Initial problem
To whom it may concern:
I am appalled at the rudeness of your staff members who think all passengers who ride your trains without a ticket are trying to avoid paying. In this instance I boarded the train in Sandy to make my trip down to Welwyn Garden City. Upon my arrival there was no attendant at the station and it was also closed. The ticket machines I obviously passed as I am not a regular train user. My problem is that I just came back from Australia using a Australian bank card which you need a signature to complete your transaction. Without the attendant my card would be rejected as a signature is needed. Since there was no attendant I boarded the train to Hitchin where I could pay and carry on my journey to WGC. When trying to explain the situation to your staff the reply I got was shocking. I was told I would be issued a fine although I explained myself and even invited the attendant to validate what I was saying by processing my fee with his PDQ machine. Even whilst the payment was going through he was still intending on issuing a fine and told me I had 21 days to appeal it. Finally once he saw the debit card needed my signature he didn't write up the ticket but went on to lecture me that I should be at the station earlier or carry cash. Honestly if I needed to carry cash to make my payment why bother having an option to pay by card. Also as stated I am not a big user of the trains so I wasn't aware that the attendant had left for the day. This has seriously made my experience with National Rail unpleasant. Don't you think if I was going to ride the train without paying I would actually go to my destination instead of trying to pay at another station?
There is more to this story than I can put into words. If I could get a member of staff to call me to discuss that would be much appreciated.
Regards,
C Young
(Telephone number redacted, but sent to FCC)
Posted
- By C Young on 18 Sep 2012
- Sent to First Capital Connect on 18 Sep 2012
