https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/joseph-molloy-hsbc-banker-loophole-fare-dodger-5HjdSTN_2/
"A wealthy HSBC banker has been banned from his local railway after using a 'doughnutting' scheme to scam his way out of £5,900 in train fares."
Apart from a tiny degree of sympathy as I would love to commute by train but can't afford it, it's unbelievable that the starting point for sentencing for this is 18 months imprisonment. Contrast this to the recent case of someone who reversed over a cyclist and drove off, later claiming that he thought it was a tree branch hitting his car and who received a suspended sentence.
Perhaps I'm just a bit ignorant, but why is fraud punished so heavily compared to actually killing someone?
the last line of that article is teh best
After the hearing, he changed his clothes and vaulted a wall in an apparent attempt to avoid photographers.
it's unbelievable that the starting point for sentencing for this is 18 months imprisonment. Contrast this to the recent case of someone who reversed over a cyclist and drove off, later claiming that he thought it was a tree branch hitting his car and who received a suspended sentence.Perhaps I'm just a bit ignorant, but why is fraud punished so heavily compared to actually killing someone?
It's the difference between culpability and harm.
How did they catch him, that's what I want to know.
£5,900? That's pish...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30475232
I have a feeling that this guy was apparently going to pay a penalty charge of 100k+ when caught, but I can't find evidence of that.
How did they catch him, that's what I want to know.
He did it for a year so I'd say the possibilities of:
1. Being stupid enough to tell someone else who later has a grudge and grasses you in
2. Being spotted by regular rail staff as not getting on/off at the stop your ticket says (especially if nobody got on/off there)
are the most likely, but some sort of AI based detection on the railway company's IT systems looking for a pattern of ticket buying from the same IP address / card payments that fits the type of fraud, is also not out the question.
Guy I know, his daughter got hit for a few £k fine for fair dodging. One the line from tweedbank to Waverley.
She did it for a good year + .
So he avoids paying £5900 and is told to pay £5000 compensation. So still up on deal. Or was that on top of paying the full fare.
Guy I know, his daughter got hit for a few £k fine for fair dodging. One the line from tweedbank to Waverley.
It’s amazing how many people queuing on platform to buy tickets on arrival at Waverley only need single fares from Brunstane.
Begs the question why they bothered to prosecute him..... Complete waste of ****ing time given the lack of consequence
Of course this scam could be prevented by southeastern employing conductors but we can’t have that now can we!!
At the local station I always use the on platform ticket machine, it had been out of use for 4 weeks(vandalised touchscreen) when so I was issued with a fine by the Revenue Enforcement. Told them about the machine and they said "Yes we know its broken, this is how you appeal it."
The lad behind me hadn't got a ticket and was very indignate about being issued a fine, his excuse" I never buy a ticket anyway,I only use a train 3 times a year, why should I pay?" Moaned the rest of the way into Brum and vowed to use public transport again.
Of course this scam could be prevented by southeastern employing conductors but we can’t have that now can we!!
Yes, I use Northern to commute and the conductor loves to come down the carriage shouting "Tickets, passes and excuses please"
Yes, I use Northern to commute and the conductor loves to come down the carriage shouting "Tickets, passes and excuses please"
love it!
Complete waste of ****ing time given the lack of consequence
I did think there would be a good chance his career would be screwed but the article did say he retired last year. I guess his retirement might have been down to this but for most of us the "oh I might get sacked so lets just retire anyway" is a bit of a pipe dream.
I use Northern or TPE into Manchester everyday. Not heard that one before, love it!
Of course this scam could be prevented by southeastern employing conductors but we can’t have that now can we!!
or introducing the scheme we have where all public transport is 50c a journey.
80 hours unpaid work though....at his daily rate that's going to be 10's if not 100's of thousands equivalent.
Seriously, all in favour of an income related fine for basic stuff like speeding. £100 fpn ticket when you earn a fortune is nothing, make it 1% of annual income (eg on basis that for the very lowest paid, £100 is still the fine but annual income of £10k makes that 1%) - would need refinement - but now it's materially relevant and a disincentive.
or introducing the scheme we have where all public transport is 50c a journey.
My daughter has just arrived in Oz and is delighted with this ^
or introducing the scheme we have where all public transport is 50c a journey.
My daughter has just arrived in Oz and is delighted with this ^
If they were to implement it in the UK people like him would still dodge paying it
They do here too. But there’s not really any enforcement or barriers outside the major stations.
Yes, I use Northern to commute and the conductor loves to come down the carriage shouting "Tickets, passes and excuses please"
I think I've had that same conductor!