Notice of intention to prosecute letter

[WorriedNewbie]

Hi, I'm new here and wish to seek advice on how to respond to this letter, which accuses me of "entering a train for the purpose of travelling without a ticket entitling travel".
What had happened was I had purchased two tickets from the ticket office and had made it clear that I intended to travel to Luton from Kings Cross and remain there for the night before returning the next day with an open return ticket. However I was sold a ticket with the incorrect date on it which was dated for the day that I had purchased the tickets. I honestly never noticed this error and am new to using national rail, and only checked the tickets to ensure they had the right destinations on them, which I can accept is partly my fault for not checking every detail was correct before leaving the ticket office. Anyway, the out of date ticket still allowed me to proceed through the barriers at Luton and onto the train when I was returning the next day. It wasn't until I had tried to proceed through the barriers at Kings Cross and failed to do so that I realized something was wrong. I then approached an inspector and asked him why I couldn't go through and he pointed out that the date was incorrect and insisted I pay a penalty fare, which I had no money to do so (note that I never refused and said I'd pay by cash). I was then told I'd receive a letter concerning the fare and have a chance to appeal, but instead I've received this letter stating they wish to take me to court and I'm worried because I don't have anything to support my story. My ticket was taken from me and the details of the employee who sold me the ticket weren't handed to me (I only wished to use him as a witness) and I feel I'd lose the case in court and end up with a criminal record. Can someone please advise me on how to reply to the letter? Sorry for the long post and thanks.

 

[bb21]

I am slightly confused by your account so if I may ask a few questions.

Do you mean you asked for a ticket returning the day after (hence a "next-day" return or period return) but were sold a day return instead? Do you remember what the price was for the ticket you were sold? Did you buy the ticket on the same day as your outward journey, or was the ticket purchased (at least one day) in advance of your outward journey?

When were you caught? Do you mean that you were caught on the return leg at King's Cross (hence before the barriers) or do you mean that you were caught on the outward leg after arrival at King's Cross (hence after you have already travelled)?

NB If you used the term "open return" I can see how the clerk might have misunderstood you, as there are many different interpretations of this phrase nowadays since the abolishing of the ticket type "Open Return" (now called "Anytime Return").

 

[WorriedNewbie]

Hi, sorry if what I had said wasn't clear enough. I had purchased both tickets at the same time on the 13th of December at Kings Cross, which is the day I had started my outward journey to Luton and had asked for the return ticket to be dated for the 14th, so I could return the next day.
I was caught on the return leg when I arrived at Kings Cross after I had already travelled to Luton on the 13th and was returning on the 14th as planned, but was unable to proceed through the barriers at Kings Cross, so i then seeked assistance. I was able to use the ticket to proceed through the barriers at Luton to board the train on the 14th when it was supposedly out of date, so I was unaware that there was an issue with my ticket.
Hope that clears things up!

 

[najaB]

I am slightly confused by your account so if I may ask a few questions.

I'm a little confused as well... To the OP could you confirm if I understand you correctly.


As I read it, you went to the ticket office at Kings Cross and asked for a return ticket to Luton. Did you say that you wanted to return the next day, did you ask for a an open return, or did you just ask for a return ticket? What date(s) did all this occur on?

Do you remember how much the ticket cost?

You travelled to Luton, stayed the night and returned to Kings Cross the next day. What time did you leave Luton?

You were unable to travel through the ticket barrier at Kings Cross, and the barrier staff told you the ticket was out of date and offered you a penalty fare.

Did you say that you wouldn't pay the fare, or that you couldn't?

If it was couldn't, did the person on the barrier say that you had any other options, if so can you remember what it/they were?

You say that your ticket was taken from you at the barrier, did you receive a receipt for it?

Does the letter you received make any mention of what legislation you are being potentially prosecuted under - e.g. does it mention "Railway Byelaws" or "Regulation of Railways Act"?

I'm sure that others may have other questions.

 

[bb21]

Hi, sorry if what I had said wasn't clear enough. I had purchased both tickets at the same time on the 13th of December at Kings Cross, which is the day I had started my outward journey to Luton and had asked for the return ticket to be dated for the 14th, so I could return the next day.
I was caught on the return leg when I arrived at Kings Cross after I had already travelled to Luton on the 13th and was returning on the 14th as planned, but was unable to proceed through the barriers at Kings Cross, so i then seeked assistance. I was able to use the ticket to proceed through the barriers at Luton to board the train on the 14th when it was supposedly out of date, so I was unaware that there was an issue with my ticket.
Hope that clears things up!

Thanks. I see. I thought you started from Luton but I now understand that you started from King's Cross.

So you were sold a single from King's Cross to Luton for the 13th, and another single from Luton to King's Cross also for the 13th (which should have been dated 14th)?

Do you remember how much you paid? (Not to worry if not.)

 

[WorriedNewbie]

Thanks. I see. I thought you started from Luton but I now understand that you started from King's Cross.

So you were sold a single from King's Cross to Luton for the 13th, and another single from Luton to King's Cross also for the 13th (which should have been dated 14th)?

Yes, that's exactly what I was trying to say!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'm a little confused as well... To the OP could you confirm if I understand you correctly.


As I read it, you went to the ticket office at Kings Cross and asked for a return ticket to Luton. Did you say that you wanted to return the next day, did you ask for a an open return, or did you just ask for a return ticket? What date(s) did all this occur on?

Do you remember how much the ticket cost?

You travelled to Luton, stayed the night and returned to Kings Cross the next day. What time did you leave Luton?

You were unable to travel through the ticket barrier at Kings Cross, and the barrier staff told you the ticket was out of date and offered you a penalty fare.

Did you say that you wouldn't pay the fare, or that you couldn't?

If it was couldn't, did the person on the barrier say that you had any other options, if so can you remember what it/they were?

You say that your ticket was taken from you at the barrier, did you receive a receipt for it?

Does the letter you received make any mention of what legislation you are being potentially prosecuted under - e.g. does it mention "Railway Byelaws" or "Regulation of Railways Act"?

I'm sure that others may have other questions.

Hi, sorry if didn't sound clear. I'll try to answer as best as i can. I believe the total cost of both tickets was between £10-£20. This occurred on the 13th December and I requested an open return ticket for the 14th, which was incorrectly dated for the 13th and I made it clear to the seller that i wished to return the following day. I was offered a penalty fare, but was unable to pay it, as I had no money left on me, but I had said I would pay by cash and was told they would be in touch with me and that I could appeal to the fare, as for the receipt I don't remember receiving one, but I'll have a look around my room now. Hope this makes things more clear
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Forget to mention that I believe I left Luton sometime around 10am
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also the letter doesn't state any acts that they may try to prosecute me under, only that they intend to prosecute me and I must reply within 21 days with a chance to offer my side of the story, but I'm worried it won't save me.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Does the letter you received make any mention of what legislation you are being potentially prosecuted under - e.g. does it mention "Railway Byelaws" or "Regulation of Railways Act"?

The OP was perfectly clear in their opening request:

Hi, I'm new here and wish to seek advice on how to respond to this letter, which accuses me of "entering a train for the purpose of travelling without a ticket entitling travel".

That is a Byelaw 17 or 18 offence.

WorriedNewbie, that is the most minor offence you could be accused of, even if you can't persuade the Company of your innocence, and if that fails, then even if you can't agree to make a settlement with the investigator. A Railway Byelaw offence is, in one sense, a curious offence, because it is classified as a Criminal Offence, but it doesn't appear on any search for Criminal Convictions. So, even if all your efforts to reach an agreement fail, it is a penalty which makes little difference - even some of the Courts don't like to convict passengers of such minor matters, and so they approve only very small amounts in costs!

 

[Morgans123]

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also the letter doesn't state any acts that they may try to prosecute me under, only that they intend to prosecute me and I must reply within 21 days with a chance to offer my side of the story, but I'm worried it won't save me.[/QUOTE]

Same as me, different circumstances but same letter of intent!

Been advised to try and organise an out of court settlement..

 

[WorriedNewbie]

The OP was perfectly clear in their opening request:

That is a Byelaw 17 or 18 offence.

WorriedNewbie, that is the most minor offence you could be accused of, even if you can't persuade the Company of your innocence, and if that fails, then even if you can't agree to make a settlement with the investigator. A Railway Byelaw offence is, in one sense, a curious offence, because it is classified as a Criminal Offence, but it doesn't appear on any search for Criminal Convictions. So, even if all your efforts to reach an agreement fail, it is a penalty which makes little difference - even some of the Courts don't like to convict passengers of such minor matters, and so they approve only very small amounts in costs!

Thanks for your reply, Dave. I feel a little better after reading that, thanks! Concerning my response to the letter, would it be possible to receive some tips on what I should/shouldn't include? If not, thanks to all for the replies anyway

 

[bb21]

That is most unfortunate, and you have my sympathy for it OP.

My gut instinct says to fight it in court because all evidence points to an error being made by the booking office clerk. Why otherwise would two singles be issued to the same passenger making a return journey on the same day? If that were indeed the proposed journey then the wrong tickets were sold, as the correct ticket would have been a day return of some sort.

Nevertheless given that the wording of the letter points to a Byelaw 18(1) offence, which strictly speaking you have no defence for, as the facts were clear that you did not have a valid ticket for the journey in question, you may want to try and reach an out-of-court settlement. If I were you, I would word the response carefully without admitting anything, just that you were foolish not to check the dates at the time. Once this is all done and dusted and the threat of a court case gone, lodge a strongly-worded letter of complaint with the train company and ask for your money back. If you don't get a satisfactory response, you can then take it further, but for now, try and remove the threat of a court case as a priority.

While there is no risk of ending up with a criminal record, the reason I prefer an out-of-court settlement to letting the case be heard is that the train company keeps the money for a settlement, whereas should you be convicted, the fine will be kept by the court, so you might encounter more resistance should you ask for your money back in the latter case.

Same as me, different circumstances but same letter of intent!

Been advised to try and organise an out of court settlement..

No, it is not the same as your case unfortunately, as yours is potentially much more severe unfortunately. I will get into that on the appropriate thread.

The reason why an out-of-court settlement is suggested for your case and for the OP's case is different.

 

[najaB]

The OP was perfectly clear in their opening request...

I know that's the wording of the Byelaws, however there have been cases posted here in the past where both sets of legislation have been quoted in the same letter. I wanted to be sure that there wasn't a paragraph further down the letter which made mention of the RoRA.

 

[Abpj17]

And do you mean St Pancras not Kings Cross? And you paid for the tickets with cash not card?

(And may not be entirely essential - but did you use the high level platforms / East Midlands or the low level platforms / Thameslink - that *might* explain why you were let in at Luton but not out at St P)

 

[WorriedNewbie]

That is most unfortunate, and you have my sympathy for it OP.

My gut instinct says to fight it in court because all evidence points to an error being made by the booking office clerk. Why otherwise would two singles be issued to the same passenger making a return journey on the same day? If that were indeed the proposed journey then the wrong tickets were sold, as the correct ticket would have been a day return of some sort.

Nevertheless given that the wording of the letter points to a Byelaw 18(1) offence, which strictly speaking you have no defence for, as the facts were clear that you did not have a valid ticket for the journey in question, you may want to try and reach an out-of-court settlement. If I were you, I would word the response carefully without admitting anything, just that you were foolish not to check the dates at the time. Once this is all done and dusted and the threat of a court case gone, lodge a strongly-worded letter of complaint with the train company and ask for your money back. If you don't get a satisfactory response, you can then take it further, but for now, try and remove the threat of a court case as a priority.

While there is no risk of ending up with a criminal record, the reason I prefer an out-of-court settlement to letting the case be heard is that the train company keeps the money for a settlement, whereas should you be convicted, the fine will be kept by the court, so you might encounter more resistance should you ask for your money back in the latter case.



No, it is not the same as your case unfortunately, as yours is potentially much more severe unfortunately. I will get into that on the appropriate thread.

The reason why an out-of-court settlement is suggested for your case and for the OP's case is different.

I appreciate your detailed response, bb21 and wish to thank you for suggestions! It should be noted that I no longer have the ticket I used to travel to Luton in the first place, as I binned it upon arrival, so that's even less evidence to support my story. I'm going to take your advice and try for an out-of-court settlement. Hoping for the best! Can't thank all of you enough for the quick and detailed responses!

 

[bb21]

I appreciate your detailed response, bb21 and wish to thank you for suggestions! It should be noted that I no longer have the ticket I used to travel to Luton in the first place, as I binned it upon arrival, so that's even less evidence to support my story. I'm going to take your advice and try for an out-of-court settlement. Hoping for the best! Can't thank all of you enough for the quick and detailed responses!

Were you given a receipt at the time of purchase? How did you pay for the tickets?

 

[WorriedNewbie]

And do you mean St Pancras not Kings Cross? And you paid for the tickets with cash not card?

(And may not be entirely essential - but did you use the high level platforms / East Midlands or the low level platforms / Thameslink - that *might* explain why you were let in at Luton but not out at St P)

Hi, I paid by cash and never had my card on me, so was unable to pay the penalty fare via that method. Yes, I think it may have been by your description the Thameslink platforms that I had used. Why would I have been let through the barriers at all? I'm confused.
No, it was indeed Kings Cross. I reached there from using the underground.
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Were you given a receipt at the time of purchase? How did you pay for the tickets?

Honestly I don't remember receiving anything other than the tickets and I paid by cash. Was I supposed to receive a receipt after paying by cash?

 

[bb21]

Hi, I paid by cash and never had my card on me, so was unable to pay the penalty fare via that method. Yes, I think it may have been by your description the Thameslink platforms that I had used. Why would I have been let through the barriers at all? I'm confused.
No, it was indeed Kings Cross. I reached there from using the underground.

Something's not quite right. Trains from Luton go to St Pancras. I can't see how you managed to reach King's Cross unless you changed to the Underground at Kentish Town. (I should have noticed this earlier really.) Did you change trains en route at all? If it were a direct service, it would either have been an East Midlands Trains service (non-stop) to St Pancras (High Level), or if a Thameslink service, to St Pancras (Low Level). Was it a direct service?

After leaving the train, did you have to come up some escalators to reach the gateline or were the gates directly in front of you after leaving the train?

Honestly I don't remember receiving anything other than the tickets and I paid by cash. Was I supposed to receive a receipt after paying by cash?

No, a receipt is not compulsory, but some clerks give them out even without asking.

Since they still have your other ticket as evidence, you can of course ask them to check details of that particular transaction when you lodge the complaint. Of course this will not be as easy as if you had retained your other ticket, but there is still a chance that we can get to the bottom of it.

 

[WorriedNewbie]

Something's not quite right. Trains from Luton go to St Pancras. I can't see how you managed to reach King's Cross unless you changed to the Underground at Kentish Town. (I should have noticed this earlier really.) Did you change trains en route at all? If it were a direct service, it would either have been an East Midlands Trains service (non-stop) to St Pancras (High Level), or if a Thameslink service, to St Pancras (Low Level). Was it a direct service?

After leaving the train, did you have to come up some escalators to reach the gateline or were the gates directly in front of you after leaving the train?



No, a receipt is not compulsory, but some clerks give them out even without asking.

Since they still have your other ticket as evidence, you can of course ask them to check details of that particular transaction when you lodge the complaint. Of course this will not be as easy as if you had retained your other ticket, but there is still a chance that we can get to the bottom of it.

Sorry, it was actually St. Pancras station, I've just had another look at the letter. After leaving the train I had to walk up some steps, it wasn't directly in front of me.
I wondered if it would be possible to check transaction history and will ask them to do so, as I can still remember roughly what time it was I purchased the tickets.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Sorry, it was actually St. Pancras station, I've just had another look at the letter. After leaving the train I had to walk up some steps, it wasn't directly in front of me.
I wondered if it would be possible to check transaction history and will ask them to do so, as I can still remember roughly what time it was I purchased the tickets.

Also, yes it was a direct service, sorry for the confusion. I believe it was the Thameslink service.

 

[Abpj17]

It definitely wasn’t Kings Cross

(Although it’s a bit confusing - Kings Cross and St Pancras share a tube station, but the mainline stations are separate buildings/lines with a road in between them)

Some tickets can (bb21 will shout if I’m wrong) be Thameslink only. At Luton, the same barriers give entry to Thameslink and EMT platforms/trains. At St Pancras, EMT and Thameslink operate entirely separate barriers.

How did you get to Kings Cross/St P and can you remember where you bought the ticket? i.e. just before you went down to the catch the train, or further back in your journey?

http://www.docbrown.info/docspics/europe/Italy2013/Img_3698.jpg are the EMT platforms at St Pancras

https://tigergrowl.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/120526020.jpg are the Thameslink platforms at St Pancras

(I’d explain the train colours, but they overlap and aren’t very consistent at the moment so probably unhelpful!)

 

[jon0844]

If you were sold two individual single tickets, which were supposed to be dated on different days, I'd say you should be able to explain this in your letter and hope they'll use common sense.

After all, a day return would have been about 10 or 20p more than a single, so you'd never normally buy two singles (nor would, I imagine, anyone sell you two singles unless you implicitly asked for them).

I don't know if there's an anytime return for that journey, as I know some relatively short journeys don't always have them, so what you've said should be seen as an honest mistake, unless of course they don't believe your story and think you're trying to re-use a ticket from the day before.

It's odd that it passed the gate at Luton. Definitely worth mentioning. Had the ticket been used, I'd imagine that it would have been rejected even if it was in date - so to work when it wasn't suggests, to me, that it hadn't been used.

They have the ticket so should be able to check all that.

As usual, assuming you're telling the truth on here then I wish you the best of luck.

 

[WorriedNewbie]

It definitely wasn’t Kings Cross

(Although it’s a bit confusing - Kings Cross and St Pancras share a tube station, but the mainline stations are separate buildings/lines with a road in between them)

Some tickets can (bb21 will shout if I’m wrong) be Thameslink only. At Luton, the same barriers give entry to Thameslink and EMT platforms/trains. At St Pancras, EMT and Thameslink operate entirely separate barriers.

How did you get to Kings Cross/St P and can you remember where you bought the ticket? i.e. just before you went down to the catch the train, or further back in your journey?

http://www.docbrown.info/docspics/europe/Italy2013/Img_3698.jpg are the EMT platforms at St Pancras

https://tigergrowl.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/120526020.jpg are the Thameslink platforms at St Pancras

(I’d explain the train colours, but they overlap and aren’t very consistent at the moment so probably unhelpful!)

Hi, looking at the pictures you've provided it was definitely the Thameslink platforms!
I had bought both of my tickets on the 13th December, at night, which was minutes before I boarded the train and this was at the ticket office right beside the barriers.

 

[bb21]

I wondered if it would be possible to check transaction history and will ask them to do so, as I can still remember roughly what time it was I purchased the tickets.

I think they can, but it won't help you in a fight against a Byelaw prosecution, because it won't provide much of a defence. All they need to convict you is the fact that you were unable to deliver up a valid ticket when requested (with some exceptions), and that can be easily shown.

I was more thinking in terms of your dispute with them after the matter is settled. They already have the other ticket they confiscated. It will have the time it was printed and the serial number of the machine which printed it on. They should be able to trace the transaction using that ticket without you having to provide any more details.

 

[WorriedNewbie]

If you were sold two individual single tickets, which were supposed to be dated on different days, I'd say you should be able to explain this in your letter and hope they'll use common sense.

After all, a day return would have been about 10 or 20p more than a single, so you'd never normally buy two singles (nor would, I imagine, anyone sell you two singles unless you implicitly asked for them).

I don't know if there's an anytime return for that journey, as I know some relatively short journeys don't always have them, so what you've said should be seen as an honest mistake, unless of course they don't believe your story and think you're trying to re-use a ticket from the day before.

It's odd that it passed the gate at Luton. Definitely worth mentioning. Had the ticket been used, I'd imagine that it would have been rejected even if it was in date - so to work when it wasn't suggests, to me, that it hadn't been used.

They have the ticket so should be able to check all that.

As usual, assuming you're telling the truth on here then I wish you the best of luck.

That's also what I don't understand. If the ticket was out-of-date then why did it allow me to pass through the barriers at Luton? If it hadn't then all of this could have been avoided. I'd rather have been left stranded in Luton than being painted as a criminal. Thanks for your response, I'll be sure to mention that the ticket allowed me through the barriers at Luton! Can only hope for the best.

 

[bb21]

That's also what I don't understand. If the ticket was out-of-date then why did it allow me to pass through the barriers at Luton? If it hadn't then all of this could have been avoided. I'd rather have been left stranded in Luton than being painted as a criminal. Thanks for your response, I'll be sure to mention that the ticket allowed me through the barriers at Luton! Can only hope for the best.

Ticket gates can be set to accept virtually anything. It doesn't always make sense to you or me, but that does happen sometimes for various reasons.

You can certainly mention it, but try not to focus too much on that. If you are seeking an out-of-court settlement, remember that it is you who is asking for a favour, so you would not want to appear too critical of them.

I reckon it would be better if you put it in the letter of complaint afterwards. While I don't think by itself it is a strong argument, coupled with the other factors involved, I think it can strengthen your case for a refund.

 

[WorriedNewbie]

I think they can, but it won't help you in a fight against a Byelaw prosecution, because it won't provide much of a defence. All they need to convict you is the fact that you were unable to deliver up a valid ticket when requested (with some exceptions), and that can be easily shown.

I was more thinking in terms of your dispute with them after the matter is settled. They already have the other ticket they confiscated. It will have the time it was printed and the serial number of the machine which printed it on. They should be able to trace the transaction using that ticket without you having to provide any more details.

I see, well I won't mention that for the time being then. Now I'm just going to prepare my response and hope for the best. I just wish the ticket holder who was responsible for selling me the tickets was present when i returned, so he could maybe back me up, but unlucky me! Thanks for your responses guys, I've never had to deal with anything like this before and you've been a big help.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Ticket gates can be set to accept virtually anything. It doesn't always make sense to you or me, but that does happen sometimes for various reasons.

You can certainly mention it, but try not to focus too much on that. If you are seeking an out-of-court settlement, remember that it is you who is asking for a favour, so you would not want to appear too critical of them.

I reckon it would be better if you put it in the letter of complaint afterwards. While I don't think by itself it is a strong argument, coupled with the other factors involved, I think it can strengthen your case for a refund.

Yes, to be honest at this point I don't wish to cause anymore harm than good because it's stressing me out. In my response I'll avoid being critical of the ticket holder also and mention that it was foolish of me not to check every detail on my ticket

 

[furlong]

IIt should be noted that I no longer have the ticket I used to travel to Luton in the first place, as I binned it upon arrival, so that's even less evidence to support my story.

If you bought it as part of the same transaction as the ticket the company confiscated, they should easily be able to bring up the details of that transaction and determine the ticket type and consider whether or not it might have been an inappropriate combination to sell.

 

[LateThanNever]

I see, well I won't mention that for the time being then. Now I'm just going to prepare my response and hope for the best. I just wish the ticket holder who was responsible for selling me the tickets was present when i returned, so he could maybe back me up, but unlucky me! Thanks for your responses guys, I've never had to deal with anything like this before and you've been a big help.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Yes, to be honest at this point I don't wish to cause anymore harm than good because it's stressing me out. In my response I'll avoid being critical of the ticket holder also and mention that it was foolish of me not to check every detail on my ticket

Suggest better not to mention that. It suggests legal knowledge you did not have. Just say you had absolutely no reason to believe that the ticket(s) issued at the ticket office were/was not in fact valid for the journey you requested.

 

[Haywain]

It appears to me that WorriedNewbie travelled on a Saturday, and having advised the ticket clerk what he planned to do, was sold a Super Off Peak Single in each direction. These would have worked out to be considerably cheaper than an Off Peak Return - about £5 less. However, this also makes the date error perfectly clear in that there would be no reason to buy two singles for the same day when a return is available for just 10p more. The problem is the proof, given that only one of the tickets has been retained. I would think that it is worth giving this detail in the letter to the TOC, and including a scan/copy of the ticket (not the original as it may also be necessary to take this up with Customer Relations). This would allow the transaction to be checked to see that two tickets were sold.

 

[jon0844]

The outbound ticket was thrown away (or otherwise might have been taken by the gate) and the return kept by the RPI I believe, but if it's possible to check the records to see what the ticket sold before was (I assume it will be the same serial number less one?) then the OP might have a chance.

This one does appear to rely on a bit of trust and goodwill on the part of the TOC, but it does happen. We've had many stories on here that show that when someone does give a full explanation, they ARE believed and action is dropped.

 

[455driver]

I think they can, but it won't help you in a fight against a Byelaw prosecution, because it won't provide much of a defence. All they need to convict you is the fact that you were unable to deliver up a valid ticket when requested (with some exceptions), and that can be easily shown.

I was more thinking in terms of your dispute with them after the matter is settled. They already have the other ticket they confiscated. It will have the time it was printed and the serial number of the machine which printed it on. They should be able to trace the transaction using that ticket without you having to provide any more details.

Thats what I was thinking, they have the ticket you used so should be able to look back through their systems to see that the previous ticket sold from that machine was also a single between the same 2 places for the same day but in the opposite direction, it would be either a weird coincidence or obvious what has happened.

Edit-
I see several people are saying the same thing.

 

[Flamingo]

The ticket should have the date and time it was sold printed on it at the bottom.