Admittance of a Fare Evasion, help for next steps?

[Sasf1]

Dear all,

I have read through many threads in this case but it seems results really do vary.

I was in an incident the other day where my train was delayed by ten mins or so and there is no ticket machine at the station. I usually buy my ticket a day or two before but in this case it wasn't possible.

When I got off the train I realised I needed to top up my Oyster card, so the delayed train plus topping up made me seriously late for a 9am meeting I HAD to attend. I therefore decided not to waste even more time in buying a ticket for my previous journey, touched in and went to board the train. I was then asked to provide a ticket for my journey to the oyster enabled station.

At first I panicked and lied (stupid of course). I eventually owned up under caution and told the complete truth.

I have already acted quickly and luckily spoken to the prosecutor of my case who was extremely polite and helpful, he explained that first offences like this can usually be settled out if court, which is my hope - I do not want a criminal record.

My problem is that I do this journey maybe twice a week and buy my tickets a day or two before via cash (the pin pads don't like my visa electron card) in various stations, I'm here there and everywhere every week. Therefore if questioned about previous journeys I'm terribly worried that they may suspect persistent dodging with just is not the case.

Any help would be extremely appreciated. I hold my hands up that I did not buy a ticket on the day, but I profoundly refuse that it is a common occurrence, I just cannot prove it.

 

[najaB]

...I eventually owned up under caution and told the complete truth.

As you know, it would have been better if you had told the truth from the start, but there's no way to change what's already happened so I don't see any point in beating you up over it.

I have already acted quickly and luckily spoken to the prosecutor of my case who was extremely polite and helpful, he explained that first offences like this can usually be settled out if court, which is my hope - I do not want a criminal record.

For the most part, TOC's are just as happy to settle out of court as well when it's a first offence and there's no evidence of persistent fare evasion.

My problem is that I do this journey maybe twice a week and buy my tickets a day or two before via cash (the pin pads don't like my visa electron card) in various stations, I'm here there and everywhere every week. Therefore if questioned about previous journeys I'm terribly worried that they may suspect persistent dodging with just is not the case.

Is there anything you're not telling us that would give them a reason to suspect that it's not a one-off? In order to go down that route the TOC has to provide evidence that you've been fare-dodging on a regular basis. It's not enough to say "He travelled 14 times and only has 2 tickets, therefore he fare dodged the rest of the times." They would need to be able to prove that you travelled without purchasing a ticket - e.g. video evidence showing you tail-gating through barriers or avoiding RPI's.

Any help would be extremely appreciated. I hold my hands up that I did not buy a ticket on the day, but I profoundly refuse that it is a common occurrence, I just cannot prove it.

Best advice is to wait until the TOC asks for your side of the story, or sends you paperwork - nobody can advise on the next step until they know what it is exactly that you're up against. The only advice that might be useful is to start saving some pennies as some of the options available to the TOC may involve a cash-ectomy.

 

[Sasf1]

As you know, it would have been better if you had told the truth from the start, but there's no way to change what's already happened so I don't see any point in beating you up over it.
For the most part, TOC's are just as happy to settle out of court as well when it's a first offence and there's no evidence of persistent fare evasion.
Is there anything you're not telling us that would give them a reason to suspect that it's not a one-off? In order to go down that route the TOC has to provide evidence that you've been fare-dodging on a regular basis. It's not enough to say "He travelled 14 times and only has 2 tickets, therefore he fare dodged the rest of the times." They would need to be able to prove that you travelled without purchasing a ticket - e.g. video evidence showing you tail-gating through barriers or avoiding RPI's.
Best advice is to wait until the TOC asks for your side of the story, or sends you paperwork - nobody can advise on the next step until they know what it is exactly that you're up against. The only advice that might be useful is to start saving some pennies as some of the options available to the TOC may involve a cash-ectomy.

Thank you for your quick reply najaB.

I realise I should have just told the truth from the off, I have never been in such a situation so panicked and don't really remember what I said to begin with.

There's nothing else to tell no. As I said I tend to purchase a ticket a day or so before, failing that I'll buy one on the train or at the station I arrive at. It just happens that on this day I was running late due to delay and my boss is not very lenient (I'm not sure she believed my reason for being late as the inspector gave me nothing in regards to forms etc).

I don't usually have to go out of the station so no need to use my ticket, with the exception of showing my tickets to guards at times. I bin most of them but gave him the odd few that were in my wallet. I can provide statements when I paid by card but that isn't often, so other than that I have no proof if purchase

 

[najaB]

There's nothing else to tell no.

Then there's nothing else to do but wait until the TOC is in contact. Post again when they do and I have no doubt that we will be able to give you more specific advice.

 

[Squaddie]

When the TOC gets around to asking you for your version of events, I would forget the long-winded explanation and stick to the facts, which are: you travelled from an unmanned station without a ticket and attempted to touch-in at an intermediate station without paying for the journey you had made. It really doesn't matter that your train was late, or that you needed to top-up your Oyster card, or that you can show tickets for previous journeys: all that matters is that on this occasion you were caught attempting to avoid payment of a fare and (eventually) admitted the offence.

I'm not suggesting that you are being untruthful, but the long explanation above raises as many questions as it answers and, to be honest, none of it is going to help your case: the investigators have heard it all before. Just admit you did wrong, express remorse and hope for an out-of-court settlement. You were extremely unlucky, being caught the first and only time you have tried this, but take it as a lesson that fare evasion is a risky, stressful and ultimately expensive business.

Incidentally, if a ten-minute delay to your train is likely to make you "seriously late" for a meeting you "HAD to" attend then it could be argued that you left insufficient time to buy a ticket and should, perhaps, have caught an earlier train.

 

[londonboi]

What you may find easier and more convenient for yourself rather than having to purchase tickets a day or two in advance if your using oyster as you mentioned then you may find it easier to set auto top up on your oyster card this automatically top-ups up your oyster card to a amount selected on your oyster account that you create so you will never be below the minimum fare on your card and when it does go below it automatically tops up from your bank account. Saves queuing up for machines etc a

 

[Sasf1]

Thank you Squaddie, I will do just that. I can see how too much info and elaboration could raise more questions. I'm willing to pay the fine, but a criminal record is something I just cannot have. Lesson learned, but a bloomin ticket, I won't ever be making that mistake again.

 

[pjnathanail]

Just a quick question, when you topped up your Oyster card was this at a machine or a ticket office? Could you have bought your ticket from the same place, with minimal time penalty?

 

[Sasf1]

Just a quick question, when you topped up your Oyster card was this at a machine or a ticket office? Could you have bought your ticket from the same place, with minimal time penalty?

Unfortunately just a machine which was on the other side of the station, and that particular machine only did tickets for London zones, I was travelling from outside of London in.

Also I think I'm right in saying that you can't buy tickets from a machine unless it's from the station in which the machine is located? That is one thing the inspector said I could have done but it did not want to argue with him, although I didn't think I could do that.

I know not having time to buy a ticket isn't an excuse so I am not going to argue the facts.

 

[najaB]

Also I think I'm right in saying that you can't buy tickets from a machine unless it's from the station in which the machine is located? That is one thing the inspector said I could have done but it did not want to argue with him, although I didn't think I could do that.

I've read that some machines allow you to purchase tickets from other locations, but in my experience the majority do not.

Really, the best thing for you to do is put the whole situation out of your mind until the TOC is in contact. Sometimes it can take several months for the prosecutions department to work their way through the backlog of cases.

 

[Crossover]

I've read that some machines allow you to purchase tickets from other locations, but in my experience the majority do not.

I think Souther may allow it.
The only ones I have come across that allow it are a single one (technically for excess fares but has proved useful at other times) at Wakefield Westgate and also found one at Hartford over the weekend

 

[tixy]

What may help is also the method of payment... most banks now issue a visa card with a compulsory online auth setup with the chip. in place of electron, which is somewhat outdated (it was popular in the 90s due to most merchants having offline processing).

I would first check with your bank, can they issue a visa? If not i know a couple of "nil lending" accounts which issue these visa cards, one being the natwest step account.

 

[island]

What may help is also the method of payment... most banks now issue a visa card with a compulsory online auth setup with the chip. in place of electron, which is somewhat outdated (it was popular in the 90s due to most merchants having offline processing).

I would first check with your bank, can they issue a visa? If not i know a couple of "nil lending" accounts which issue these visa cards, one being the natwest step account.

The railway doesn't accept Visa Electron cards (although some Train Operating Companies do accept them at booking offices). However, besides Halifax and possibly some tiny banks and building societies, almost all banks issue Visa or MasterCard debit cards even to customers with poor credit.

 

[tixy]

Just remember though that some of these online auth cards wont work on train, so best bet is to carry some cash to cover the ticket (and get a permit before boarding if its a PF train and the ticket office is shut), just in case you have to rush for the train. (you should always have some change on you for tea/coffee/permit to travel)