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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think if you don't have your railcard then of course your ticket is invalid

79 replies

nicolasturgeonGRTRtheresamay · 08/09/2017 12:31

twitter.com/AndyGbootneck/status/905790014927364097

Guy lost his wallet and so the train staff told him to buy a new ticket as it wasn't valid. He couldn't as didn't have his wallet. But he's blaming the staff.

Surely they are just following procedure?

This is why it's good to keep a second card outside of your wallet or purse or save a card to your phone. Maybe there should be an emergency ticket type system. Virgin are refunding the extra ticket bought so it's all fine in the end.

OP posts:
LoniceraJaponica · 08/09/2017 12:36

I keep the email from the railcard provider on my phone as proof.

Polarbearflavour · 08/09/2017 12:48

Train managers can use their discretion...

Original poster
nicolasturgeonGRTRtheresamay · 08/09/2017 13:44

Maybe they had already had a day of entitled people being rude to them?

OP posts:
Basecamp21 · 08/09/2017 14:08

One of those times when strictly the staff are in the right. But seeing as the guy had clearly lost his wallet - no-one seems to be denying that - a little human compassion/common sense would have gone a long way.

Acting like jobworths ultimately makes their own job harder as the public lose respect for them.

Nuttynoo · 08/09/2017 14:14
  1. The guy had his wallet with his disabled card stolen but had his ticket. He proved he was disabled by showing he had only one leg.
  1. Virgin would never have denied him boarding had he been in a wheelchair. I've seen it many times - wheelchair user has had their handbag/wallet nicked, has their ticket, and so are waved through.
  1. Begging, stealing, armed robbery - it all goes down at London Euston but the police only come out when it's time to deal with an 'unruly' passenger.

The whole rail system is a shambles.

Birdsgottafly · 08/09/2017 14:14

He showed them the details on his phone.

It was said "how do we even know that you are disabled?" Even though he showed them his prosthetic leg.

So if you are mugged, you can be stranded somewhere, even though you've got ID on you?

It was a Jobsworth who wanted to play little Hitler. The Railway are upholding his complaint, so they haven't acted according to Company Policy.

I've (and my DD) had very unsatisfactory treatment at Train Stations when I'm trying to allow her more Independance.

They pay lip service to Accessibility and don't abide by their own policies.

Birdsgottafly · 08/09/2017 14:18

"Maybe they had already had a day of entitled people being rude to them?"

He wasn't being entitled. He was a disabled passenger who wanted to use his paid for ticket to get home.

A comment was made about how fit he looked. He's part of a disabled sports team.

This is an issue that the Para-Olympians also have, "they don't look disabled".

We aren't progressing when it comes to hidden disabilities.

TheSnorkMaidenReturns · 08/09/2017 14:18

I imagine 'I've lost my wallet' is an excuse used several times a day by fare dodgers.

Nuttynoo · 08/09/2017 14:20

@TheSnorkMaidenReturns - It is, but he wasn't s fare dodger. He had his ticket on him.

terrylene · 08/09/2017 14:24

They know who bought the ticket. You have to give them all your details when you buy it Confused

Boredbeforeievenbegan · 08/09/2017 14:25

He showed them his e-ticket on his phone but he couldn't prove to them he had a disabled railcard despite showing his prosthetic leg. This man was injured fighting for this country and was manhandled off the platform by a sneering policeman so no, it's not all right in the end actually.

Gileswithachainsaw · 08/09/2017 14:33

He showed them his e-ticket on his phone but he couldn't prove to them he had a disabled railcard despite showing his prosthetic leg. This man was injured fighting for this country and was manhandled off the platform by a sneering policeman so no, it's not all right in the end actually

^^

This just about covers everything

steppemum · 08/09/2017 14:34

my dcs have railcards and they have lost them and been allowed to travel. The railcard and ticket is even reprinted at our station when they get lost as it is kept on the computer.

Poor guy, what a mess, where does common sense go?

Original poster
nicolasturgeonGRTRtheresamay · 08/09/2017 14:39

I didn't see him manhandled, link?

Showing a prosethic leg isn't proof of a disabled railcard. People buy tickets online and by machines so carrying the railcard is essential and the ticket isn't valid without it. I bet ticket inspectors regularly get people that have forgot their railcard and this could have been the 20th that day for the guard.

OP posts:
TheFirstMrsDV · 08/09/2017 14:42

nicolasturgeonGRTRtheresamay
He had his ticket on his phone
He didn't have his disabled person's rail card because his wallet was nicked but he did have absolute proof that he is disabled?

And you think he is being unreasonable to expect to be able to board the train?

What Confused

'Procedure' is not 'Law'. In fact 'discretion' is built in to most 'procedure'.
No way do I believe that rail staff are prohibited from using their discretion.

I would love to see where that is written down.

Original poster
nicolasturgeonGRTRtheresamay · 08/09/2017 14:45

But using your logic no young person needs their railcard as they can proove they are young by their face Confused

Ticket inspectors regularly im sure get the I've forgotten my rail card excuse regularly. They can't just let anyone one.

If he had of taken a photo of his card on his phone or something I would feel differently.

OP posts:
TheFirstMrsDV · 08/09/2017 14:46

So why not take his details and follow up railcard details later on?
For the sake of a few pounds?

I travel with my family railcard all the time and am rarely asked for it at the gates.

I'll tell you why this happened.They saw a man who didn't fit their idea of what disabled should look like. He wasn't in a chair and he wasn't meekly grateful for his discount.
And they couldn't back down.

The sort of person who goes around complaining about all those fakers with 'bad backs' who get free cars.

RustyBear · 08/09/2017 14:47

Well, according to this you're allowed to forget it once...

www.theguardian.com/travel/shortcuts/2017/mar/22/now-you-can-forget-your-railcard-once-without-being-charged-a-fortune

TheFirstMrsDV · 08/09/2017 14:48

But using your logic no young person needs their railcard as they can proove they are young by their face confused
What's wrong with that logic?

If a young person was stuck with no money and had proof of purchase of course they should be allowed to board.
As should a disabled person.

Its called duty of care and if its not required by law it should at least be expected out of decency.

You seem to come from the school of 'because I said so, thats why'

Nuttynoo · 08/09/2017 14:49

People who have season tickets stolen just have to tell the Virgin staff that they've lost it & they get a free ticket, but I've seen Virgin Staff tell them they can't. It's only when another passenger intervenes or the passenger starts yelling that they get heard.

TheFirstMrsDV · 08/09/2017 14:52

Rusty that story is even worse as he had photographic proof of his card.

cowgirlsareforever · 08/09/2017 14:53

Virgin and the British Transport Police acted appallingly in this situation. It was completely obvious that the traveller was telling the truth but sadly he was met with stupidity and a lack of simple compassion and understanding.

Original poster
nicolasturgeonGRTRtheresamay · 08/09/2017 14:53

If a young person was stuck with no money and had proof of purchase of course they should be allowed to board.
As should a disabled person.

If anyone is stuck they should get this, young, old, disabled, pregnant. But you don't see how this guy approached it and the train manager obviously wasn't accepting it.

They should have a system like when you fill up you car with petrol and your card is declined where all your details are saved then you have 7 days to pay before the police are informed.

OP posts:
Original poster
nicolasturgeonGRTRtheresamay · 08/09/2017 14:55

Oh and what's wrong with that logic is it doesn't proove they have a railcard. All it prooves are they are entitled to buy one.

OP posts:
Chouetted · 08/09/2017 14:56

The discount isn't for being disabled, it's for having a disabled railcard.

The only discounts you get for actually having a disability are the ones for travelling in your own wheelchair and being blind.

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