A small business owner in the United Kingdom was issued a fine of £102.30 for a six-minute train journey that would have cost £1.50, after encountering issues with purchasing a ticket via a mobile app. Luke Potts, 28, was traveling one stop from Levenshulme to Manchester Piccadilly on May 4 for a friend's birthday.
Potts stated that he believed he had purchased a ticket through the Trainline app before his journey. However, while rushing to catch his train, which he noted arrived a few minutes early, he realized the transaction had not completed. He attempted to repurchase the ticket while the train was stationary but received an error message indicating it was no longer available for purchase as the train had departed.
Following the app issue, Potts decided to board the train and approach station staff at Manchester Piccadilly to explain the situation and purchase a ticket. He was instead issued a fine on the spot. Potts described the encounter with a staff member as "cold," feeling that the individual was not permitted to show leniency regardless of his explanation.
Potts has made the journey regularly and asserts he always pays for his tickets. He appealed the fine three times, providing evidence of past payments and his Railcard to demonstrate his history as a compliant customer. Despite these appeals, Northern Rail rejected his case, sending a letter with his name misspelled, confirming the rejection. The initial fine of £52.30 had increased to £102.30 due to missed payment deadlines during the appeal process. The final amount is approximately 70 times the original fare.
With debt collectors becoming involved and threatening legal action, Potts has decided to pay the fine. He expressed frustration, noting that individuals who intentionally evade fares often face less severe consequences. He believes the system unfairly penalizes honest customers.
Potts, who recently launched a funeral services company named June after his late grandmother, stated he cannot risk the potential financial repercussions of fighting the fine further, such as affecting his business or facing a County Court Judgment (CCJ). He expressed a desire to use the money for his business rather than pay Northern Rail for what he considers an unjust penalty. Northern Rail has been contacted for comment.