In message of Sat, 12 Mar
2011 07:47:30 in uk.transport.london, Paul Corfield
writes
On Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:41:45 -0800 (PST), john b
wrote:

On Mar 12, 8:55Â*am, Paul Corfield wrote:
They were an overly complex "solution" to a perceived risk to revenue.
The fact that the people who wanted the system put in place did
*nothing* to advertise it to their passengers says it all. Â*It was also
clear from early GLA member questions that there was little or no
training of TOC staff about the concept and why it was required.

You then move on to the next nonsense which is that the people who
wanted it, did nothing about it then penalty fared their own passengers
for not complying with a system requirement they probably knew nothing
about. You couldn't make it up.

Were people *actually* PFed for not having OEPs, or is that just
extrapolated from theoretical possibility?

South Eastern seem to be the main culprits. I read something last night
that suggested they had programmed their gates to reject Oyster cards
when OEPs were not set. Naturally a ticket inspector was standing close
by to issue a PF. To my mind that it is beyond petty - I do not
condone fare evasion *at all* but operators have to do their bit to
ensure the poor passenger has a chance of understanding the rules and
then complying with them without being put through a "trial by fire and
water" (in ticketing terms).


Paul, I think your "somewhere" was probably this posting in this thread:
In message
s.com of Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:36:09 in uk.transport.london, "John @
home" writes
On Mar 12, 12:41Â*am, john b wrote:
Were people *actually* PFed for not having OEPs,
It has been reported that Southeastern have been issuing Penalty Fares
for not having an OEP set. See, for example, the response by "Louise"
on this page:
http://www.oyster-rail.org.uk/2011/0...hange-to-oeps/

It starts with conjecture. There is real evidence from "Louise".

"I have only recently moved to London ... and travelled from Lewisham to
charing Cross on a Z2-3 Travelcard. When I got to Charing Cross I
couldnt get through the gate. I didn’t understand what was going on as I
had almost £10 on my card. Three gate guards pointed me towards the
information desk and a southeastern guy fined me the £20 and asked if I
wanted to appeal. Apparently ‘I have never heard of an OEP’ wasn’t good
enough defence. Then he walked me to a machine and told me how to put
the OEP on."
I suspect this would not stand against appeal, but most people would not
bother with the hassle.

I don't know if the following article is correct http://www.thisislondo
n.co.uk/standard/article-23731140-fare-dodgers.do. It says the appeals
services are not independent. It advises refusing to pay any dubious
demands and letting "them" sue. Again, who needs the hassle.

[snip]
--
Walter Briscoe