This is a formal complaint against a rude, prejudiced and abusive BART station agent who was on duty at El Cerrito Del Norte station around 9:30 am on Tuesday Aug. 2, 2005.
After an early appointment in downtown Berkeley, I took a BART train to at El Cerrito Del Norte, arriving around 9:30am. The fare gate didn't accept my ticket that I used in Berkeley, while the ?add fare? machines showed it's all right to use. I gave my ticket to the above referenced station agent. She told me the ticket is ?not valid?, and before listening to my description, accused me of ?scamming? and ?evade fares?. Despite my repeated explanation, she just demanded my paying $4.40 excursion fare for ?no ticket?.
Because I need to move on, I paid her the $4.40 in cash. But she refused to return my ticket, which I fully believed to be valid and legitimately belonging to me. Since I wasn't allowed to use that ticket, it is still my property because I paid $1.25 for it. In order not to waste more time, I took my ticket while she was holding it in her right hand, and left the station.
She even called the BART police to resolve this minor dispute and retrieve the $1.25 ticket! And she even accused me of intentionally hitting her and tried to ?arrest? me. All I did was taking back my legitimate property - a $1.25 BART ticket. She is abusing her power as station agent, and abusing the BART police power for such minor fare dispute. Even a BART policeman secretly admitted ?it's a joke.? However, another policeman still issued a citation to me, just to appease her.
As a long time BART commuter (over 3 years) I really didn't anticipate such inhumane and insulting treatment. I believe such a rude, prejudiced and abusive person should not be allowed to be appeased. I hereby request BART thoroughly investigate the incident, dismiss the BART police citation , and refund me the $4.40 that I shouldn't need to pay. (The $1.25 ticked should suffice the fare.)
I reserve the right to initiate legal challenge to BART if such a rude, prejudiced and abusive treatment to customer is not corrected.
Sincerely,