In message , at 15:31:12 on Fri, 8 Nov
2013, Michael R N Dolbear remarked:
Plus of course the effort of getting printouts for "expenses
purposes" when all you need do with a paper ticket is hand in the
ticket itself.

Has it escaped your notice that the final exit gate swallows your
paper ticket ?

It has not escaped my notice that many of them don't, eg Kings Cross.

Tickets collected on the train after Peterborough as I remember.

That may have been the case in the past; but the reason, now that Kings
Cross is barriered, is that tickets to London are valid as far as
Moorgate, so you might need to retain them to complete that final leg of
your trip.

And you can always ask the person manning the gates if you can keep the
ticket for expenses purposes. As well as asking for a receipt from the
ticket seller (human or machine) when buying.

I have many receipts, none state details of the tickets bought. Nor is
there any such requirement.

Requirement from whom? It's pretty easy for a sceptical accountant to
lok up what the fare would have been, and check it's the same as the
journey you made.

And If your system depends on asking for something as a favour, how is
it "all you need do" ?

It's not a favour, or at least none of the barrier staff I've ever asked
seem to treat it as such.

First time this made a difference to me was attending a job interview
at the Met Office.

Bracknall station had just been fitted with barriers.

Which I doubt are operating 24x7, but also see above.

The barriers were operating when I arrived which was all that was
necessary to be unable to produce the ticket for expense purposes.

Ony because you allowed it to be swallowed, and didn't have a receipt.

Before mag stripe tickets the the barrier attendant

or no-one at all

And If your system depends on that, how is it "all you need do" ?

When I get to my home station there's not a barrier and never a ticket
collector. So all I have to do is hang onto my ticket.

took your ticket.

It is possible to select a ticket that will never be retained, will
your boss pay the extra ?

No, because there are other ways to prove the expense.
--
Roland Perry