Ignorant American Luas problems

decarnes

Here's my story:

I'm an American student studying in Dublin for the past 4 months. I'm leaving in one week. I am a frequent Luas user, always with a valid monthly ticket.

This evening, I was asked for my ticket, and for some reason, I couldn't find it. I pulled out all the cards in my wallet, but to no avail. So the Luas guard escorted me off the tram and issued me a 45 Euro ticket. After I started to walk up the steps to go home, I found the ticket, stuck to the back of my credit card, no less. The guard was gone.

I asked one of my lecturers what I should do, and she told me to mail in a photocopy of the Luas ticket, and that I wouldn't have to pay it. She assured me that it's happened to students before, and they always scratch the ticket.

OR, she said I could just leave the country in a week, as planned, and not worry about it. The guard took down my temporary Dublin address as well as my name (my surname which he spelled wrong). Other than an invalid address and an incorrectly spelled name, they have no information on me.

Should I go through the trouble during final exams and mail the photocopy in? Or should I just throw the ticket away and forget about it?

(Mailing it in would've probably taken fewer minutes than writing this post, haha).

Thanks, all.

Amtmann

decarnes wrote: »

Here's my story:

I'm an American student studying in Dublin for the past 4 months. I'm leaving in one week. I am a frequent Luas user, always with a valid monthly ticket.

This evening, I was asked for my ticket, and for some reason, I couldn't find it. I pulled out all the cards in my wallet, but to no avail. So the Luas guard escorted me off the tram and issued me a 45 Euro ticket. After I started to walk up the steps to go home, I found the ticket, stuck to the back of my credit card, no less. The guard was gone.

I asked one of my lecturers what I should do, and she told me to mail in a photocopy of the Luas ticket, and that I wouldn't have to pay it. She assured me that it's happened to students before, and they always scratch the ticket.

OR, she said I could just leave the country in a week, as planned, and not worry about it. The guard took down my temporary Dublin address as well as my name (my surname which he spelled wrong). Other than an invalid address and an incorrectly spelled name, they have no information on me.

Should I go through the trouble during final exams and mail the photocopy in? Or should I just throw the ticket away and forget about it?

(Mailing it in would've probably taken fewer minutes than writing this post, haha).

Thanks, all.

Personally I would post the photocopy and leave the country without paying the fine.

Maldini2706

You could always ring Luas Customer Care Freefone on 1800 300 604 and ask them how to get it cancelled

G_R

decarnes wrote: »

Here's my story:

I'm an American student studying in Dublin for the past 4 months. I'm leaving in one week. I am a frequent Luas user, always with a valid monthly ticket.

This evening, I was asked for my ticket, and for some reason, I couldn't find it. I pulled out all the cards in my wallet, but to no avail. So the Luas guard escorted me off the tram and issued me a 45 Euro ticket. After I started to walk up the steps to go home, I found the ticket, stuck to the back of my credit card, no less. The guard was gone.

I asked one of my lecturers what I should do, and she told me to mail in a photocopy of the Luas ticket, and that I wouldn't have to pay it. She assured me that it's happened to students before, and they always scratch the ticket.

OR, she said I could just leave the country in a week, as planned, and not worry about it. The guard took down my temporary Dublin address as well as my name (my surname which he spelled wrong). Other than an invalid address and an incorrectly spelled name, they have no information on me.

Should I go through the trouble during final exams and mail the photocopy in? Or should I just throw the ticket away and forget about it?

(Mailing it in would've probably taken fewer minutes than writing this post, haha).

Thanks, all.

id say email them a copy of ur ticket and then 4get about it. Even if they dont waive the fine (which they should) what do u care, u will be a couple of thousand km away....even the luas inspectors autority doesnt travel that far!!!:D

hope ya liked Ireland

antoinolachtnai

This is a minor aside, but did he escort you off the tram before he asked you for the 45 euros, or did he ask you for the 45 euros whilst you were on the tram?

JupiterKid

That sounds like terrible luck!! I'd say you'll be fine. If you want to be ultra safe, just take a photocopy of your the Luas ticket, with a brief enclosing letter explaining your situation. It's hardly likely to stop you getting into Ireland again in the future in any case.

But then again, if the Green Party had their way, the LUAS will be extended to San Francisco and then you'd have to pay up....:D:rolleyes:

marmurr1916

You didn't try to travel without a ticket, you just couldn't find it on time for the inspector.

Email a copy of your ticket along with an explanation of the situation.

Then you can leave Ireland with a clear conscience and don't have to worry about the fine.

Even if it's not waived (which it should be) you're not going to be hunted down by the FBI and extradited back to Ireland.

laughin'joe

leave the country and forget about it if you do the right thing in this country you get punished for it.

decarnes wrote: »

Here's my story:

I'm an American student studying in Dublin for the past 4 months. I'm leaving in one week. I am a frequent Luas user, always with a valid monthly ticket.

This evening, I was asked for my ticket, and for some reason, I couldn't find it. I pulled out all the cards in my wallet, but to no avail. So the Luas guard escorted me off the tram and issued me a 45 Euro ticket. After I started to walk up the steps to go home, I found the ticket, stuck to the back of my credit card, no less. The guard was gone.

I asked one of my lecturers what I should do, and she told me to mail in a photocopy of the Luas ticket, and that I wouldn't have to pay it. She assured me that it's happened to students before, and they always scratch the ticket.

OR, she said I could just leave the country in a week, as planned, and not worry about it. The guard took down my temporary Dublin address as well as my name (my surname which he spelled wrong). Other than an invalid address and an incorrectly spelled name, they have no information on me.

Should I go through the trouble during final exams and mail the photocopy in? Or should I just throw the ticket away and forget about it?

(Mailing it in would've probably taken fewer minutes than writing this post, haha).

Thanks, all.

stovelid

I'm in shock. A thread about a public transport fine where the commuter takes responsibility and doesn't seek to grind an axe against The Power. Can we sticky this?

OP: I would ring the Luas office and explain. Offer to post in the ticket, and see that they say.

Alanstrainor

Had a similar experience and the luas helpline was very helpful and understanding. They get situations like this all the time, give them a ring, explain and send it off to them.

dowlingm

I would make a good faith effort to make it right if I were you rather than just leave the country. With the increasing sharing of data among authorities even small things can come back to haunt you these days.

I agree with the comments above however - good on you for not bitching and moaning about how the LUAS inspector should have used his x-ray vision to know you had a ticket on you rather than give you a ticket. Are you sure you're not Canadian? :D:D

MonsterMob

just leave, its not worth the hassle

1huge1

Ya just leave, they're not gonna hunt ya down mate