Fined on the metro in Athens - advice please

On the way to the airport on sunday, myself and my boyfriend were fined 60 euros each for having the wrong ticket. We got on the tube at Thisso were the only tickets you can buy are the 80 cent ones, and didn't see any information about there being a more expensive airline ticket, or where to buy it from. The guard had no interest in why we had the wrong ticket and wouldn't allow us to pay the right amount but just took our passport details and fined us. We now have 20days to pay although the form he gave us is entiely in greek so we don't know what we signed or how to pay. He threatened us with the police if we didn't sign so we really had no alternative. To be honest he was pretty heavy handed about it all - not at all like guards here in the UK.

We are not fare dodgers, we always bought tickets whilst on holiday but we really feel we have been penalised unfairly here. We didn't see any signs at Thisso where we got on about paying more to get to the airport.

Does anybody have any advice about whether it is possible to appeal against the fine? In 20 days time the fine increases to 600 euros each if we haven't paid which we obviosuly don't want to happen but neither can we afford to pay the 120 euros we now owe...

I don't know exactly why you got the fine. You said an airline ticket. What does that have to do with the metro . If you are still in Greece go to the embassy and explain at least. If you want to pay, I think if you pay in the first 10days you pay half of the fine. At least that is what I paid for a parking ticket here in Spetses island where I live. You can pay at the post office I think. Check it out. that is where I paid my fine for the motor bike. good luck. I actually think he was just trying to make is quota for the day. Of course you are forgeiners and he took advantage. It happens.

sorry meant ticket to the airport when i said airline ticket - not very clear of me. We are back in the UK now so not too sure how we go about paying....

You bought a metro ticket that was not the correct one for your destination is what I understand from your post.

Unfortunately ignorance is no excuse before the law as they say. You made a mistake, it is your legal responsibility to find out what the correct fare is and pay it. I understand completely that you did not intentionally mean to try and avoid payment but legally you are in the wrong and liable for your actions. So legally you have no choice but to pay the fine.

You say you CANNOT afford to pay the fine. If you do not, they may elect to pursue you for the money via your passport details. How likely that is I don't know. If you return to Greece and were stopped for some other reason they might find you had an outstanding fine and arrest you. Again, how likely that is is anyone's guess. It is Greece we are talking about here and that means anything and everything is unpredictable.

The simplest and best course would be to pay the fine. No doubt some people will suggest just ignoring it. If you REALLY can't afford to pay it, I would suggest calling the Greek Embassy in your home country and trying to find someone to talk to about it.

Go to the Greek Consul in London 1A Holland Park W11 3TP and pay the 60 EURO or call them at 02072293850 for more information.

#3 Is correct in all points.
Although you did not mean to do this intentionally, it was the result of not having been informed [or not requesting] the correct procedure to go to the airport. It would be highly unlikely that the cost of a normal ISAP ticket [green line trainline from Thissio] ,80 cents would be the correct cost for the airport. For example, I would not assume that the cost for a single ticket in the London underground would absorb the cost for any London airport for example.

Nevertheless, you connected from Thissio to Monasteraki, and then took the metro line to the airport.
Here there are ticket booths and an information service. Here you could personally buy your airport tickets [10 euro for 2 persons] or 6 euro per person. Here you also have the information for the airport schedules, directly to the airport, or in connection with the surburban trainline, proastiakos.

I'm going to the one to say don't stress out about it!!!This is Greece we are talking about, there is no way anybody is going to bother going to the expense of trying to track down two tourists who owe 120 euro's, nor is our level of technology so high that your details will be computerized and held against you at a later date.
Chance are that they'll just scrap it anyway it's hardly worth the time and effort to try and track you down

greg there are 3 official Greek laws referring to the validation of the metro ticket - in other words, you are fined because you have broken the law.
Now however insignificant this may appear, as you would know living in Greece, the public system is upgraded continuously, and is now computerized, so most likely there could be some repercussions - you just never know..

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>To be honest he was pretty heavy handed about it all - not at all like guards here in the UK.<hr></blockquote> You've had a similar experience in the UK? ;-) Unintentional perhaps, but if you were caught using an 80 cent ticket on a €6 train, then that would be considered fare evasion. They do take it seriously on London Transport as well, but the fine is only £20.

It is easy for #6 to say don't stress out about it, but he's not the one being penalized. Rather than worry about it, try to scrape up the money and pay the fine, or at least contact the Greek Embassy and ask for an extension.

I'm surprised how you thought it was possible to travel so far for 80 cents. You made the mistake pay up.

I vote for #6 and then #4. If you really are so stressed about it, the only place to get a legit answer is the Greek consulate/embassy.

But honestly you have nothing to worry about. This is banana land. They can't track down serious criminals; half the damn country caught fire and they couldn't put it out; in a planned escape, one time a helicopter landed in a prison yard and two prisoners hopped in and simply flew away never to be caught.... And you're scared that they'll hunt you down for a 120 euro bus ticket fine? HAaaaaa HAAAAAAAAAA

hello sunnygreece,
I agree this is bananaland, but don't you know they persecute the small, and let the big fish get away?
Didn't they arrest a 70 yr old in the Parnitha fires, who happened to make some coffee out in the bush?
The poor plebes are the ones who pay for it all, and the rich sit on their bums [excuse me..]and have a good laugh...