Furious tram travellers are signing up to a petition to stop the transport network charging £50 on-the-spot fines.
Nottingham Express Transit (NET) rolled out ticket machines across its stops in April, and on June 23, it began insisting passengers pay for fares before they board rather than from a conductor on the tram.
But confusion over the new system has led to a number of tram users being caught out and slapped with a £50 fine if they haven't paid before getting on.
Stephen Radford, 20, of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, has started a petition after he was thrown off a tram for not having a ticket.
On June 27, Mr Radford had parked up at the Hucknall tram stop and got on with a £10 note ready to pay, as he had done every other time.
He said: "As I asked for a return ticket to Nottingham an eyebrow was raised by the conductor and I was asked at the next stop to leave the tram as new policies were now in order, something which as an irregular tram user I was unaware of.
"At Bulwell station the conductor nodded to the other conductor further up the tram and I was escorted from the tram. I felt humiliated, embarrassed and shocked that they'd treat their paying customers like this."
Mr Radford was then charged a £50 fine for not buying his ticket before boarding, which he said made him "feel like a criminal."
The conductors told him the new rules and said there had been a banner at the station with information.
But Mr Radford said the stop was busy and he didn't see anything.
He added: "Imagine this happening to your parents, grandparents or even great grandparents.
"Living outside of the tram's usual routes, their marketing efforts have not been publicised enough and those who aren't regular tram users are being unfairly prosecuted."
Kate Bentley, 36, of Heanor, had a similar experience two days earlier.
She said: "I had not been in Nottingham since doing my Christmas shopping but me and my mum, who is 63, decided to travel in on a tram from Phoenix Park.
"My mum has a buss pass and I had my money ready, but as I didn't have a ticket I was asked to get off. I was issued a £50 fine and told if I didn't pay it within 14 days I would get a £1,000 fine.
"It may me feel really intimidated, like I'd done something really bad and against the law. I had my money, I was ready to pay, but I felt like a criminal."
Over 200 people have signed up to Mr Radford's petition, with many having gone through the experience themselves.
Michael Taylor, of Selston, wrote: "I was caught out after arriving at Pheonix Park tram stop and the tram was already there.
"Not knowing that you had to get the ticket before boarding the tram, I got on the tram and at the next stop I was made to get off the tram and they issued me with the £50 penalty.
"I think I was unjustly issued with this fine as I was willing to pay but was unaware of the changes made because I haven't travelled on the tram in over eight months. Personally, I think it's daylight robbery."
But NET said the new payment methods had been well advertised.
A spokesman said: "The switch to off tram ticketing arrangements has been widely publicised, with notices at stops and through an extensive on and off tram publicity campaign over several months."
"The penalty fare notices were introduced in response to consistent feedback from customers who are upset when they see people trying to avoid paying a fare.
"An appeal process is also in place for anyone who believes they have been unfairly issued with one of these notices."
