I have also sent several e-mails to Southern Customer services and had no response! After missing 2 trains this morning I gave them a call to complain.
I was told that it?s a nationwide problem and it?s not only Southern who have suffered the effects of vandalism to ticket machines. As such a high number of ticket machines are currently out of action expect to wait up to 12 weeks before it?s fixed.
On a positive note I agree with jon14, the ticket guy who has been working the last few mornings is very quick and keeps the queue moving.