So when I was in London, I was on the tube when I saw this:
No, I’m not talking about the ‘Lower Window For Ventilation’ sign … surely the most obvious sign in the history of the World … I’m talking about the one below it, the one that notifies you of fines if you fail to present a valid ticket when asked for it.
As you can see, they say that the penalty for an invalid ticket – or no ticket at all – is 50 quid, reduced to £25 if you pay within 21 days.
Now the thing is, I think this is quite smart.
Whereas so many organisations would say the fine is £25, increasing to £50 if they don’t pay within 21 days, the British Underground service have opted to go the other way.
Why?
Well, accepting there’s the possibility it might just be dumb luck, I’d like to think that it’s because they have recognised that debt accumulation is no where near as much as a deterrent as it once was – which I accept is driven as much by external economic issues as it is their own choices and decisions – so offering an option that seemingly offers guilty parties ‘help and benefit’ if they pay their fines quickly, is possibly more attractive – and likely – than if they went with the opposite option.
Of course, fines that are paid quickly are also commercially more valuable to organisations than going through the hell that is trying to get someone to pay through legal action – so while I have no stats to prove whether this approach is working or even more effective than the alternatives – I think it shows [accidentally or not] that the Underground Transport Department has more understanding of societies current mindset and attitude than many agencies or planners put into the work they produce.
It also shows how planners can post-rationalise pretty much anything.