Forgot to Buy a Train Ticket

Question: Sholom uVrocha, If one forgot to buy a train ticket while going on the train in chutz laaretz and only remembered about it after he left the train, is there chiyuv to buy a ticket and to trow it away or since it wasn't done intentionally and the chiyuv to pay to the company is begeder chashovas aveda to a goi there ist no chiyuv to buy a ticket postfactum. Many thanks Kol tuv Answer: Taking a train ride is a service that costs money, this money needs to be paid before and if not after the ride. So the responsibility to pay would go beyond hashavas aveida, and would be a question of gezel akum. Nevertheless, there is reason to argue one may not have to pay. Generally when one owes money, forgets to pay or something of the like, he can approach the store owner and make a payment. In large companies such as a train system, the only method of collecting payment they have is selling tickets. If one wanted to pay for his ride afterwards and approached the offices of the company, they would likely have no way to process such a payment. It could be one is not responsible to buy a ticket and throw it away, as once he bought the ticket, it doesn't cost the company anything extra if he uses the ticket. As such it could be argued there is no gain in buying a ticket to discard it. If in fact one has no recourse to repay his debt he would be exempt. Perhaps however there is in fact merit to buying a ticket to give the company the revenue, and not using the ticket. Being this is a matter of doubt if one could easily buy a ticket, that would be commendable.

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