tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73564542459964287522011-04-21T16:42:24.454-07:00I am a regular user of south west trains and am unhappy with the over priced, un friendly and low quality service offered.Simon Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16578453278644414934noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356454245996428752.post-85473640129864055602008-05-15T02:15:00.000-07:002008-05-15T02:49:20.304-07:00<p><br />In February I was travelling from East Dulitch to Guildford. When I arrived at London bridge i realised that it would be quicker to get a train directly from there than to go back to Waterloo.<br /></p><br /><p><br />But as I had come overground I was on the wrong side of the barrier to get a new ticket, and I didnt want to miss the train, so ... I went to tick booth on the other side of the barrier.<br /></p><br /><p><br />There was a very nice a young chap in the booth who tried to find me the right ticket. However he could not find it on his system. Meanwhile a huge queue of peopl built up behind me, and the train had arrived.<br /></p><br /><p><br />Things got really tense as all the passengers behind me were about to miss their ride and the guy was looking blankly at the screen. I said <br><br /> <i>"Look, all these people are going to miss the train. Can I buy the ticket from the conductor?"</i> the guy said <br><i>"Yeah, sure"</i> and with a sigh of relief got on with serving a now irate queue of commuters.<br /></p><br /><p><br />I get on the train. There is no conductor. I sit down, get the laptop out and get on with my work.<br /></p><br /><p><br />Later on two ticket inspectors come along and ask for my ticket, I show them my overland ticket to London bridge and explain the problem and ask for a ticket to Guildford.<br /></p><br /><p><br /><b>At this point the two ticket inspectors became really aggressive.</b> <br /></p><br /><p>This is my complaint</p> <br /><ul><br /> <li>It is not acceptable to initiate an aggressive conversation</li><br /> <li>It is not acceptable to loudly insist that a passenger is lying infront of a whole carriage of people</li><br /> <li>It is not acceptable to ignore my story</li><br /> <li>It is not acceptable to refuse to check up on my story</li><br /> <li>It is not acceptable to insist that I sign a slip that states that I am travelling without permit</li><br /> <li>It is not acceptable to have a convoluted mechanism to appeal against the fine, that can only be done in writing.</li><br /></ul><br /><p><br />It was a challenge to remain friendly and polite in the face of these two aggressive people, but I succeded. I refused to pay the fine, but offered to pay the additional fare as I am not a fare dodger. I also refused to sign their form.<br /></p><br /><p><br />When the ticket inspectors finally gave up and left, the whole carriage cheered, several passengers said well done for standing up to them. <br /></p><br /><p><br />This was a hollow victory as I have just had to pay £40 rather than have the debt collection company they put on to me credit black list me.<br /></p><br /><p><br />I have created this blog whilst following this guide <a href="http://www.bloggerheads.com/south_west_trains.asp#diary">http://www.bloggerheads.com/south_west_trains.asp</a><br /><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7356454245996428752-8547364012986405560?l=south-west-trains-pain.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Simon Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16578453278644414934noreply@blogger.com0