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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think she's in big trouble

297 replies

skatermom · 29/08/2023 06:45

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?

OP posts:
JenWillsiam · 29/08/2023 07:28

Shutuptrevor · 29/08/2023 07:24

I don’t understand why she couldn’t purchase a ticket on the train?

My local station is unmanned (and no barriers). There is a ticket machine but people seem to buy tickets from the conductor on the train every day?

That’s why. If you’ve had the option to buy a ticket and chosen not to it’s a fine.

SPF50 · 29/08/2023 07:30

I don’t think she is in big trouble. I would give her a warning that if she does not pay again she will not be allowed to travel alone.

Susuwatariandkodama · 29/08/2023 07:31

I’m surprised they didn’t offer her to buy a ticket on the train? Seems odd to jump straight to a penalty, don’t they usually have the little machine to print out tickets or they allow you to pay when you get off the train.

Robotalkingrubbish · 29/08/2023 07:31

Jibo · 29/08/2023 07:18

I think post Sarah Everard a lot of young women are wary of male authority figures, with good reason.

Are tickets available to buy at the station where DD boarded?

I think that’s a really good point. Evidence shows that women are right not to trust men, even those in uniform.

QuillBill · 29/08/2023 07:32

She just panicked. She was out of her depth and she panicked. And you can't blame her for panicking as you are panicking now and you are an adult!

Take some comfort in what @Blueeyedmale says.

They aren't going to put up a wanted poster for a fourteen year old girl who didn't pay her train fare.

Either contact the penalty department, explain the situation and pay the fine or forget it happened. This is just the beginning of the teenage years. Things like this will happen. My sixteen got on the tram going the wrong direction on Saturday on the way to the theatre and we had to rescue her from that situation with an Uber. She won't do that again.

But you need them to be living their lives and learning to do things. Other they end up being adults who don't know that some train stations don't have barriers.

Dwappy · 29/08/2023 07:33

I've seen a couple of people recently on the train get fined. Both claimed they were about the miss the train and had to run so could they buy now. The ticket inspector said no and took their names and addresses. But I can 100% guarantee you neither of them gave their real names and addresses. I'm sure the inspector knows that. But what can he do?
The best one was the guy that said he didn't have any ID on him and added that his phone battery was dead. The ticket inspector barely made it out the carriage and the guy started ringing his mate. Clearly everyone knows that by giving a fake name and address nothing will happen to you. I'm pretty sure this wasn't his first time!

andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow · 29/08/2023 07:33

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 trains on our line have ticket barriers.

In fact, a lot of the stops are request only - so if you want to catch the train you have to wave it down like a bus Grin

determinedtomakethiswork · 29/08/2023 07:36

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.

There are tons of stations without ticket, barriers!

Blinkinbloodyhayfever · 29/08/2023 07:36

Making mistakes are part of growing up and learning. I can't imagine anything will come of this, but for the sake of teaching her a lesson you could take her to the local ticket station (if you still have one) to make her explain and apologise. It'll teach her to take responsibility.

Dwappy · 29/08/2023 07:37

Susuwatariandkodama · 29/08/2023 07:31

I’m surprised they didn’t offer her to buy a ticket on the train? Seems odd to jump straight to a penalty, don’t they usually have the little machine to print out tickets or they allow you to pay when you get off the train.

I think the issue is what if they don't regularly have an inspector? Everyone (a large amount anyway) would just start not buying a ticket. And if on the odd occasion they got caught they'd just offer to buy then. You could potentially just buy a ticket once a month.

Timeless23 · 29/08/2023 07:39

Sounds like she panicked. I would just explain the situation. There are so many things going on right now, a 14 year old girl doing that is not the worst. She will learn. It's the age.

ethelredonagoodday · 29/08/2023 07:42

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.

There are hardly any here, even our city's station doesn't have barriers! Local village stations defo not!

diddl · 29/08/2023 07:42

Are/were there no obvious signs to say that tickets need to be purchased before boarding the train?

I think that this is the way things are going.

Arsegrapes · 29/08/2023 07:43

Another member of society with zero ethics being introduced to the world. You must be so proud.

grumpycow1 · 29/08/2023 07:43

QuillBill · 29/08/2023 07:32

She just panicked. She was out of her depth and she panicked. And you can't blame her for panicking as you are panicking now and you are an adult!

Take some comfort in what @Blueeyedmale says.

They aren't going to put up a wanted poster for a fourteen year old girl who didn't pay her train fare.

Either contact the penalty department, explain the situation and pay the fine or forget it happened. This is just the beginning of the teenage years. Things like this will happen. My sixteen got on the tram going the wrong direction on Saturday on the way to the theatre and we had to rescue her from that situation with an Uber. She won't do that again.

But you need them to be living their lives and learning to do things. Other they end up being adults who don't know that some train stations don't have barriers.

Best reply! Especially the last sentence 😂

Fizbosshoes · 29/08/2023 07:43

Susuwatariandkodama · 29/08/2023 07:31

I’m surprised they didn’t offer her to buy a ticket on the train? Seems odd to jump straight to a penalty, don’t they usually have the little machine to print out tickets or they allow you to pay when you get off the train.

Yes I would think its a bit jobsworth to issue a fine to a teen if she genuinely thought she could buy a ticket on the train. I know ticket inspectors have some discretion because I've seen them let people off before. (Ive also been fined for a genuine mistake though!)

andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow · 29/08/2023 07:44

QuillBill · 29/08/2023 07:32

She just panicked. She was out of her depth and she panicked. And you can't blame her for panicking as you are panicking now and you are an adult!

Take some comfort in what @Blueeyedmale says.

They aren't going to put up a wanted poster for a fourteen year old girl who didn't pay her train fare.

Either contact the penalty department, explain the situation and pay the fine or forget it happened. This is just the beginning of the teenage years. Things like this will happen. My sixteen got on the tram going the wrong direction on Saturday on the way to the theatre and we had to rescue her from that situation with an Uber. She won't do that again.

But you need them to be living their lives and learning to do things. Other they end up being adults who don't know that some train stations don't have barriers.

😂😂

DrSbaitso · 29/08/2023 07:46

Dwappy · 29/08/2023 07:33

I've seen a couple of people recently on the train get fined. Both claimed they were about the miss the train and had to run so could they buy now. The ticket inspector said no and took their names and addresses. But I can 100% guarantee you neither of them gave their real names and addresses. I'm sure the inspector knows that. But what can he do?
The best one was the guy that said he didn't have any ID on him and added that his phone battery was dead. The ticket inspector barely made it out the carriage and the guy started ringing his mate. Clearly everyone knows that by giving a fake name and address nothing will happen to you. I'm pretty sure this wasn't his first time!

I'm sure the inspector knows that. But what can he do?

Sell them tickets like they asked to do?

Left · 29/08/2023 07:46

Oh bless her, sounds like she panicked. Honestly she will be fine.

Just make sure she has an app on her phone to buy train tickets going forward.

drpet49 · 29/08/2023 07:47

ShellySarah · 29/08/2023 07:21

A smart girl who doesn't buy a ticket first and then lies to a ticket inspector about her address to avoid the consequences of not buying a ticket?

That's pretty daft.

Lying to avoid consequences of what you've done isn't a great life lesson.

Show quote history

This. I wouldn’t be proud of her at all.

Dwappy · 29/08/2023 07:49

DrSbaitso · 29/08/2023 07:46

I'm sure the inspector knows that. But what can he do?

Sell them tickets like they asked to do?

Show quote history

Well the ticket inspector on my branch said he had no physical way of selling a ticket. And as I pointed out upthread, if a line rarely has inspectors, what's to stop everyone only buying on the train when the get caught without one? Why would people keep buying tickets when others aren't bothering and are only buying once a month when they get caught by the inspector?

marblesthecat · 29/08/2023 07:49

I'd forget about it. They're not going to waste time and money hunting through CCTV and pursuing a teenage girl over a £50 fine.

EatThoseFrogs · 29/08/2023 07:51

Blinkinbloodyhayfever · 29/08/2023 07:36

Making mistakes are part of growing up and learning. I can't imagine anything will come of this, but for the sake of teaching her a lesson you could take her to the local ticket station (if you still have one) to make her explain and apologise. It'll teach her to take responsibility.

This.

You could ignore it. But what lesson does that teach?

Mydietstartstomorrow · 29/08/2023 07:53

There are far worse things she could have done so I really wouldn’t worry about it but tell her to be more organised next time with tickets etc. We used to hide in the toilets when we were kids trying to avoid fares! No harm done and I hardly think she’ll appear on crime watch!

Whatswhatwhichiswhich · 29/08/2023 07:54

Why didn’t she just buy a ticket from the inspector? Did he give her that option or was she trying to fare dodge? Either way id be contacting the station and paying.

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