Indeed. Most staff apply common sense, but some do not. A small number are out to catch customers out.GurraJG wrote: I really get annoyed at train companies for stupid decisions like that. I mean, if it costs the same, why not let her travel there? I know the rules say no, but it's the exact same price? Does the company really hurt from letting that happen? No! Of course, if someone buys a £10 ticket and travels somewhere that would cost £20 then a penalty is fair, but it's perfectly reasonable for people to assume that a £4 ticket will let you travel to somewhere close that would cost the exact same!
You can't get fined for that, only a court of law can issue a fine. If you finish short when not entitled to do so you can (in theory - but most apply common sense) be asked to pay an excess up to the price of a walk-on ticket that would have permitted the journey made. If the customer has no means to pay at that time, an unpaid fare notice can be issued. If the customer either does not appeal, or loses an appeal, the unpaid fare can be forwarded to the prosecutions department. If the TOC decides to prosecute, and if the court finds the customer guilty, the court can issue a fine. I am not aware of anyone fined in such a circumstance. I am aware of people being charged a fare, and the fare being successfully appealed or cancelled by the TOC.GurraJG wrote: Or that case a few months ago in the DM I believe of the person who booked an advance ticket, got off a station or two early and got fined for using less of the service than he paid for. It's just idiotic and makes the train operators look stupid. If someone uses more of a service than the paid for, fair play, but if someone uses less than the paid for they get a fine? Come on, that's just bollocks!
If you are referring to this article:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... early.html
You will be pleased to hear that East Coast's policy is not to charge customers under these circumstances. Why he was charged, I am not entirely sure (I heard conflicting stories from both parties directly, as a row erupted on a forum that I founded) but the fact of the matter is that East Coast cancelled the UPFN and the professor did not have to pay it. The UPFN was not a fine and it was not paid. Common sense prevailed!
. Statute law does count alongside common law, but common law comes from interpretation. It would depend on whether the ATOC conditions of carriage, which presumably include excesses, can be considered a contract when you buy a ticket. Or is the journey alone a contract?
