To think he didn't need to charge me

[memorial]

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.

Baggypants. Actually not so. He was shouting and aggressive before I even opened my mouth. I innocently opened my app and showed him my ticket. His immediate response was to loudly/shout in an aggressive manner " you need to buy a ticket". He didn't even attempt to explain why. I said it's a super off peak very calmly as I genuinely believed it was. He then leant over, tapped my phone and aggressively said "it's an advance for the 12:15". It was then I realised my mistake and said "oh no I'm so sorry I didn't realise.." And then tried to explain what had happened. He seemed determined to humiliate and intimidate me.

monkey I think you were right to insist . If no one needed the seats at the time what was wrong with you using one.

Boomers are in their 70s and categorically not middle aged.

Baggy pants. Honestly no I didnt. It was an E ticket on my trainline app so I guess I was kinda lulled by the no paper ticket. And I usually buy a super off peak return. So yes again my bloody mistake. This bit I have accepted numerous times.

The difference not by didnt say. And in fact I think the ticket he made me buy was a few quid cheaper than my original actually.

Also, boomers are the ones who selfishly bought cheap houses half a century ago and are therefore responsible for millenials not being able to afford blue hair dye and avocados. It's generation X who are the middle aged train dodgers causing havoc in carriages up and down the country.

*You're a "middle class professional" so the rules shouldn't apply to you, am I right? I'm sure you were terribly polite, in which case on a quiet train... Oh wait no, you didn't have the right ticket.

Entitled middle aged middle class boomers like you make my blood boil. I'd of been rude you as well when you tried to weasle out of paying the right fare.*

That's not really. The point the OP was trying to make but I'm pretty sure you're already aware of that.

Is there any need to be so nasty? I bet you wouldn't say half of that if you weren't anonymous and behind a screen.

You failed to select the correct ticket when booking.
You failed to check your receipt.
You failed to check the ticket itself.
You completely overreacted when told "you need to buy a ticket".

I hope you're not so lax in your job. But then I guess you'd try and deflect that onto someone else...

Baby boomer ?
Think our definition of middle aged might differ a bit
I was born in the 70's so Generation X the fucked generation.
But thanks for that

Did you expect him to tug his forelock when he realised your middle class entitled you to a level of discretion above others.

Sorry can't get worked up over this...pay the ticket and appeal.

They are called "revenue protection" after all.

Baggypants. What makes you think I over reacted? I didn't. the conversation was less than 5 mins. Before I paid up. But was enough time for him to make me feel bullied and intimidated.
And I love how we're extrapolating to my job now. Excellent. I'm very good at my difficult very stressful job thanks. And we'll respected.
Sometimes I relax and try to enjoy a birthday treat. I'm glad that males you assume I'm crap at my job.

Christ OP, your admission to being “middle aged” has triggered the absolute fuck out of some people on here.

Not least me, who also was born in the 70s, and I am emphatically NOT middle aged.

Im sorry he was so rude and aggressive to you memorial

Not quite sure why people think yelling and aggressive is part of someones job description...but it explains a lot about our society

And where the fuck did the the baby boomer bit come from

Buster. Yes that's exactly what I expected of course. I hoped he might curtsey as well.
Failing that a polite civil tone would have done it.

Oops, I misread! You’re middle CLASS rather than middle AGED?

That’s probably worse.

Butchy. Afraid we are middle aged. I've just turned 48. Female life expectancy is in 80's. That puts up right in the middle. But definitely not boomers...

Butchy. Middle aged. Middle class. Gen X. All together fucked...

Butchy. Afraid we are middle aged. I've just turned 48

Speak for yourself. I’m only 40. . Spring 🐔.

You failed to select the correct ticket when booking.
You failed to check your receipt.
You failed to check the ticket itself.
You completely overreacted when told "you need to buy a ticket".*

Jesus Christ what a dramatisation.

Does a brain surgeon have to carefully consider his cornflakes because he’s a surgeon?

I am surprised eveyone is outraged at the op for saying she is middle class. I visited England last week, and if there is one thing that defines England it is a class system. Talk about "getting children into the right school", rich only associating with the rich and keeping the poor poor. I was pretty upset at the coldness in England

I visited England last week, and if there is one thing that defines England it is a class system. Talk about "getting children into the right school", rich only associating with the rich and keeping the poor poor. I was pretty upset at the coldness in England

That’s the conversation people had with you? Who on earth were you talking to?

Yeah OP you FAILED. You big massive booming middle European FAIL.

He sounds horrible and there was no need. There were seats on the train and you're clearly not a criminal - you had a ticket and showed him. It's not like you were hiding in the loos and got dragged out.

@butchyrestingface eh everyone. I really do not like the class system in England. I also witnessed alot of violence, racism and an attitude of "we are better than everyone else," in England . I couldnt wait to get out of there to be honest

rich only associating with the rich and keeping the poor poor. I was pretty upset at the coldness in England

Ive lived here for the vast majority of my life and ive never chatted about how to keep the poor poor

I’m assuming there are no poor people in your country which is awesome!

He was doing his job and it wasn’t nice for you but he was doing his job.