Troy Pickering
New Member
- Joined
- 29 May 2018
- Messages
- 1
On Monday 21st May I was travelling from my workplace in Baguely to home in Droylsden. I rarely use the Met as I work with my wife who on this day was working from home. So I may use it once or twice per month. I used the Get me There App to purchase my ticket. I selected my correct stop, Baguely and destination stop. I placed the ticket in my basket, hit the proceed to payment button and then foolishly put my phone in my pocket not realising I had to enter my CV2 number again for my card.
At Holt Town an Inspector boarded the train and asked to see tickets. I didn't hesitate to pull my phone out and show my ticket. Upon realising it was still in my basket I proceeded to purchase the ticket whilst he checked other peoples tickets. When he came back I showed him a VALID ticket, with my correct departure stop. He told me I had only just purchased it and I needed to get off at the next stop. I attempted to explain to him I had purchased the correct ticket and that I hadn't realised it was still in my basket. That it was simply an oversight and it wasn't intentional but he wasn't having any of it.
I departed the tram at Etihad Stadium as requested. As did another passenger. A young attractive female. The inspector didn't hesitate to issue me a ticket and immediately pulled out his ticket book. I will say at this point in time that I 6'1 tall, heavily tattooed with a large beard. I work full-time, I am an honest law abiding citizen and I am an immigrant.
The inspector didn't seem at all interested in my explanation or the fact that I had a valid ticket. At the point I did became quite annoyed and I readily admit to swearing and being angry, but never threatening. At this point I watched as one of the other inspectors was talking with the young female who was also asked to get off and was looking at her phone with her. I asked the Inspector who I was dealing with why she was not being issued a ticket as well to which he replied "She is" I was also told that they have to take EVERYONE at face value and that I had the right to appeal the ticket.
Once my ticket was issued I sat and waited for the next tram. I then noticed the young female passenger be escorted to the ticket machine where she was allowed to purchase a valid ticket for her joruney. I asked one of the inspectors why she didn't get a ticket to which he would not respond. I proceeded to walk over the three inspectors and asked the one who had been dealing with her why she had not been given a ticket to which his response was "Her situation was different to yours" I responded by stating that he had "No idea what my situation was he wasn't dealing with me and that the only difference I can see is that she was female" My suggestion was of course nervously laughed off.
By this stage I was absolutely infuriated. I walked back to the platform to wait for my tram. The Younger female passenger in question was stood next to me and boarded the same tram and same carriage. She then proceeded to take a call and explain to the person on the other end that her app on the phone wasn't working and so she couldn't buy a ticket and that the inspector let her off and let her get a ticket from the machine.
My argument is that fact that via twitter and both my appeal rejection letter Metrolink themselves have stated that their staff are trained to deal with ALL passengers equally and that ALL passengers are responsible for ensuring they have a valid ticket before travelling. I readily admit I made an honest mistake, however if these rules they claim to abide were enforced then either A) The female passenger should of also been issued a ticket OR B) I should of been let off too.
I at least attempted to purchase a ticket and had a ticket sitting in my basket. No attempt was made by her to ensure she had one. Her app wasn't working so she just didn't bother?
I feel that I was given the ticket because of not only my appearance, but my sex and also the fact that I speak a little differently to everyone else. I have tried to reason with Metrolink via twitter. I have also sent an appeal, which it literally only took them two days to respond to via mail that leads me to think the email I sent was not even read or investigated properly.
I still have 6 days left to pay the fine, but it is literally a full days wage to me as I am uni graduate so I am literally paid minimum wage for the work I do and I feel like the episode was handled poorly and at no point was my situation taken into account. I have bank records that show I purchase my tickets whenever I utilise the Met.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
At Holt Town an Inspector boarded the train and asked to see tickets. I didn't hesitate to pull my phone out and show my ticket. Upon realising it was still in my basket I proceeded to purchase the ticket whilst he checked other peoples tickets. When he came back I showed him a VALID ticket, with my correct departure stop. He told me I had only just purchased it and I needed to get off at the next stop. I attempted to explain to him I had purchased the correct ticket and that I hadn't realised it was still in my basket. That it was simply an oversight and it wasn't intentional but he wasn't having any of it.
I departed the tram at Etihad Stadium as requested. As did another passenger. A young attractive female. The inspector didn't hesitate to issue me a ticket and immediately pulled out his ticket book. I will say at this point in time that I 6'1 tall, heavily tattooed with a large beard. I work full-time, I am an honest law abiding citizen and I am an immigrant.
The inspector didn't seem at all interested in my explanation or the fact that I had a valid ticket. At the point I did became quite annoyed and I readily admit to swearing and being angry, but never threatening. At this point I watched as one of the other inspectors was talking with the young female who was also asked to get off and was looking at her phone with her. I asked the Inspector who I was dealing with why she was not being issued a ticket as well to which he replied "She is" I was also told that they have to take EVERYONE at face value and that I had the right to appeal the ticket.
Once my ticket was issued I sat and waited for the next tram. I then noticed the young female passenger be escorted to the ticket machine where she was allowed to purchase a valid ticket for her joruney. I asked one of the inspectors why she didn't get a ticket to which he would not respond. I proceeded to walk over the three inspectors and asked the one who had been dealing with her why she had not been given a ticket to which his response was "Her situation was different to yours" I responded by stating that he had "No idea what my situation was he wasn't dealing with me and that the only difference I can see is that she was female" My suggestion was of course nervously laughed off.
By this stage I was absolutely infuriated. I walked back to the platform to wait for my tram. The Younger female passenger in question was stood next to me and boarded the same tram and same carriage. She then proceeded to take a call and explain to the person on the other end that her app on the phone wasn't working and so she couldn't buy a ticket and that the inspector let her off and let her get a ticket from the machine.
My argument is that fact that via twitter and both my appeal rejection letter Metrolink themselves have stated that their staff are trained to deal with ALL passengers equally and that ALL passengers are responsible for ensuring they have a valid ticket before travelling. I readily admit I made an honest mistake, however if these rules they claim to abide were enforced then either A) The female passenger should of also been issued a ticket OR B) I should of been let off too.
I at least attempted to purchase a ticket and had a ticket sitting in my basket. No attempt was made by her to ensure she had one. Her app wasn't working so she just didn't bother?
I feel that I was given the ticket because of not only my appearance, but my sex and also the fact that I speak a little differently to everyone else. I have tried to reason with Metrolink via twitter. I have also sent an appeal, which it literally only took them two days to respond to via mail that leads me to think the email I sent was not even read or investigated properly.
I still have 6 days left to pay the fine, but it is literally a full days wage to me as I am uni graduate so I am literally paid minimum wage for the work I do and I feel like the episode was handled poorly and at no point was my situation taken into account. I have bank records that show I purchase my tickets whenever I utilise the Met.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.