AIBU to think that the Ticket Inspector was a 'Jobsworth'?

She was applying the rules. She probably has no discretion in the matter. You could have been producing an email to someone else or a fake for all she knew. You can get a refund. I have seen enough fare dodgers to know that ticket inspectors have a hard and sometimes dangerous job.

The railway is a domain on its own with regard to the law and even policing. It is a throwback to when railways were first invented.
I think they are always on the lookout for any way they can make extra money. And they are quite intimidating. If buses operated with this same attitude, there would be quite a to-do.
Some of the journeys I’ve made are excellent value for money and some are outrageously priced.
There is no balance.
I don’t understand why the ticketing has to be sooo very complex either. Should it be stressful just choosing a ticket?

I once got into an argument about a Senior Railcard.

I was travelling about a week after renewing my railcard and I had it with me. A ticket inspector rolled up and demanded to see my ticket so I handed him the ticket and railcard. His face lit up and he said "This railcard went out of date over a week ago". I politely pointed out that it was for the current year and not last year and he blanked me.

He then asked a group of rather stroppy young men for their tickets one of them said "We haven't got tickets. What are you going to do about it?"

The answer must have been nothing as he moved swiftly away down the carriage.

The email could easily be fake, she was just doing her job. Fare evasion is rife.

Them are the rules. Personal circumstances don't enter into it, and compassion won't count either.
Having said that, I'm glad your son had a favourable diagnosis from what could have been devastating.

I think she could have waived the rules, even if it meant you providing more "evidence" within the next few days.

Surely she was just doing her job though?

By your own admission the email you had stated that it could not be used as proof of a card.

I don’t see what telling her off would have done for you except make the situation serious.

You can get the money back. This seems a none issue?

Unfortunately she applied the rules. The only thing you can do now is apply for the refund when your card arrives. Bit of a hassle, but I find most things are a bit of a hassle these days. Try speaking to an actual person on the phone! It’s often impossible. I don’t want to talk to a bot, but there it is.

Yes the ticket inspector was doing their job, they possibly could have got into trouble if they hadn't done so.

Sadly I agree everything seems more complicated and the customer doesn't seem to matter now.

On the other hand you get customers who are really lazy and feckless. They order international goods. You send them a tracking number and its too much trouble to enter it onto the postal website of their country. They keep coming back to you (the seller) for information as to where it is. Eventually you have to tell them that the package is at their local depot awaiting delivery and there is nothing more you can do to help them.

While it would be lovely if officials could always exercise their discretion (assuming they have any) nevertheless we can’t be surprised when they stick to the rules.
Where do they stop?
That nice old lady without her railcard, the teenage boys without their student cards, that man without a ticket who is also taking up two seats with his bag and has his feet up on a third?
I don’t envy them their job but the fact that you had had a traumatic day is probably making it a greater issue than it might have been.

Did you get away with breaking the rules on the way to the appointment?

Good point OldFrill, and undoubtedly the answer is ‘yes’.

Actually, of course, yes. No-one came to check our tickets on the way to London though. Just as well, or we would have had the situation twice. I do understand people have to do their jobs and she was polite, but a few words of sympathy and then enforcing the rule would have helped.

Why should she show sympathy? You knew you were breaking the rules.

Germanshepherdsmum

Why should she show sympathy? You knew you were breaking the rules.

Because it’s a humane way to behave. A spoonful of sugar 🎶 and all that!
Most of these heinous misdemeanours arent’t attempts to fair dodge. Just unfortunate mistakes.
It is possible to follow the “rules” of your job without turning into a stone.

I have every sympathy with ticket inspectors on the trains. Who knows what sort of day she’d had, what sort of threats and abuse she’d suffered. I saw plenty of that when commuting. The OP knew she wasn’t complying with the rules so I see no case for sympathy. She was just one more person who had broken the rules and was deserving of a penalty.

I think she had to do her job and as you can reclaim the money it isn’t a problem is it ? you ll have lost nothing I m sure everyone who tries to con a journey has an ‘ill relative’ or a funeral or a hospital to go to
It would be more of a problen if you were losing your money but you won’t

Ok. Thanks for your comments everyone. I am admonished and was certainly being unreasonable. Can anyone tell me how I can get this thread taken down as there doesn't seem any point in leaving it here.

She's not allowed to waive the rules. She has a set of instructions that she must carry out. At least she told you that you could apply for a refund when you get your card.

You can press report on your original posting singingnutty and request it’s taken down

I don't think she was being a jobsworth. The employee was just doing her job. You took a chance and got caught out.

Sorry that must sound really harsh. Many of us have been in a similar situation to your son. Hope all goes well for him.

AIBU to think that the Ticket Inspector was a 'Jobsworth'?

Yes!
Sorry!

Glad the trip was overall positive though.

I dont think there will be grounds for removing the thread.