I was hit with £321 fine & frogmarched off a train over £2.90 fare – it’s not my fault and I was humiliated for it
A RAIL traveller says his life has been ruined after being fined hundreds of pounds for not having a £2.90 ticket.
Gary Oliver was frogmarched off a train and handed to police for fare dodging – despite his claims there was no ticket machine where he boarded.
A Great Western Railway revenue officer then issued him with a hefty £321 on the spot fine.
Shocked Prezzo restaurant manager Gary, 43, failed to pay it.
His case was automatically sent to court and he ended up with a bill for almost £500 coming straight out of his wages and a County Court Judgment recorded against his name for five years.
He said: “It has made my life impossible. It has completely ruined my credit rating.
“I haven’t been able to get credit to buy a phone, get a car, and there is no chance of me getting a mortgage.”
Gary from Paignton, Devon, is having to rent a room with his partner as they are unable to apply for a mortgage with the CCJ hanging over him.
He was taking a short train ride from Tor station to Paignton when he was challenged by the conductor in 2021.
Gary tried to explain there was no ticket machine at the station when he boarded but he was escorted off the train and handed to police who said he would be facing the huge penalty fine.
He refused to pay and was taken to court in his absence.
Gary said: “They would not listen or reason with me and just said they were out to fine people to make some revenue.
“It was highway robbery. I was outraged and refused to pay the £460 fine on the spot so they took me to court.
“It wrecked my credit score and has made it impossible to do certain things.
“They don’t teach you in school about credit ratings but it has such a big impact on people’s lives.
“I just want to highlight how these big companies ripped people off and are ruining people’s lives over such small fares. It’s ridiculous.”
Gary’s story came to light as it was revealed thousands of convictions for rail fare evasion dating back to 2017 could be quashed because of the misuse of secretive Single Justice Procedures.
The system allowed a lone magistrate to deal with cases on written evidence only.
Fines and court costs paid by convicted defendants are now set to be repaid after a series of hearings in December.
Great Western Railway have been contacted for comment.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE CAUGHT ON A TRAIN WITH NO TICKET
According to Southern Rail advice
If you can’t produce a valid ticket for your full journey, you may be charged a Penalty Fare. Learn the rules and see what a Penalty Fare might cost you.
A Penalty Fare is £100 plus the price of the full single fare applicable for your intended journey. However, if it is paid within 21 days, the Penalty Fare is reduced to £50 plus the price of the single fare applicable.
You may have to pay a Penalty Fare if you:
- travel without a valid ticket
- are unable to produce an appropriate Railcard for a discount ticket
- travel in First Class accommodation with a Standard ticket
- are aged 16 or over, travelling on a child rate ticket
- travel beyond the destination on your ticket.
If the ticket office is closed you still have to buy a ticket or permit to travel before you start your journey.
Most stations have ticket vending machines, but if one isn’t available you should buy a permit to travel from the permits machine.
You can also buy tickets online or via the app before you travel.
Yes. You can appeal against a penalty fare in writing or online within 21 days starting the day after the issue date.
Written appeals should be sent to the address shown on the notice you were given.
You can also make your appeal online at www.penaltyservices.co.uk
Penalty Services is an independent organisation. They will consider your appeal based on the facts of the case and rule on whether to uphold or cancel the penalty fare.