Why I’m fighting fine for taking my usual journey
It’s the KM Big Charity Quiz taking place on Friday, November 17, at the Maidstone Leisure Centre. Here’s your chance to get in training with some taster questions over the next few pages. If you get stuck, the answers are on page 27 A furious commuter is facing the possibility of court action – for taking his usual train route home.
David Dixon pays £3,700 for an annual season ticket between Barming and Elephant and Castle.
But as there are no direct trains at the times he travels, he normally takes the recommended diversion, changing at Bromley South and Maidstone East.
One evening last month, however, the 34-year-old, of Tonbridge Road, took a later service than normal, only realising as it was pulling out of Barming it did stop at his destination.
Despite pleading with a ticket inspector he was ordered to pay the cost of the journey back to Barming – £2.70 – and fined £20 when he got to Maidstone East.
He is now appealing the penalty for a second time, after his first attempt was rejected. The company’s rules state anyone with outstanding fines could face prosecution or coughing up £1,000.
Mr Dixon, an analyst at NHS Protect, which detects fraud in the health service, said: “It feels like profiteering. The inspector’s reason for fining me was because I had to leave the station to get onto the other platform but there is no other way to change platforms at Maidstone East.
“I accept I could have got off at Barming, but simply missed my stop as I was following my usual commute and following the advice from National Rail.
“What’s more annoying is the service is appalling – the prices go up all the time and the train routinely doesn’t stop at Barming to make up time if the service is running late, adding delays to an already long commute.”
A Southeastern spokesman said it was not appropriate to comment during the appeal process.
In July, Southeastern overturned a penalty fare issued to commuter Neil Armstrong, who fell asleep and missed his stop at Barming.