10.3.14 East Coast Trains

East Cunt has done itself no favours at all with the latest fiasco that led to a fine being imposed by an over zealous ticket inspector.  As you might expect, he claimed to be doing his job, and the company referred to small print which backed up its right to deny even a fucking appearance of common sense in the situation.

Here are the bullet points surrounding events:

• Bloke buys a ticket
• Bloke uses ticket to get through barrier and board train
• Bloke finds seat and relaxes with mates
• Ticket seems to have been lost
• Inspector arrives
• Bloke explains, and confirms supporting info
• Bloke produces receipt proving purchase of ticket
• Bloke shows voucher confirming his seat number
• Inspector acknowledged bloke had paid and must have had ticket to board train
• Inspector demanded £121 more for ticket to Kings Cross
• Bloke shows confirmation email to confirm he bought the ticket
• Inspector demands the money anyway
• Bloke refuses
• Inspector wants to know the bloke's details
• Bloke declines to provide them
• Inspector calls the police
• Police are waiting at Kings Cross
• Policeman agrees bloke has paid for the ticket
• Policeman says Inspector is just doing his job
• Police said nothing could be done
• Bloke receives a fine of £121 in the post
• Bloke appeals
• Fine rises by £20 during the appeal
• Bloke receives letter saying appeal unsuccessful
• Bloke pursues independent appeal
• East Coast drops fine to £45
• Bloke pays to avoid further penalties

Whilst the conditions do state that it is the ticket that allows one to travel, this is simply allowing pedantry to deny the fucking obvious.  The bloke had paid, and had obviously dropped his ticket while boarding the train.  There was never any stage where any party was of the opinion that the bloke had not paid the proper fare.  As soon as Terms & Conditions are used to deny any level of common sense, and work against facts that prove no loss was ever incurred by the company, then we are all fucked.  I am just surprised no one pointed out to the bloke how lucky he was, not to have been fined £80 for dropping litter!

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