Page 12 | To think she's in big trouble

skatermom · 2023-08-29T05:45:21+00:00

My 14 year old daughter went out into town with her friend yesterday afternoon being bank holiday Monday. We live in a small village and she walks everywhere mostly. This time, they decided to get on the train and thought she would buy a ticket on the train. Her friend has a season ticket due to taking a train for school. Well, the train conductor gave her a penalty notice for £50 and that a letter will be sent to her address as to what to do. The problem is that she said she was not about to give her name and address to a stranger so she gave them a false name AND address! So we will never receive said letter! I've been so worried because I know it's an offence to not have a ticket but a worse one to give false details. I'm sure it's a criminal offence! I'm so worried that she'll be on a CCTV somewhere or a 'wanted' ad placed out for her. I haven't slept all night thinking about this. What would you do? Will they come find her? Am I unreasonable to think she will be in big trouble with this?

HarrietPoole · 30/08/2023 19:28

No barriers at my local station, and you can buy a ticket on the train.

Whattodo46 · 30/08/2023 19:30

I think the way your daughter was treated sounds appalling. I frequently buy tickets on the train and have never once been treated like this. I think it is unfortunate that she lied about her details but I understand why. I’d be more likely to try and find out the ticket conductor involved and make a complaint about why he would not allow her to buy a ticket on the train. This is a service they provide, so why not for your daughter?

PeachyPeachTrees · 30/08/2023 19:43

My DB is a train guard and checks tickets. Considering its a cheap ticket and she is young, he would give her the benefit of the doubt. He said he would have charged her for a ticket and not fined.

BaconChops · 30/08/2023 19:59

Layinwait · 30/08/2023 19:22

You daughter got fined multiple times for not having a ticket? @BaconChops

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Yes, she did. On her way to college each morning for the first couple of weeks even though she had pictures to prove the silly machine was vandalised and out of order. Some conductors were great, usual story though others had an authority complex and were basically just arses. Got fed up of all the hassle and ended up buying her a weekly ticket WITHOUT student discount which was very frustrating to say the least! We used to catch the same time train but opposite directions. We never had to pay the fines as we appealed but it was just such a hassle. I still wonder if it was the same story with other travellers who would object or if it was reserved for the 16 and under age groups!

cameldigits · 30/08/2023 20:16

Clever girl!

😉

Thewizardbinbag · 30/08/2023 20:20

Schmokin · 29/08/2023 07:11

Can’t remember the last time I went on a train that didn’t have a ticket barrier? Are you sure this is not a series of lies here OP.

No station in the towns several stops down both lines from my town have any ticket barriers.

Lots of small town stations in Scotland with no ticket barriers. I’m sure there are lots of small town stations everywhere with no barriers.

Frances0911 · 30/08/2023 20:21

Forget about it unless it happens again. I did the same thing when I was at university and was skint, I certainly wouldn't do it now though as a responsible adult.

Blowdown · 30/08/2023 20:29

neilyoungismyhero · 29/08/2023 11:16

He was the ticket collector on the train to be fair hardly a person to be concerned about really.

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I cannot believe someone has seriously posted that a ticket collector is it someone to be concerned about…… I mean you’d also be able to trust a police officer.

Layinwait · 30/08/2023 20:30

BaconChops · 30/08/2023 19:59

Yes, she did. On her way to college each morning for the first couple of weeks even though she had pictures to prove the silly machine was vandalised and out of order. Some conductors were great, usual story though others had an authority complex and were basically just arses. Got fed up of all the hassle and ended up buying her a weekly ticket WITHOUT student discount which was very frustrating to say the least! We used to catch the same time train but opposite directions. We never had to pay the fines as we appealed but it was just such a hassle. I still wonder if it was the same story with other travellers who would object or if it was reserved for the 16 and under age groups!

Edited

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Could she or you not have purchased a weekly ticket with student discount from a booth… at your arrival station?

online not a possibility?

Blowdown · 30/08/2023 20:41

Layinwait · 29/08/2023 17:11

She told her mother because she was worried and pretty sure that the police were going to come-a-knocking when she realised that this lie was going to potentially land her in shit

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How would the police know where she lived to come knocking on her door?

Think logically?

BaconChops · 30/08/2023 21:01

Layinwait · 30/08/2023 20:30

Could she or you not have purchased a weekly ticket with student discount from a booth… at your arrival station?

online not a possibility?

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That’s what we ended up doing but tbh I was trying to give her a bit of responsibility/independence as she had left school and started college. School had a school bus and she’d never really had the opportunity before.

ActDottie · 30/08/2023 22:34

This happened to me when I was similar age. I put a false name and address down and never heard anything since. I’m now 30.

BaconChops · 30/08/2023 23:42

Layinwait · 30/08/2023 19:22

You daughter got fined multiple times for not having a ticket? @BaconChops

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Just querying youre line of questioning @Layinwait - the one thing about Mumsnet that gripes me. Women v Women so judgemental it’s like a pissing contest of opinions

Layinwait · 31/08/2023 06:18

BaconChops · 30/08/2023 23:42

Just querying youre line of questioning @Layinwait - the one thing about Mumsnet that gripes me. Women v Women so judgemental it’s like a pissing contest of opinions

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What on earth are you on about? Women versus women 🙄

Layinwait · 31/08/2023 06:20

I enquired as to whether you daughter got multiple fines
you confirmed that yes, she did. Daily in fact for a few weeks
I asked whether she or you could have bought a weekly student ticket online or at destination station
you confirmed that you did that

then you start waffling on about women versus women and pissing contests. Ridiculous

ANiceBigCupOfTea · 31/08/2023 06:23

skatermom · 29/08/2023 08:43

I wasn't going to respond to the very judgemental posts but I'll try. But really, what do you get from saying the things you do?

She doesn't do this all the time. It IS her first time and hopefully her last because it was a terrible experience for her. She called me straight after, saying she asked the man if she could ring her mom to speak to him and he said it doesn't matter about your mom, here's my ID, I'm an official and if you don't give me your details, I'll ring the police to wait at the next station. She was trying to explain about why she didn't have a ticket and that she could buy one right now. My daughter always has more than enough money on her bank card as well as a bus pass so she wasn't trying to fare dodge.

She was really trying to make light of it to me because she knows I won't stand for her being out there doing wrong things. She has received a serious telling off since it happened, even this morning when I was getting ready for work because it was on my mind all night, hence my posting here. We are not bad people and we pay for everything we get. She intended to pay. Her giving a false name was more to make it 'go away' I think.

We won't always get it right, never mind teenagers who are experiencing things for the first time. I guess some of you moms here might have been looking on with disdain, saying to her 'your parents must be ashamed, you deserve jail' while she is trying to explain to this big official.

I pray there will be other compassionate people out there for our children when they get into scrapes like this. I thank those who have been understanding.

It sounds to me like this man tried to intimidate her. It happens sometimes. And its not a nice thing to experience at any age, but im sure it was quite scary at 14.
He should have let her buy a ticket, not tell her the police would be involved!

DrSbaitso · 31/08/2023 07:28

BaconChops · 30/08/2023 23:42

Just querying youre line of questioning @Layinwait - the one thing about Mumsnet that gripes me. Women v Women so judgemental it’s like a pissing contest of opinions

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Don't encourage him.

Willmafrockfit · 31/08/2023 07:34

the difference was he was an inspector, not able to sell tickets
and yes i imagine he did treat her worse for being a teenager

Layinwait · 31/08/2023 07:46

DrSbaitso · 31/08/2023 07:28

Don't encourage him.

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single mother with 2 children 😂

ShellySarah · 31/08/2023 07:51

Layinwait · 31/08/2023 06:20

I enquired as to whether you daughter got multiple fines
you confirmed that yes, she did. Daily in fact for a few weeks
I asked whether she or you could have bought a weekly student ticket online or at destination station
you confirmed that you did that

then you start waffling on about women versus women and pissing contests. Ridiculous

I thought that. Her daughter got multiple fines daily instead of the multiple alternatives available.

She thinks the system is the problem.

SleepingStandingUp · 31/08/2023 08:47

Schmokin · 29/08/2023 07:11

Can’t remember the last time I went on a train that didn’t have a ticket barrier? Are you sure this is not a series of lies here OP.

Plenty of stations here don't have them closed all the time. Even Birmingham New Street will have them open at times. And plenty of small stations that simply don't have the space for ticket barriers.

However I'm surprised he's fined her not just sold her a ticket. I've got on plenty of times without a ticket and when I've seen him been like yeah I need to buy one.

What happened when he asked them for their tickets?

Layinwait · 31/08/2023 10:02

ShellySarah · 31/08/2023 07:51

I thought that. Her daughter got multiple fines daily instead of the multiple alternatives available.

She thinks the system is the problem.

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Brace yourself!