jamesthebeast
Member
Hello everyone,
I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me.
Three times a week I travel from Daisy Hill to work in Manchester Victoria.
Unfortunately, I am disabled, I have diagnosed autism, anxiety, OCD, epilepsy and molysomophobia (fear of dirt). Because of this I am entitled to a disabled railcard.
I used to buy my train tickets at the ticket office using contactless. However lately the ticket office has been shut (so I have had to buy on board as I am unable to use the ticket machine as I have a worry it may be dirty).
Due to my OCD when I get the train I am constantly worried about getting a penalty fare as I have to buy on board due to the announcements that play frequently. I spoke to my psychiatrist about this and they wrote a letter explaining that I was entitled to buy on board, stated this was a reasonable adjustment and entered their contact details on for if there were any issues.
This calmed my nerves a lot and I continued to use the train 3 times a week.
Unfortunately yesterday I boarded the train and the ticket inspector came over to me and asked for my ticket, I pulled out my disabled railcard and asked for a return to Victoria and asked to pay with contact less. The ticket inspector told me I would be unable to buy a ticket and would need a penalty fare. I said don't worry and pulled out my note and showed it to the ticket inspector. The ticket inspector snatched it out of my hand and told me my note was a load of rubish and I could just man up and buy before I board like anyone else. The ticket inspector then told me they would call the British Transport Police and I would be arrested, so I provided my details and Received a penalty fare. They also confiscated my disabled railcard telling me I didn't need it.
I exited the station at Manchester and burst into tears, unfortunately I had a complete meltdown and was unable to go to work, in the end of the British Transport Police came over to comfort me. I Spoke to them for around 30 minutes and they encouraged me to take the day off of work and return home. I was unable to return home as I didn't have a train ticket. Every morning I transfer exactly enough money for my train ticket into my current account as I have a fear of money in my account going missing, without my railcard I would be unable to afford my return trip so the British Transport Police spoke to the train conductor who allowed me to travel back free of charge.
I am now really scared that something bad is going to happen to me because I got a penalty fare, I don't feel it was justified as I planned for this to happen and got a letter from a medical doctor allowing me to buy my tickets on board when the ticket lffice is closed. I also lost my dosabled railcard and my letter which I had to pay £80 for.
I spoke to my dad about the issue who took the penalty fare off of me and encouraged me to make a complaint. Unfortunately when I rang Northern Rail they told me they were unable to look at fare evasion complaints, even though I am not a fare evader.
My questions are:
1) am I in big trouble, did I do anything wrong?
2) how do I get another disabled railcard, do I have to buy another?
3) can I get another letter from my psychiatrist? I was under the impression that my letter allowed me to buy on board if the ticket office was shut.
4) am I banned from Northern services?
5) how do I repay the British Transport Police for allowing me to travel home for free? Did the officer have to pay for me to go home? It looked like he just spoke to the train guard but he could have paid him when I wasn't looking.
6) will this impact my job? I am an R programming data scientist and have to travel into Manchester 3 times a week.
7) how will i travel in on the next days?
8) do you think I would be able to appeal the penalty fare?
9) Was it not true I was able to buy on board with a letter from a medical doctor explaining my disability. It feels like they should have made reasonable adjustments?
10) what should I do now?
Sorry I know this is a long post. But the whole thing has upset me greatly and caused me to have a meltdown. I also lost a days pay due to Northern rails actions. Some help would be appreciated.
Many thanks everyone.
I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me.
Three times a week I travel from Daisy Hill to work in Manchester Victoria.
Unfortunately, I am disabled, I have diagnosed autism, anxiety, OCD, epilepsy and molysomophobia (fear of dirt). Because of this I am entitled to a disabled railcard.
I used to buy my train tickets at the ticket office using contactless. However lately the ticket office has been shut (so I have had to buy on board as I am unable to use the ticket machine as I have a worry it may be dirty).
Due to my OCD when I get the train I am constantly worried about getting a penalty fare as I have to buy on board due to the announcements that play frequently. I spoke to my psychiatrist about this and they wrote a letter explaining that I was entitled to buy on board, stated this was a reasonable adjustment and entered their contact details on for if there were any issues.
This calmed my nerves a lot and I continued to use the train 3 times a week.
Unfortunately yesterday I boarded the train and the ticket inspector came over to me and asked for my ticket, I pulled out my disabled railcard and asked for a return to Victoria and asked to pay with contact less. The ticket inspector told me I would be unable to buy a ticket and would need a penalty fare. I said don't worry and pulled out my note and showed it to the ticket inspector. The ticket inspector snatched it out of my hand and told me my note was a load of rubish and I could just man up and buy before I board like anyone else. The ticket inspector then told me they would call the British Transport Police and I would be arrested, so I provided my details and Received a penalty fare. They also confiscated my disabled railcard telling me I didn't need it.
I exited the station at Manchester and burst into tears, unfortunately I had a complete meltdown and was unable to go to work, in the end of the British Transport Police came over to comfort me. I Spoke to them for around 30 minutes and they encouraged me to take the day off of work and return home. I was unable to return home as I didn't have a train ticket. Every morning I transfer exactly enough money for my train ticket into my current account as I have a fear of money in my account going missing, without my railcard I would be unable to afford my return trip so the British Transport Police spoke to the train conductor who allowed me to travel back free of charge.
I am now really scared that something bad is going to happen to me because I got a penalty fare, I don't feel it was justified as I planned for this to happen and got a letter from a medical doctor allowing me to buy my tickets on board when the ticket lffice is closed. I also lost my dosabled railcard and my letter which I had to pay £80 for.
I spoke to my dad about the issue who took the penalty fare off of me and encouraged me to make a complaint. Unfortunately when I rang Northern Rail they told me they were unable to look at fare evasion complaints, even though I am not a fare evader.
My questions are:
1) am I in big trouble, did I do anything wrong?
2) how do I get another disabled railcard, do I have to buy another?
3) can I get another letter from my psychiatrist? I was under the impression that my letter allowed me to buy on board if the ticket office was shut.
4) am I banned from Northern services?
5) how do I repay the British Transport Police for allowing me to travel home for free? Did the officer have to pay for me to go home? It looked like he just spoke to the train guard but he could have paid him when I wasn't looking.
6) will this impact my job? I am an R programming data scientist and have to travel into Manchester 3 times a week.
7) how will i travel in on the next days?
8) do you think I would be able to appeal the penalty fare?
9) Was it not true I was able to buy on board with a letter from a medical doctor explaining my disability. It feels like they should have made reasonable adjustments?
10) what should I do now?
Sorry I know this is a long post. But the whole thing has upset me greatly and caused me to have a meltdown. I also lost a days pay due to Northern rails actions. Some help would be appreciated.
Many thanks everyone.