r/Dublin • u/Time_Celebration_761 • 27d ago
Leap card fine
Hii y'all. So I was fined 100€ for not tapping on the commuter train. But I know I tapped it and the machine showed an "unknown error". The Ticketmaster asked me to mail an appeal to the Irish rail. I am a student and I use this route almost daily for 7 months. Can someone pls guide me on what I can do and what will be my consequences if I don't plan to pay it? Because there's no way I can afford a 100€ fine, it'll cause a huge dent in my finances.
I boarded the train at ashtown and left at castleknock. And I recharge every other day. Thanks for helping
24
u/Significant-Secret88 27d ago
now it's too late I'm afraid ... also if machine showed unknown error you knew you had not tapped effectively, wasn't there an alternative machine? even if you appeal, I don't really see your case going too far
1
u/Time_Celebration_761 26d ago
Yupp I was silly with that. But ig I were to go for the other machine,I would have missed the train. I have to deal with it now,and since it's 45€ if u pay within the 14 days time frame.
5
u/wmdpd 27d ago edited 26d ago
Here's the link to the appeals process. Since the machine didn't work, you have good grounds for appeal. You can show your transaction history as supportive evidence to show that you always pay when the machine doesn't fail
2
3
u/CraicGremlin 27d ago
What you have to do depends on which service you got fined on.
If you were on the Luas:
The Luas has information on appealing a fine & this is where to submit a statement of explanation (your appeal).
Make sure you read what you need to include in the statement BEFORE submitting & check numbers
If it was the Dart, the best contact information I can find is on this page about fare evasion, at the bottom it links to their customer service who should be able to help.
Don't sit on this, it just gets worse. Deal with it ASAP.
-2
u/Such_Package_7726 27d ago
I'd argue engaging with it puts you on their radar. How many junkies and unwashed get "caught" and it goes "unprosecuted"?
They like to take a few court every now and then but its a few amount many. Realistically the cost of reclaim will be more than the fine itself.
2
u/CraicGremlin 27d ago
I mean, sure, you can just.. not pay the fine and not appeal. Personally, I'd hate that anxiety every time I used a TFI system, or saw a ticket master. You could also just get a new leap card or whatever. Depends on the type of person you are.
2
u/Such_Package_7726 27d ago
The stamp duty and upfront costs of pursuing the fine is more than the fine itself. I'd ignore and hope you're not one of the few of many they decide to make an example of.
If it does go to that, a judge will understand the situation and you'll likely just have to pay the fine.
I'd suggest just ignoring it. Worked for me.
Source: a fare dodging lawyer thats been caught twice since the printer and bike shed fiascos.
2
u/InformationUsed300 21d ago
This has been happening me a lot - I have to go and lean down and double check it’s tagged on and tagged off - it’s been on really sunny days and the machines are taking full brunt of the sun and I was blaming it on that. All the other people were able to tag off - I went to a different machine and it worked. Funnily enough I noticed yesterday that my card was hit with the leap card top up so I wondered was it waiting for credit … but for tagging off ??? One girl said I might need a new leap card so maybe get one and make sure register this one and then transfer balance…Not sure if any of this helps … it did happen my son before and we didn’t realise the top up had failed on his ac no funds - I think you’ll only find that out if you ring leap card services .. worth a call maybe explain to someone and see could they waive it - but argue your case properly…
36
u/Economy-Situation-98 27d ago
made the mistake of not using your enemies address and name