Re: MELB: Ticket Inspectors

["Disco Stu" <disco_stu@primus.com.au>]

Andrew B wrote in message <378222E7.15F42927@optusnet.com.au>...

>Every time, without fail, I have been greeted by on-board ticket
>inspectors both going to work and going home.


I have been using trains (Glen Waverley and Cranbourne/Pakenham/Frankston
lines to Caulfield) to get to uni for the past 6 months. In that time I have
been asked to show my ticket a grand total of *1* (that's ONE) times.

>Needless to say, I'm going to lodge a written complaint against this
>person. Apart from the fact that he was extremely rude, I didn't receive
>an apology or get a fair chance to explain my situation.

My one incident (on the G/Wav line, between East Malvern and Tooronga) went
as follows:

Ticket Inspector: Ticket please...

Me: *hands over concession ticket*

TI: Concession ID please...

Me: *hands over Health Care Card*

TI: I'm sorry, but this HCC is not eligible for concession travel.

Me: But I asked the Station Attendant, who told me that I could use it
because I also recieved Youth Allowance.

TI: Well, unfortunately that's incorrect. Your HCC has the code LI on it,
which means you can't get concession travel out of it. I'm going to have to
write you a ticket. I don't have authority to excuse you, but I will note
down your excuse, which I think is a fairly valid one. Its obvious you
werent trying to fare evade as you had purchased a ticket. When you recieve
the notice of your fine you have the right to appeal it, by getting a stat
dec from the police station and sending it in to the fines department. Can I
see some ID please?

Me: *hands over ID*

TI: Thanks. I'll have to keep your ticket, but I will give you a replacement
ticket. *Gives replacement ticket.* This is why I hate the MetCard system,
Kennett really stuffed up buying that lemon for a ticketing system. Have a
good day, sir.


So, I have nothing but praise for the ticket inspector I dealt with. She was
pleasant and friendly, and I feel no animosity towards her. I also mentioned
this in the letter I sent to the PTC appealing my fine.

*FOOTNOTE: My fine was dropped, but I ended up having to buy a $111
concession card. THAT's what pissed me off!!!*