I was travelling using Merseyrail to go to work (Bootle New strand to Liverpool Central), I got to the station and there was no one in the ticket office but they didn't have the usual plate saying it was closed so we could use it as proof when arriving at the destination, I waited about 4-5 minutes (until I heard my train coming) and ran to catch it thinking I can just explain my situation and get a ticket in Central. Went up to the officers as soon as I arrived in the area they were explaining and asking to buy a ticket (one of them in the group usually has a little ticket machine) but no, they called my station and they said it was open. (well, it was but there was no one there when I was there) then they gave me a fee for the reason of "not being able to provide a ticket when asked" which never even happened. I tried to appeal online already and got a message back saying it was unsuccessful with no explanation why.
Is there anything I can do to avoid paying this fee? I always buy a ticket and the day they couldn't sell me one I get a fine for not buying one when I was trying to
Is there anything I can do to avoid paying this fee? I always buy a ticket and the day they couldn't sell me one I get a fine for not buying one when I was trying to