Hello, I was hoping someone could offer me some advice. I got the train from Walkden which is an unmanned station at the weekend and the conductor did not come round or was snywhere to be seen whilst on the train to buy a ticket from. When I got off at Manchester Victoria I didn't pass anyone who asked for my ticket so I foolishly didn't purchase a ticket. As I approached the exit of the station I was stopped by a revenues officer and asked for my ticket. He took my details but didn't caution me and said I should expect a letter in the post. I regret not seeking out someone to get a ticket from. What can I expect to happen to me? What will the letter say? Any advice would be gratefully received.
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Non payment of fare
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Chapeltom
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You've walked past an open ticket office at your destination and attempted to exit without paying, unfortunately that does display intent to avoid the fare.
No one knows what the letter will say until you receive it, but if you were to be prosecuted, you'd be looking at a Regulation of Railways Act offence which carries a criminal record as you've displayed intent to avoid the fare. Don't worry, at this stage, wait until the letter comes but I'm just pre-warning you of what could happen.
There are a whole manner of things that could happen but as I said I wouldn't worry until the letter comes. Northern could simply charge you £80 plus the fare due which seems to be the norm at the moment.
bb21
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When did you leave Walkden?
14:50
Chapeltom
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Why would that be relevant? I don't think it makes a difference? :?
The ticket office would be shut anyway. I'm surprised there was no G4S barrier coming off Platform's 3-6 at MCV, there is almost always a block on there.
bb21
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NRE shows that Walkden's ticket office is closed when the OP left the station and the TVM is cards only.
It could potentially have an impact as the OP might or might not have ignored an opportunity to pay at the origin station. (Yes I know an opportunity has been ignored at the destination nevertheless it is important that we know the full circumstances as the situation at the origin may well have an impact on proceedings.)
Did he ask you any questions apart from name/address/DOB?
Yes, he asked me where I got on the train? Why hadn't I bought a ticket? He recorded in a note book.
bb21
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You will have to wait for the letter to arrive, which will give you an opportunity to give your version of the events. They will then decide whether to prosecute or else depending on their evidence. Like Chapeltom said, you ignored at lease one opportunity (at your destination) to pay your fare so they could argue that you intended to avoid paying your fare and prosecute you under the Regulation of Railways Act which carries a criminal record if convicted.
That said, for a first offence if your attitude is good and sincerely offer to cover them for the costs they incurred because of your mistake, it is unlikely that you will end up in court with a criminal record.
For now, there is very little you can do so just make sure that you write down on a piece of paper what happened today, what was said exactly, etc, while the memory is still fresh. The letter might take up to six weeks to arrive.
That said, for a first offence if your attitude is good and sincerely offer to cover them for the costs they incurred because of your mistake, it is unlikely that you will end up in court with a criminal record.
For now, there is very little you can do so just make sure that you write down on a piece of paper what happened today, what was said exactly, etc, while the memory is still fresh. The letter might take up to six weeks to arrive.
185
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A more important question, being Manchester Victoria, did you exit -
1. Up the steps to the MEN Arena by McDonalds
2. Via the back Car Park exit at the far end of the footbridge or
3. At the ticket barrier at the foot of the stairs, near platform 3
This is quite important for us to picture how their revenue operation was catching people.
1. Up the steps to the MEN Arena by McDonalds
2. Via the back Car Park exit at the far end of the footbridge or
3. At the ticket barrier at the foot of the stairs, near platform 3
This is quite important for us to picture how their revenue operation was catching people.
I am not a regular train user and haven't been to Victoria Station in a number of years. When I got off the train I walked up two sets of stairs and ended up in the foyer area of the MEN where McDonalds is where I saw the man that later stopped me. I realised this wasn't the way out and could see the exit through the open doors in front of me. I went down the stairs into the train station. He did ask me why I went up to the MEN and I told him this but didn't understand how this had any significance as I went down into the train station to leave.
So BB21 can work out how to get the OP off on a technicality even though they could have purchased a ticket at their destination but chose not to!
bb21
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I am trying to get a picture of the full story. Whether there was an opportunity to pay at the beginning of the journey may affect the severity of the offence.
Is it so hard to understand? Who said anything about getting the OP off?
I am so worried by the whole incident and can't believe how stupid I was. So there is no set course of action and I will just have to wait and see what course of action they decide for me? When he stopped me he asked for my version of events which he wrote in his notebook. Will they decide from this?
My friend, who I was travelling with, received her letter a few days ago but I am still awaiting mine. Basically the letter says that we were spoken to at Man Vic regarding an incident of non-payment of a rail fare. It asks for basic details- name, DOB etc and provides space to give an explanation of the incident.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
After reading through some threads I see generally people are advised to make an offer of compensation to the rail company. What do you think would be an acceptable offer? Can anyone advise me of anything else that should I include? Thank you for your time.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
After reading through some threads I see generally people are advised to make an offer of compensation to the rail company. What do you think would be an acceptable offer? Can anyone advise me of anything else that should I include? Thank you for your time.
I'm slightly confused here. I know Manchester Victoria. I don't believe that the OP walked past a ticket office at all. They simply followed signs to (one of) the exits. The RPI up the top by McDonalds _was_ the first opportunity to pay (on my reading of the thread). This RPI should have offered the full range of tickets.
That is, unless I have missed something.
When I got to McDonalds I came back down the stairs into the station as I spotted the exit through the open doors. The man who I saw up there didn't approach me at this point, he followed me. When I was later stopped whilst inside the train station he pointed out the ticket office which I had passed near the bottom of the stairs. As it was a busy Saturday afternoon I had noticed as I passed it.
Hellfire
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I know not everyone on this forum agrees with me but I would never advocate offering any payment to a train company at this stage.
Let them make the running. They will ask for your explanation and you then have the opportunity to put forward your version of events with whatever mitigating circumstances you think are relevant.
This seems to me to be a clear-cut case of evasion so I suggest you make it clear that your realise you have been very silly and it won't happen again. Northern are not the best TOC to be dealing with as they have a reputation for taking a hard line and, given the environment in which they operate I can understand why.
Return the letter with your explanations and see what happens. Given the costs involved in taking people to court it could well be they will write back and suggest you recompense them for the time and effort they have already put in dealing with the case. I think £80 is a ball park figure for Northern
BackSeatDriver
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My advise to you is when you receive Northern's letter of explanation DO NOT sugar coat it.. admit to your mistake they WILL judge you, walking down MEN arena steps back into the station concourse you have to walk past 4 G4S mobile ticket barriers two self service ticket kiosks and an open booking office before you exited Vic
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