Fined for being sold wrong tickets

Our family of six took a trip to Greece, Jan. 1-12, 2010, after which three members of our family left for home while our daughter, my husband and I extended our stay two more days.

On the day we left Athens, we went to the Monastiraki station to purchase metro tickets to the airport. It was very early, and there was no one except us buying tickets from a lone ticket agent. My husband clearly asked for three adult tickets to the airport, and we paid €1 each.

Obviously, the tickets were printed in Greek, which we do not speak or read. We were not sure where the platform was for the train; the ticket man pointed us in the direction for the airport.

The train we boarded did not go to the airport, however. It stopped at a station and went out of service. We disembarked, checked the train arrival information board on the platform and noted that the airport train would be coming in nine minutes. When it arrived, we boarded, riding until it dead-ended at the airport at 8 a.m.

After the train stopped, two metro police jumped onto our car, motioning for all passengers with luggage to remain. They said they were checking tickets.

We showed them our validated tickets thinking there was no problem, only to be told we had the wrong tickets! We explained that those were the tickets we had been sold. The officers ignored our protest and said the tickets cost €6 each. We offered to pay the difference, but they demanded our passports and issued fines of €60 (near $74) per person. (There were three other foreigners on that metro who also were tagged or fined.)

I asked to speak to their supervisor, but all the officers would say was to call the number on the ticket. When we finally got into the airport and checked in at around 9:30 for our 11 a.m. flight, we called the phone number and there was no answer. (There were only card phones, so we borrowed someone’s calling card to do that.)

We enjoyed the trip and until this happened thought we would go back someday. Have any other ITN readers experienced this?

We e-mailed the metro system to protest the tickets. (At the website www.amel.gr, we clicked on “operation,” then “services to the passengers,” then “payment of fines” and filled out the form.

We received a response from the Fine Collections Office, Passenger Communications & Service Department, Attiko Metro Operation Company, S.A., saying, “We would like to inform you that your e-mail itself was considered as an application for cancellation of the fines. The application will be examined by the relevant committee and we will inform you about the final results. The procedure lasts about two months. Until then, you have no obligation concerning your fines.”

We have learned that the board that handles the fines and reviews the appeals is privately run, not governmental.

KAREN JOHNSON

Duluth, MN

ITN e-mailed a copy of Ms. Johnson’s letter to Athens Metro — Attiko Metpo A.E., Ave. Mesogeion 191-193, 115; 25-Athens, Greece; e-mail

However, five weeks later Ms. Johnson informed ITN, “We received an e-mail stating, ‘The application was examined by the relevant committee of our company, and the fines, in the amount of €60 each, were canceled. We hope that the news of the cancellation of these fines will remove any bitterness left in you from your trip in Athens. — Maria Tsioli, Fines Collection Manager’”