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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think he didn't need to charge me

454 replies

memorial · 06/06/2019 19:58

Yesterday I travelled from Cardiff to London for a birthday treat to see Hugh Jackman bought for me by my sister.
I bought my train tickets in advance at £50.
We had a wonderful time though the £20 train ticket back to my sister's house was galling. And again this morning back to London.
I left my sister's house in plenty of time (according to TFL planner). But of course the train was stuck at a red light for 10/15 mins and the tubes were awfully slow.
I raced into the station just to see the train doors closing. Never mind I think it's super off peak midweek I'll get the next train in half an hour.
So I do. Scan my ticket at the gates and settle down for the journey. A busy but not full train with no seat reservations.
About 10 mins in a rather brusque ticket collector comes round. I show him my ticket and he gets quite aggressive loudly telling me I need to buy a ticket. I am genuinely gobsmacked and explain what happened.
He points out (rudely and very loudly) that my ticket was an advance single and only valid on the train I missed.
I am very apologetic and say I usually buy a super off peak and didn't even realise this and again explain how I just missed the train.
He again very loudly and rudely says I can buy a ticket or get off with a fine. He really is talking to me like I am a criminal fare dodger.
So I pay another £50 close to tears. What a horrible end to a lovely birthday treat.
So while I accept that my ticket wasn't valid, did he really need to be so rude and aggressive and surely he could have used a bit of discretion. I clearly wasn't trying to take the piss.
Feeling really sad and disappointed. Have spent £140 on train tickets plus tube and feel like a naughty school child.

OP posts:
Original poster
memorial · 06/06/2019 20:00

When I say gèt off with a fine. He meant give me a fine and throw me off the train.
I am a middle class frumpy professional. I was speaking quietly and calmly and not being difficult at all. He was really unpleasant.

OP posts:
Fourandthedog · 06/06/2019 20:01

But it’s his job to check that tickets are valid.

TheRealShatParp · 06/06/2019 20:01

He sounds like a bit of a jobs worth to me.
I guess he was just doing his job, but a bit of discretion would have been nice.

Ravingstarfish · 06/06/2019 20:01

That’s horrible, I travel on trains a lot and have been let off not paying for my child when I didn’t realise the age you have to pay and getting different trains.

Geminijes · 06/06/2019 20:04

But he didn't know you bought the wrong ticket by mistake.

You didn't have a valid ticket so had to purchase one, that's not his problem but yours.

Nix32 · 06/06/2019 20:04

Have you got the ticket for the missed train? I think you'll be able to claim that money back, minus a handling fee.

But yes, there was no need for him to be unpleasant. I'm sorry you had to deal with that.

ButterMyBiscuit · 06/06/2019 20:06

Yabu - have you seen the abuse they deal with on a regular basis (often from the nice looking middle-class suit wearing, briefcase carrying professionals). You were in the wrong; maybe he was terse, but in his job I understand why

Original poster
memorial · 06/06/2019 20:06

Fourandthedog. I get that of course. But his manner was really horrible. I'm a pretty robust person. And I found him intimidating. Can only imagine how an elderly person or my teenage daughter would have found him.
And really they have no discretion? It was literally ham an hour later mid day mid week. I'd been delayed because of another train. They don't care when they are shit. It just felt vindictive rather than a must.

OP posts:
lostelephant · 06/06/2019 20:07

You didn't have a ticket for the train you were on so of course you should have paid. That's like trying to get into a Spice Girls gig with Take That tickets just because they're playing at the same arena 😂

Original poster
memorial · 06/06/2019 20:07

Butter. He was much worse than terse. He was aggressive and rude. I wasn't in any way shape or form abusive. I explained very politely and calmly what had happened.

OP posts:
Nikhedonia · 06/06/2019 20:08

I am a middle class frumpy professional.

Hmm Would it be different if you were working class?!

No excuse for being rude, but the above is pretty bizarre.

ChocChocButtons · 06/06/2019 20:08

He did have to charge you, you didn’t have a valid ticketed don’t be so entitled.

Freddiefox · 06/06/2019 20:09

I think you should complain, it was their fault that the train was late arriving

StillCoughingandLaughing · 06/06/2019 20:10

I am a middle class frumpy professional. I was speaking quietly and calmly and not being difficult at all.

I do find it a bit pathetic when they rush to charge you for missing a train. The tickets car cost enough in the first place.

However, a ‘frumpy professional’ speaking calmly, but with the wrong ticket, is still someone with the wrong ticket, just the same as a loudmouth with piercings and tattoos. It’s unfair to expect different treatment because you’re ‘respectable’.

herculepoirot2 · 06/06/2019 20:11

Your error. It sounds like you were arguing with him and forced him to be “brusque”, when actually you were clearly in the wrong.

Chloemol · 06/06/2019 20:11

Do people read posts? She gets she didn’t have a ticket, she’s complaining about how she was spoken to.

Op I would complain, advise you made a mistake and understand further payment was required, see if you can claim back the unused ticket, and complain about how he treated and spoke to you

Dandelion1993 · 06/06/2019 20:11

He's just doing his job. Your ticket wasn't valid so you either needed to get off or buy a valid one.

Flavabobble · 06/06/2019 20:12

What was your reaction when he first informed you your ticket was invalid?

Biancadelrioisback · 06/06/2019 20:12

But he doesn't know you're not a fare Dodger...for all he knows you've found a random ticket and are this as a cover story. There are endless possibilities about how you came to be on that train without a valid ticket, but it's not his fault...

Original poster
memorial · 06/06/2019 20:12

Nikhedonia. That wasn't my point. My point was I am entirely unassuming and non threatening. He didn't need to take such am aggressive unpleasant tone.
Chocchocbuttons. I'm not entitled. I paid the ticket. So I've paid twice for the same journey.
I accept IABU that my ticket was not valid.
I'm yet to be so convinced that IABU by his manner or that he couldn't have shown some discretion considering the reason I missed my train was because another train was late.

OP posts:
herculepoirot2 · 06/06/2019 20:13

Do people read posts? She gets she didn’t have a ticket, she’s complaining about how she was spoken to.

No, she is complaining about the way he spoke to her when she was arguing about the fine.

Nikhedonia · 06/06/2019 20:13

The thread title is about being charged... the post is about both. Seems like the primary concern is the charge rather than the rudeness. Otherwise the title would be "AIBU to think he shouldn't have been so rude?"

mycatisblack · 06/06/2019 20:14

Sounds like the train manager/conductor needs some additional customer service training. I'd write to the train company and explain about how upset you felt and how his surly attitude towards you spoilt the day.

Shoxfordian · 06/06/2019 20:14

Yeah yabu because your ticket was invalid

Nikhedonia · 06/06/2019 20:15

Nikhedonia. That wasn't my point. My point was I am entirely unassuming and non threatening.

And what has you being middle class got to do with that?! Confused