RATP Reviews 2,245

Absolutely appalling bullying and intimidating behaviour by RATP ticket inspectors yesterday when I boarded the tram with a ticket which I had been advised to purchase by RATP staff. I was surrounded, intimidated and forced to pay a fine despite clearly having paid for a ticket. There was zero compassion and no interest in helping me despite me trying to explain the situation.

Absolutely disgraceful behaviour.

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I recently had two very unpleasant experience with RATP while traveling in Paris with my family, including a stroller. At the metro entrance near the Eiffel Tower (Bir-Hakeim, 19.08.2025, 10:25 p.m.) , my wife was specifically targeted during a ticket inspection, while I was only a few meters away. The inspectors spoke little English, created a high-pressure situation, and demanded significant fines, despite our valid weekly tickets (without photos, which the ticket office had assured us could be updated within two days).

Initially, we were asked to pay €75 per ticket, later “generously” reduced to €50 after discussion. The lead inspector was aggressive, and the situation caused stress for our children. It felt as if the system was designed to exploit minor mistakes, particularly affecting tourists and families with strollers.

This issue is not isolated. French media, including Le Parisien and France 24, have reported on RATP’s strict and sometimes aggressive fare inspections targeting tourists. There have also been questions in the French National Assembly about the fairness and clarity of RATP’s ticket inspection policies.

The RATP network is extensive, but the complexity of the system, combined with aggressive inspections and lack of English support, makes it stressful and unwelcoming for visitors. Bus travel is equally tricky, as tickets must be validated correctly, even when boarding with strollers on crowded routes.

Conclusion: Tourists and families with children should be extremely cautious when using RATP services. The system is complicated, inspections can be aggressive, and visitors often feel treated as targets rather than customers.

This is the worst scam company I have ever experienced. You would think as a tourist that a big metro/bus service company would be decent. But besides the outrages pricing. We got a fine while we showed our tickets. Furthermore, I wanted to speak to a English speaker who could help me out to reclaim my money for the outrageous scam. This was another mistake on my behalf, thinking these people would help me out. Because not only was there no English service, I paid 2 euros a minute for their shitty robit voice service number. Overall I would recommend people who visit Paris to use Ubers or taxi. Because the metro for tourist is Pure Scam. I will never visit this Beautiful but R*ped city ever again. I hope with this message that I can beware people for this scam and that you are careful. Because these people have no morals and above all no human decency.

3pm Lena station on 21 August
Full of tourist and agents refuse to help to sell ticket at counters
People were lost and queue was so big that we blocked the entrance to the metro gate. We put everyone included ourselves in danger because of the arrogance and laziness of the RATP employee

The system is generally convenient, but delays have become more frequent lately. Some are very outdated, and it’s hard to find clear information in English as a non-local. It gets the job done, but the experience often feels frustrating and stressful.

Would give 0 stars if i could. Tourists scam. Scanned cards that were topped up prior to going through. Then forced to pay €140 cause apparently the passes didnt validate. Very rude and arrogant towards us even though there was a baby in a pram and toddler.

I want to share a very negative and distressing experience with RATP, specifically involving a ticket inspection on July 18, 2025, which I found to be excessive, humiliating, and deeply disrespectful.

While visiting the Louvre with my family, my 9-year-old daughter unfortunately lost her valid metro ticket. To follow the rules, I immediately bought a new ticket for her — and I have the receipt as proof.

When we entered Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre station around 8:35 PM, the entry gates were visibly defective or permanently open. Like many others, we passed through without forcing or jumping anything.

Later, at Trocadéro station, we were stopped by a female ticket inspector. I calmly explained the situation and showed her the new ticket and the receipt, but she responded with aggression, accusations, and hostility.

She insisted the gates were not defective (even though they clearly were) and accused me of lying. My daughter became so upset that she started crying. Instead of calming things down, the inspector started yelling, and falsely accused my husband of taking a photo of her — which he absolutely did not.

She forced us to stand against a wall — publicly — which was extremely degrading, especially in front of a small child. She then demanded my husband unlock his phone and show his private gallery, without justification — a clear violation of privacy.

I asked several times for her name or ID number, but she refused. I do have the reference number on the penalty notice, which may help identify her.

What’s even more frustrating: I’ve been unable to file an official complaint, because the contact form on the RATP website doesn’t work, and emails bounce back as undeliverable.
There seems to be no reliable way to reach customer service.

This is not about the fine — it’s about basic fairness and dignity. We acted in good faith, bought an extra ticket, and were still humiliated, shouted at, and treated like criminals — in front of a child.

Extremely disappointing and unacceptable for a public service in a global city like Paris.

Experience with metro in Paris!
I want to share what happened to me in Paris so other travelers can avoid the same unpleasant experience.

On July 18th, I was traveling with my young daughter, who was sick and vomiting several times while we waited at Gare de Lyon to book train tickets for our next destination. Since no seats were available that day, I bought tickets for the next day and decided to stay one more night in Paris.

We went to the metro to reach our hotel. I used a Navigo card at the gate — it flashed green and was open, so I thought it had been validated. My priority was helping my daughter, who was sick and threw up again right after we passed through.

Just before boarding the train, RATP inspectors stopped us. They claimed our cards were not properly validated, even though we had scanned them at the entrance. I showed the cards and tried to explain the situation with my daughter’s illness, but they refused to listen. They issued a fine on the spot, and I paid in cash under stress. They threatened with the police, if I refused.

As a tourist, I felt shocked by how quickly and harshly they acted — no effort was made to understand or help. It felt like we were being treated like criminals for an honest mistake during a difficult moment. I later learned this is not an uncommon experience for visitors.

I have lost all respect for France as a country and Parisians as a whole. They must be well aware that there RATP employees are entrapping tourists riding their trains, and forcing them to pay $70 Euros or “go to jail”.

My family and I (retired US military) bought days passes to travel on the Metro. We tapped in at Luxembourg park, and had to transfer trains along the way. After exiting our train, we each had our metro cards in our hand. We walked through an open gate, and were detained by 11 employees. They said despite having valid day passes, since we didn’t tap them we had to pay a $70 Euro fine. I asked for the police and they refused, and refused to let me contact my embassy. They forced me to pay, or they wouldn’t give back our military Identifications.

This is so shameful, and I can’t wait to leave this horrible country. I would be ashamed if the U.S. ever treated tourists this way. Sad.

Ratp has the absolute worse staff working for them, rude, disrespectful controlleurs that don’t care about anything but collecting money from people.
Was impossible to validate our pass due to too many people in the tram, people squeezing from all sides, inhuman to have to travel like that being pushed around - or otherwise having to wait several trams to catch one bit less empty - impossible when you have to catch another train after. Despite clearly recognising that we had a ticket, they charged us and treated us very rudely.
I am 29 weeks pregnant and this situation was so upsetting to me - first having to get into a tram being that full - super uncomfortable being people will touch your belly/baby no matter what, impossible to avoid it and then getting charged in this rude way in addition. I hate ratp and I wish only bad things to the controlleurs that treated us so badly this morning at La defense. An absolute joke to even control with these tram conditions, causing more disruption, delay and stress to everyone.

Tourists beware:
Despite the intense heatwave, neither the metro nor the buses are putting on the air conditioner despite being equipped to do so.
The RATP hiked up their prices, but still they don’t put on the air conditioning?!!!!
They are clearly trying to save money at our expense!

Attention les touristes: Ni les Métros ni les bus même équipé avec la climatisation ne les mets et ce malgré les piques de chaleur ! Est-ce une question de budget?

London UK RATP dev
Regarding an incident that occurred on Saturday, June 2025, at approximately 14:00 at Staines Bus Station on your Route 216 to Kingston (Fleet No. DLE 30142, Registration LJ16 EYA, Driver Duty SA 552) The driver showed qualities that should not be there: humiliation, insults, bulling. We were travelling with my 10-year-old daughter, who is autistic. Upon paying for our journey, the driver incorrectly demanded that I pay a fare for my daughter, despite Transport for London regulations that children under 11 travel is free on London buses. The driver refused to accept my explanation, mocked us, and caused severe emotional distress to my daughter, who began crying and panicking. We were detained on the bus for approximately one hour while the driver refused to continue the journey unless I paid, despite the clear eligibility for free travel. This incident constitutes:1. A breach of contract of carriage.2. Negligence and emotional distress inflicted upon a child and a disabled adult.3. Potential discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.

On Sunday, June 22, 2025, I attempted to purchase a daily ticket via the RATP mobile application. Although the transaction appeared to fail and I received an error message, the corresponding amount was still debited from my bank account.

Seeking assistance, I visited the ticket service office at Gare de Vanves–Malakoff station. Unfortunately, the staff member present refused to assist me. Moreover, he responded in an unprofessional and discourteous manner, ultimately forcing me to leave and closing the service window.

The worst I've ever seen regarding the lateness of the bus, driver's attitudes and the management's. They stop whenever they feel like and give lame explanations like there is another bus coming behind. No accountability for arriving late. Won't turn the AC on even when people are being baked inside and will turn on when it is negative temperatures outside. The worst of the worst services I've ever seen. I've been travelling as there is no other option at all in London and can't maintain a car cause of government looting charges for insurance and license.

The metro is nice and comes often,

HOWEVER, I am a tourist. I just got a physical navigo card and I wasn’t told that I had to put my picture on it (mind you I DONT have a printer or photocopier). I got fined 50 EUROS for this even when I told them I was a tourist and I was neve told.

The controllers check half of the time the pic. I got controlled for the first time before this even and no one asked me for my picture. So I wasn’t made aware of this, EVEN WHEN BUYING IT AT THE COUNTER.

I am disgusted with this company. I was dishonestly fined €30 for not having a valid ticket despite showing them proof of purchase and proof that the ticket was valid. All tourists to Paris should be aware of this company and avoid being scammed.

application absconse, obligation d'acheter 2 euros un support en plus de son titre de transport. une nullité, une arnaque encore pensée par VP et ses sbires. elle dégoûte.

I recently visited Paris and, unfortunately, my trip was soured by an unfair fine issued at the Châtelet Metro station on May 6, 2025. At 14:57, I was stopped by a metro officer who asked to see my ticket. I provided my valid 5-day subscription, which the officer confirmed as legitimate. However, she then asked to see an additional ticket that accompanied my subscription.

I showed her the additional ticket, which was given to me when I purchased the subscription at the metro counter, with assistance from an employee. To my surprise, the officer fined me for not having a photograph attached to this second ticket. I explained that I was never informed that a photo would be required at the time of purchase, and no previous inspector had pointed this out during my stay.

What made the situation even more frustrating was that this occurred just as I was heading to Gare de Lyon for my train home. I find it utterly unfair that a tourist who stays for only a few days in the city should be fined €35 for something as trivial as a missing photo on a ticket. What's more, I saw other tourists in the same situation being allowed to pass without issue.

I was genuinely shocked by the lack of understanding and empathy shown by the staff. It felt as though tourists were being targeted for unnecessary fines, which, in my case, left a negative and lasting impression on my entire trip.

In short, my experience with the Paris Metro was marred by this incident, and it has certainly affected my overall view of the city. I hope that improvements are made in how tourists are treated in the future.

Complete idiots.

I translated my question INTO FRENCH and they still couldn't understand. Put in the wrong station, then showed me a 3hr train ride instead of the 1.5hrs one and then tried to tell me a metro train needs an SNCF ticket and to buy from a different station to what i was leaving from. Complete imbeciles. Then again seems to be a thing in France of incapability of doing the job their paid for.