New French train luggage rule: do staff get a bonus for each fine given?
SNCF has new bag limits, and inspectors have the power to issue fines of up to €150
Passengers who do not comply with the luggage rules on SNCF trains now risk being fined
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Train inspectors who issue fines for oversize or excess luggage on SNCF trains receive a percentage of what is paid, it has emerged, soon after train operator SNCF brought in new luggage rules.
Since September 16, passengers on SNCF trains are now limited to three bags:
Those who do not comply risk being fined €50 by SNCF inspectors.
The company has also confirmed that workers are incentivised to apply the system rigorously, and that they earn commission on each fine.
Each time a worker correctly issues a fine, they will receive 10% of it (€5). They could even receive €15 if they correctly issue the €150 fine due for any suitcase found to be “obstructing traffic in the corridors”.
Read also: Train travellers in France to face fine soon if luggage above these dimensions
Read also: Tip to limit luggage theft on French trains (and SNCF approves)
Is this ‘commission’ system new?
No, and SNCF makes no secret of the system. It justifies the commission by saying that it has “always existed”, is not a new system for the new fines, and helps ensure its workers correctly implement the luggage rules, protecting passengers and ensuring all passengers have the same baggage allowance.
Ticket inspectors receive commission on other fines too, SNCF said.
They receive a 4% profit-sharing bonus when they issue a fine and new ticket for someone found to be travelling without a ticket on board. This rises to 10% for new full-fare tickets / fines issued if a passenger fails to show a valid card when travelling on a discount ticket.
On some lines, the most “efficient” controllers are paid “up to €1,000 per month” in extra commission, two SNCF sources told TF1.
On some lines which attract the most ‘fraud’ (as SNCF calls it) inspectors even have targets that they are encouraged to reach, to incentivise them to enforce the rules. SNCF claims this system is working, with the number of frauds having halved since 2016.
