Short faring- Northern Rail

[sarah_pxx]

Yesterday I was caught short faring, I lied about getting on the train 5 stops after I actually did. They asked for my contact details but because I felt threatened I asked to provide them to nor the revenue officer, but his assistant. I am now scared this will be seen as abusive. What do you think will occur from this? It is the first time I have ever done anything like it. Do you think the most I will receive is a penalty? They made a point, that I wasnt being cautioned, Does this make any difference?

 

[Urban Gateline]

what is the worst that can happen?

A criminal record (which will show up on CRB searches) under the Regulation of Railways S5.3a for showing intent to avoid the fare due plus court fines and costs and maybe even a custodial sentence if you're very unlucky.

 

[maniacmartin]

You might want to read our Disputes guide. The worst is that you get caught by Revenue Protection Inspectors and they have enough evidence to convince a court that you had intent to evade the fare and secure a conviction under the Regulation of Railways Act. This is a criminal offence and results in a criminal record and usually a hefty fine

 

[DaveNewcastle]

For a first time? The worst?
A fine of a few hundred pounds and a Court conviction.
But typically an offer to make a payment in settlement of £80 plus the fare due.

For a repeat offender? The worst?
In theory, a short prison term [extremely unlikely].
Typically a fine of a few hundred and maybe even another offer of a payment in settlement.

Please don't do it again. Ever.

 

[sarah_pxx]

do you think it is likely I will get a conviction from it? I did admit to doing it, and did apologise.

 

[maniacmartin]

do you think it is likely I will get a conviction from it? I did admit to doing it, and did apologise.

We need a lot more information to be able to comment on what might happen. Please supply some of the information detailed in this sticky post

 

[sarah_pxx]

We need to know all relevant facts in order to assist you, including, for example:
The stations where you started & finished your journey; started from a, said b, finished at c

What happened in any encounter with railway staff; as explained before. I was very upset, and crying

The details of any paperwork with which you were issued: nothing, wasnt told anything

We need to know what outcome(s) you would consider satisfactory: anything but a criminal conviction

 

[maniacmartin]

All you can really do now is wait for a letter from Northern Rail, and then come back here when it arrives. If this is your first time, then as DaveNewcastle says, they will probably be willing to settle out of court if you pay one of the £80 so-called "Fixed Penalty Notices", however that is not guaranteed.

It can often take a few months for any correspondence to arrive, so you should keep a note of what transpired so that you don't forget.

 

[trentside]

as explained before. I was very upset, and was crying and therefore may have come across as angry, which i wasn't, can he claim this is abusive?

You seem very concerned about being seen as abusive. I therefore have to ask, apart from being upset, did you get angry with the RPO? Did you swear or behave in any way that could be seen as abusive? Or were you just upset, as you state.

 

[Adam0984]

Northern are taking a very tough stand at the moment on fare evasion and short faring which is what you experienced where they block certain stations so you have to have a ticket from that station and when someone asks at the unpaid fares office from that station they pounce. This is happening most days at varying stations. You get what you get you fare evaded only you is to blame for lying

 

[yorkie]

...anything but a criminal conviction

Then you need to apologise to Northern Rail and see if you can come to an agreement with them for an out of court settlement fee.

This could be any amount, although Northern settle many cases for £80, but if they feel that you may have done this before and/or if they feel it's a particularly serious case, and/or if it's felt you've been uncooperative or abusive, then the amount could potentially be substantially higher than that.

I'm sure they will be in touch soon, though it could be a few weeks if they're very busy.

There isn't really anything more we can say than that, as it's a matter between you and them (for which you admit you are in the wrong), and any further information can be obtained in our Fares Guide as linked to above. If there is any part of our Fares Guide which you'd like clarifying, don't hesitate to ask though.

 

[island]

Almost invariably, a passenger found by Northern Rail to have failed to pay the correct fare will be dealt with by way of an £80 administrative penalty (plus the value of the fare), assuming that the passenger has not come to its attention previously. This does not involve a criminal record, but any repeat infringement is very likely to result in a court date.

 

[sarah_pxx]

Deleted

 

[455driver]

As you are required to give your details to a representative of the company then it could have a bearing on what happens.

Did you feel threatened in the true sense of the word or did you not like the questions (or the way they were) being asked?

 

[sarah_pxx]

I bought two tickets... One for myself and one for my friend? Will this add?

 

[Clip]

Did your friend get caught out too?

The only real thing that you can do right now is sit and wait for the letter that Northern will send you. Everything else now is all hypothetical.

 

[sarah_pxx]

I bought two tickets... One for myself and one for my friend? Will this add?

No just me... With both tickets. Will this enhance the matter?

 

[island]

No just me... With both tickets. Will this enhance the matter?

No. If anything it could make things worse if you admit aiding and abetting another person to evade their fare.