Obnoxious ticket vendor in Maynooth...

[andyl222]

Last sunday I was running to get the 11.36 into dublin connolly. I was with my brother, it was around 11.32 and I only had a 20 euro note to get my ticket withg. I went to the ticket desk and couldn't see anyone there, so I called out 'excuse me' and then knocked on the ticket tray hoping to rouse the attention of anyone that could sell me a ticket. After a minute, the ticket vendor comes from the back of the office and asks me why i was 'knocking on the ****ing glass?". I just asked for the 2 train tickets, and he kept on, saying 'don't you knock on that ****ing glass, go over there and knock on the machines all ya ****ing like but don't bang on the glass'. I said I was in a rush and simply wanted to get someones attention, and had actually knocked on the metal coin tray to which he replied, 'if I catch you knocking on that glass again I'll knock on your ****ing face!'. I told him that was wonderful customer service and said I'd complain, he just got up and went to the back of the office. Has anyone else encountered this blatant lack of respect and courtesy from other IE staff? The ticket vendor in question has in previous instances refused to sell me a ticket and told me just to use the machines, I point blank refused,because again I only had a 20 euro note,, as far as i'm aware I don't have to use the machines if I don't want.....

[Mark Gleeson]

Not the first report of trouble getting tickets in Maynooth in recent weeks

File the complaint, its utterly unacceptable, of course the guy hadn't a name badge

Should of course point out the ticket vending machine doesn't cover the majority of tickets and there appears to be no obligation to use them, where as there is a legal onus on you to use the booking office if it is staffed and you don't have a ticket already

[andyl222]

in fairness Irish Rail is in such a shambolic state that i doubt they'd bat an eyelid if i told them that one of their employees threatened me with violence in a dispute at a ticket booth.... do you think they'd give a sh*t?

[Mark Gleeson]

If you don't complain nothing will change, if you do complain something might, end of the day Irish Rail deny the fact passengers are subject to verbal assault by staff

There is an element of public name and shame here, actually we possibly have a first name on this guy in Maynooth for legal of course we can't post it

[andyl222]

well I don't know this cretin's name, but i know what he looks like,and as far as i can tell he works most sundays. perhaps if u also have a description of the individual you have in mind, i could confirm whether it's the same person.

[Rathkenny]

I have had numerous problems with one particular attendant in Maynooth too. I am an annual ticket holder and the ticket never works in the machines (even after I have got a 'new' ticket from Abbey street 7 times!) so the only way I can get access to the platform is through the gate beside the machines.

I had to ask for the gate to be opened most mornings & one particular morning this obnoxious man refused to open the gate until he was ready. It got to the stage where there were approx 20 of us waiting for him to open the gate and the train from Longford had arrived on the platform. A couple of men jumped over the barrier while the rest of us just screamed at the attendant. Eventually he pressed the button beside him to open the gate & I managed to get on the train just as the doors were closing. :mad:

I emailed Iarnrod Eireann as soon as I got to work that morning & got a response a week later to say that the station manager had been informed of the situation and that they apologise for the poor customer service!! In fairness though they now leave the gate unlocked most mornings so we don't have to suffer the hardship of speaking to this idiot & getting our day off to horrible start.

[Mark Hennessy]

Guys, I know this attendant and I know his first name.

Seriously, every time he treats you like this, put it in writing to:

Paul Slowey and Richard Fearn.

PM me if you want further details, this guy is the most ignorant and obnoxious person i've ever had to deal with and the sooner he gets disciplined, the better.

[Mark Gleeson]

Don't bother asking to see the station manager, always go direct to head office

End of the day if you where in the private sector you would be out on your ear in a matter of seconds for this kind of rubbish.

It's not just Maynooth, this is a problem in many stations. Obviously its a wait and see if something changes if not however if people could email in a summary of their experience along with date time it would be helpful to us to build up evidence

[CSL]

you all have mobiles with videocams and conversation recorders.

[Mark Gleeson]

That then gives the member of staff the right to eject you, don't be stupid, don't look for trouble

[Mark Hennessy]

you all have mobiles with videocams and conversation recorders.

It shouldn't have to be the Cook report to get a bloody ticket from Irish Rail :rolleyes:

[Ballymore]

Thankfully I dont use Maynooth station - that guy sounds horrendous. The more people that complain about him the better obviously.

In Mullingar they are usually fine but there was one guy a couple of years ago who asked to see my ticket 3 times on the same train journey - including once when I was asleep so I asked him why he kept needing to check my annual ticket. He told me in no uncertain terms that he would check my ticket as often as he ****ing liked and I if wasnt happy with that he'd get me ****ed off the train. Charming. I reported it but heard nothing.

[Billy Kehoe]

I have also had a run in with this gentleman, on the first sunday of the month I went down to the station in the evening to pay for a monthly ticket to pearse. I was waiting 29 minutes for this individual to come from upstairs, during this time a train had arrived and departed, the queue was 5 persons in length when he eventually came.

no apology was given, nor was any announcement made on the arriving or departing train.

[weehamster]

If this guy in Maynooth is a regular, then think someone should contact RTE prime time. They might head over to Maynooth, with their 'pin-hole' cameras and film someone trying to buy a ticket from this c**t.

[twintown]

Yeah i know this guy, he's an absolute pig. The number of times i've walked in and stood at the counter for minutes at a time while he's in the shop chatting to the women in there. He just stands there looking at you, once or twice he just told me to use the machines. I told him that i wasn't going to on account of getting 47 euro in change. He just sneered and went back into the office. When he was serving me my ticket he gave me my change in 5 5euro notes and loads of change even though i saw 10's and 20's there, I said it to him and he just shoved my ticket through the tray and turned his back on the window. He's a spiteful ould shlte. I dread having to deal with him. :mad:

[Burningbarricade]

This guy sounds awful.

This thread has been open for quite some time now. Has the fella been dealt with yet?

And if anyone wants to do the mobile phone thing, don't forget to stick it on youtube. then email a link to a news outlet.

[Thomas J Stamp]

This guy sounds awful.

This thread has been open for quite some time now. Has the fella been dealt with yet?

depends on your meaning of "dealt with"

And if anyone wants to do the mobile phone thing, don't forget to stick it on youtube. then email a link to a news outlet.

Ah, the spirit of Roger Cook is alive and well. Just

[Thomas J Stamp]

This guy sounds awful.

This thread has been open for quite some time now. Has the fella been dealt with yet?

depends on your meaning of "dealt with"

And if anyone wants to do the mobile phone thing, don't forget to stick it on youtube. then email a link to a news outlet.

Ah, the spirit of Roger Cook is alive and well. Just remember our usual warning about IE property not to mention that anything you say isnt our policy. That said, have fun.

[twintown]

"PUT IT ON THE INTERNET AGAIN!!"
These were the words barked at me today while trying to buy a ticket off this ray of sunshine this morning. I was there to get the 7.58 into town. The ticket machines were not working so I went to purchase my ticket and was at the counter with some change to cover the cost of my ticket. when i put it down on the counter the guy said he wouldn't accept it as the fare had to be paid in 10 coins or less. When i asked him why he said "why don't you put it on the internet, go put it on the internet again!!" I had to call my friend back who was already boarding the train to give me larger change for mine so i could buy a ticket. This just goes to show that even having read the number of complaints about him and his abrasive attitude he is still at it. Time to make an official complaint against this lad. What a massive tool!!

[Thomas Ralph]

That seems like inappropriate behaviour.

And legal tender is up to 50 coins per transaction, according to section 10 of the Economic and Monetary Union Act, 1998.

[Mark Gleeson]

This guy is known to Irish Rail management

He has resulted in a €32 payout to a passenger in recent times, probably the biggest payout for a non train related issue Irish Rail have admitted liability for.

If anyone out there has an experience, date and time please, you can email or pm it to either me or Mark Hennessy

This guy needs to be dealt with, that said don't try to be smart and try to force a reaction. If its during office hours call 01 703 2601 while at the booking office and see how HQ react, probably will freak the guy out

[twintown]

How in the world does he still have a job there? I will definitely be notifying the HQ if anything further happens. What happened today is just a testament to how much he has changed his ways. Does anyone know if its true they wont accept payment with more than 10 coins??

[Mark Gleeson]

Its not in the terms and conditions, though they do ask for exact change

[zag]

Asking for exact change is a joke. What on earth is so weird about IE cash offices that they above *all other retailers* have a problem on the change front ? I have seen hand scrawled signs indicating exact change only at a few stations, but if I ever turned up with only a fiver and wanted to buy a ticket for €1.50 or something I wouldn't take very well to being told that they couldn't accept my legal tender (and let's face it, we're not talking a €500 note here) for a ticket.

And as for this "10 coins only" thing - that is beyond a joke. What next ? "Today is Tuesday and I don't take more than 3 €2 coins on Tuesdays. Come back tomorrow and I'll sell you a ticket. But don't try coming with any of those awful 50c coins - I'm fed up of getting them on Wednesdays."

z

[andyl222]

Its not in the terms and conditions, though they do ask for exact change
so its not stated anywhere in the terms and conditions, that IR will only accept a 10 coin limit per transaction, this guy is an absolute cretin. for god sake, he's making up excuses to withhold tickets from customers, how has he still got a job????

[Thomas Ralph]

I know that several stations have drop-safe arrangements for notes for security reasons, and this may sometimes leave them short of notes, but really there should be no issues getting up to €10 in change at any time, at the very minimum.

[Mark Gleeson]

Well head office know the rules since they went to great lengths to ensure the ticket vending machines never issue more coin in change than the legal limit

Speaking as a former bank official, you get very very good at counting piles of coin quickly so it shouldn't be a problem, they ask for correct change now they don't want it, generally you need to buy in change (below 1 euro coins) in the retail business so we are doing them a favour

This guy won't last much longer :D

[ACustomer]

By all accounts, this guy should be severely disciplined and given a final warning, if not fired straight away. However no doubt this would cause a strike (and he knows it, so he carries on). Sad fact is that the unions will often defend the indefensible.

[Colm Donoghue]

Ah yes exact change only - you just look up the price of the ticket you want on irish rail's website in advance..... oh no wait, that's a big secret they can't be telling.

[MrX]

I had one of their ticket vendors shout abuse and chase me down a platform because I gave him a €2 coin that he didn't recognise. It was a coin from Finland and perfectly legal tender, he just didn't recognise it as such.

It was highly embarrassing, I'm not in the habit of trying to pass of fake coins and it was totally uncalled for.

I actually thought he was some kind of psycho who had been hanging around on the station as I couldn't understand what he was shouting at me.

(this wasn't at Maynooth, but I think their vendors really ought to get a good course in basic manners !)

[Thomas J Stamp]

I had one of their ticket vendors shout abuse and chase me down a platform because I gave him a €2 coin that he didn't recognise. It was a coin from Finland and perfectly legal tender, he just didn't recognise it as such.

It was highly embarrassing, I'm not in the habit of trying to pass of fake coins and it was totally uncalled for.

I actually thought he was some kind of psycho who had been hanging around on the station as I couldn't understand what he was shouting at me.

(this wasn't at Maynooth, but I think their vendors really ought to get a good course in basic manners !)

Finland, Finland, Finland... the country where I want to be!!

[Mark Gleeson]

The official line is

Irish Rail does not comment on individual staff

I get the feeling if I show up I'll get the full treatment

[Thomas J Stamp]

I get the feeling if I show up I'll get the full treatment

I am so tempted... but this is a family site.....

[andyl222]

Well I went to the customer services booth in Connolly today and asked about the limit of coinage accepted per transaction by Irish rail. The girl there said it was 25. I told her I was informed by a member of Irish rail staff in maynooth that the limit was only 10 coins (and that this occured on a sunday morning so was by no means a rush hour situation). She just said the guy 'was probably just being ignorant'.... so she accepts quite openly that members of irish rails staff can be ignorant to members of public, how can any company accept that?

[dowlingm]

andy

it's not like she's the guy's manager ffs. She gave you an honest and accurate answer which is more than you'd have gotten from an actual manager - an answer which in fact might have gotten her in trouble if an actual manager heard it since punishing truthful staffers is often felt more productive than punishing idlers and gombeens.

[Mark Gleeson]

This is the fairly typical response of a decent staffer, sadly this persons spirit will be crushed in due course by the mess that is Irish Rail

[Sealink]

Is there any update on MaynoothMan?

[Mark Gleeson]

He is still there but has 'calmed' down a bit

[gerrygerino]

Ive been using maynooth station for 4 years now, there are no station workers that i would term pleasant in the least... most recently i tried to bring my bike to dublin..... i forgot we were in the stone-age though because that has never been allowed...?This action was also met with a "what are ya bleedin thick" attitude but thats beside the point, being a regular user i have had the unpleasant experience of having to deal with these guys and none of them are good employees in my eyes, i have also gotten the 10 coins or less thing on more than one occassion... eventually i tried to pay a 4.30 fare with 10s and 20s at 7.55 monday morning:D that really pissed him off... and started my day off really well.... maybe we could orchestrate a mass action of this kind???!!!:rolleyes:

[Colm Moore]

Any InterCity service through Maynooth using 22000 trains (most of them) should be able to take a bike. It fits vertically (wheel over wheel) in a cupboard near the two wheelchair spaces. You will need to get a staff memeber to open the cupboard.

[Mark Gleeson]

It seems our 'friend' in Maynooth is still there and as useless as ever.

It appears he doesn't know his own name or in fact the names or details of anyone else in charge, curious that

[clockwork orange]

It seems our 'friend' in Maynooth is still there and as useless as ever.

It appears he doesn't know his own name or in fact the names or details of anyone else in charge, curious that

Had a bad experience Mark???:D

[Mark Gleeson]

No need to be smart

Yet another report came in during the week from a passenger, lost count how many reports we have in

[drumcondra commuter]

Took the 16h52 from maynooth to Drumcondra this evening and some guy behind the counter gave a guy with a suit and glasses some lip. The customer repeatedly said "you're so rude, I just asked a simple question." Just to be sure, is this someone subb'ed here?

[Mark Hennessy]

Took the 16h52 from maynooth to Drumcondra this evening and some guy behind the counter gave a guy with a suit and glasses some lip. The customer repeatedly said "you're so rude, I just asked a simple question." Just to be sure, is this someone subb'ed here?

If the customer was getting rude treatment in Maynooth, it's a very good chance its the same guy in this thread.

Irish Rail refuse to believe that their staff verbally abuse customers from time to time.

[clockwork orange]

No need to be smart

Yet another report came in during the week from a passenger, lost count how many reports we have in

Wasn't trying to be. Just interested to know what you meant.