September 19th, 2008, 5:55 pm
QuoteOriginally posted by: AnthisIn my perception and mentality and i guess in most people's mentality cuch's story is a case of extortion, a bit covered, but still extortion. In this side of the world, if a passenger by accident (and accidents can happen if control is loose, probably due to cost savings, because there are people who may be first time passengers, people with health problems, foreign people who dont speak the local language etc.) is found to be sitting in the wrong seat, will be kindly requested to go to right one or even be directed there, alternatively, subject to vacancies, he may be offered to pay the difference on the spot and stay there. Not a big deal. Its called customer care. Fining your passenger for this "accident", especially if the fine exceeds the price difference by a big multiple, sounds like an extortion or operator's ambush to make money on other people's (operator's customers) mistakes. And when you carry thousands or millions of passengers daily, its almost certain that such "accidents" will happen on a daily basis. Or let me reverse the situation a bit. If cuch traveled with a b class ticket sitting on a c class seat, would he be entitled to fine the operator for this accident? Or would the operator compensate cuch promptly and wholeheartedly on the spot once the "accident" was discovered? I dont think so... here's one story based on a random google search...here I purchased tickets for a return journey from Newcastle to London online and arranged to pick them up at the fast ticket machine, however I got to the station very late and in a rush I picked up 4 out of 5 coupons. The ticket and reservation are printed on separate coupons and I only picked up the reservation coupon for the outward journey.I was promptly fined £124.50 plus £10 admin fee.I wrote a letter explaining that it was a genuine mistake and provided evidence i.e the internet booking receipt for the train journey as well as several other receipts for journeys that I had taken and had never been fined showing that I was a good customer and this was clearly just a simple mistake.They wrote back offering to reduce the fine to £98.30.I wrote another appeals letter showing that my income is only around £35/week that there was no way I could pay the fine and asked if they would reconsider.The next letter I received today says that after seeking legal advice I must pay the fine or have to pay the original fine of £134.50 plus another £20 admin plus £250 legal costs and are nice enough to let me pay £5/month.Do I have a chance if they take me to court, all these details are 100% correct.
Last edited by
Cuchulainn on September 18th, 2008, 10:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.