numbers of people using transport throughout the day instead of all at the same time.

Again there is some truth in that. However I don't think it justifies the price differences where a walk up ticket can be 3x the price of one an hour and a half later on many lines. Interestingly if you go the other way on the other popular journey from here peak is about 25% more expensive which seems totally reasonable. There is undoubtedly abuse of monopoly power and a ridiculous policy of compound RPI meaning it will only get worse.