DLR Penalty Fare

[SRPO]

Deleted.

Edited September 23, 2009 by SRPO

[Jphene]

Indeed, I.E. he didnt bother to verify them.

[Dollyfied100]

Hi Jphene,

 

I know I'm a year late, but I feel your pain. I was also fined for forgetting to touch in and I lost my appeal. It may only be £25, but still it's alot of money and it's penalising people for being human. I have forgotten to touch out before, quite a few times, but I make a conscious effort to remember to touch in. I have to, the machines are practically hidden at the side. TFL must be making a huge packet from Pay As You Go Oyster Customers. It's such a cynical way of making money from innocent people and it's disgusting. We never went through this when we had paper tickets, but because this Oyster system has been forced upon on, DLR customers often find themselves out of pocket. They need to put barriers up, on the DLR stations if they want to be fair. I'm going to write a letter to TFL and to Boris Johnson, not that he'll read it, but I really believe something has to be done. We're just getting treated appallingly by the people in charge. If I thought people would back me up, I would create an online petition, but I just don't know how to reach other DLR customers. Anyway I just wanted you to know I feel your frustration.

[gertysingh]

Dollyfield - I would defo back you up. I agree the DLR is inconsistent with the rest of the underground and London rail stations. This appears deliberately so as it makes a good turnover from issuing penalty fares from human error.

 

I have ALWAYS paid my fare for all rail travel. I have a pay as you go oyster card however I do not use the DLR. When I came to use it, I was not aware of the touch in/touch out pods. I was charged a penalty fare after trying to reason with the ticket inspector. I have appealed however have been told that the penalty withstands. I see people who cheat the rail system all the time and now am categorised in that class.

 

It is easy to just pay £25 as it is a small amount and not bother but I feel like many others disappointed that this system is unjust and is a law unto itself.

 

Why have no ticket barriers been put in place at the DLR to be consistent with the rest of London stations?

 

Perhaps the PF system is really too profitable to put the ticket barriers in place!!! Does anyone know where one can find these statistics?

[gertysingh]

BTW this is some stats in 2008:

"TfL collects £32m in Oyster card penalty fares"

 

TfL collects £32m in Oyster card penalty fares | News

[Old-CodJA]

Perhaps the PF system is really too profitable to put the ticket barriers in place!!! Does anyone know where one can find these statistics?

 

Perhaps requests to TfL under the 'Freedom of information Act' might provide the answer.

 

You will need the answer to a number of different specific questions to determine what the DLR policy really is on this.

 

1. What is the share (percentage) of TfL passenger rail journeys on DLR compared to London Underground lines during the past 12 months?

2. How many Penalty Fare notices per passenger mile were issued on DLR in the past 12 months?

3. How many Penalty Fare notices per passenger mile were issued on LUL in the past 12 months?

4. How many prosecutions for fare evasion on DLR in past 12 months?

5. How many prosecutions for fare evasion on LUL in past 12 months?

 

Write to:

 

Transport for London

Customer Relations Dept

4th Floor, Zone Y4,

14 Pier Walk,

North Greenwich,

London

SE10 0ES

 

FOI requests for the same relevant information could also be made to Serco, the company that run DLR

 

Whilst DLR is a part of the TfL responsibility, it is run and managed independently. The address is;

 

Serco-Docklands Customer Relations

Poplar Depot

Castor Lane

London

E14 0DS

Edited July 21, 2010 by Old-CodJA

[Dollyfied100]

Thanks Gertysingh, it's great to have even one other person seeking justice. And thank you OldCodJA for the advice. I will compose a letter by Sunday and post a copy on this board. I just wish there was a way to reach the many TFL PayG customers, because so many people must be feeling the way we are. Those statistics are crazy, 32 million? I shouldn't be surprised, I am appalled though.

 

I guess under the Freedom Of Information Act, we'd have the right to further information. Your question list is pretty good OldcodJA. I guess the first thing to do is compose the letter.

[gertysingh]

Hey Old-Cod - that looks great.

 

Dollyfield, I'll also send one off and let's compare to see what we get. I am interested in some further statistics and wonder if I can get access to their data to do some analysis.

 

I'll look at starting up a group over the next couple of days to see what happens....

[Dollyfied100]

I'll be joining that group.

[Dollyfied100]

I haven't done the letter yet. I haven't been well, but I'll try and get it done this week.

[Lydeard27]

I travel on this line 2-3 times a week and to be honest its down to you to touch in and out, Oyster has been out now for ages and everyone knows you have to do this, especially on an open system like the dlr.

"In a rush" is not an excuse, it certainly is not the revenue inspectors fault, and how are they to know you did not do on purpose? I am not saying that you did and yes people make mistakes, but I bet this whole scenario will make you remember to do it next time (which is sort of the point ) As for wearing a suit!! thats a ridiculous comment, what people in suits don't bunk off fares or shoplift or commit crime? Only teenagers fare evade? How did you behave when stopped by the way? You obviously did not correct them when they wrote your name down incorrectly!

I have seen people ranting and shouting in similar situations, and as soon as that sort of behaviour happens I am afraid any discression that could have been used is soon forgotten.

 

As for comment on gating all stations, I agree It would make things better, but I imagine cost wise to do that, and then to have staff at every station would be vast, mind you tfl could stump up some I suppose just observations

[gertysingh]

I travel on this line 2-3 times a week and to be honest its down to you to touch in and out, Oyster has been out now for ages and everyone knows you have to do this, especially on an open system like the dlr.

 

Hey L - I think because you use the DLR regularly, you are of course aware of an open system that has pods and thus are in the habit of looking out for them.

 

If you rarely travel to an open area and use the underground system, you will not even see the pods because it is something you are not looking out for. The DLR does not want to put in barriers because IMHO they make have been allowed to take advantage of human beings.....we make mistakes. We don't tap out if visiting the area and we don't tap in when visiting the area.

 

And as Old C says - if the DLR issues a penalty fare Serco get to keep the entire sum. If they issue a ticket, that is shared with TfL. It's no wonder the inspectors are so ready to issue a penalty. It's no wonder they act as bullies to get one to pay up on the spot. They have distinct mafia traits.

 

BTW Dollified have created a facebook group....just slow getting members but am investigating how to set up a petition instead.