Traveled without a valid ticket and have been sent a letter. Please help me respond.

[alias97]

A little while ago, before getting on a train, a friend told me that I might as well use their ticket because they had no use for it any more. Without really thinking about it, I used it and the person checking tickets at the end of the platform (no ticket barriers in this station) noticed that it was a season ticket and should have been presented with a photo ID card.

I was pretty bemused, because the ticket would've cost less than £10 and I was happy to pay it anyway but I wasn't thinking because I was very hungover. Because I was hungover, I was quick to say whatever I thought would get me out of there quickest which unfortunately means that I didn't tell the truth and didn't realise that I was asked to sign my statement which is why I'm now even more worried.

I told them that I'd just misplaced my photo ID... and they can surely tell that the ID was used again (it has been used since then, several times) as the code from it gets printed on the ticket - easy to record how many times that's been done, I would guess. That makes it look like I have stolen a season ticket which cost about £50 and is pretty serious... so now I can either go back on my story and explain that I lied (and proceeded to sign it) or just go along with it...

The letter which they've sent me says I can write an explanation on the reverse and I'm not sure if that would be more or less incriminating at this point. Please help.

Thanks.

 

[najaB]

The letter which they've sent me says I can write an explanation on the reverse and I'm not sure if that would be more or less incriminating at this point. Please help.Thanks.

The best thing to do is respond to the letter and tell the truth - you were drunk, didn't think about what you were doing and did something stupid. As you pointed out, they will be able to tell that your story wasn't true so there isn't much point sticking to it.

If the space on the reverse of their letter is too small you can attach a letter of your own. If you are clear and concise and take responsibility for your actions the prosecutions team will be more likely to go easy on you.

Feel free to post a draft of your response and I'm sure we will be able to ensure that it is appropriate.

 

[alias97]

Thanks guys. Here's my draft:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding my ticket on <date>. Regrettably, after a friend offered use of their season ticket which they no longer needed, I accepted and traveled using this ticket from <station> to <station>. I did so without thinking, as I had consumed a lot of alcohol the night before and was suffering the effects on the afternoon of travel.

The seriousness of this action did not occur to me until the member of staff checking tickets on the platform noticed that my ticket was a season ticket, needing an accompanying photo ID card. I was oblivious to this before being stopped, given my state and was unsure why I was stopped.

Whilst carelessness and absent-mindedness cannot not excuse my actions, it was not my intention to deliberately avoid paying the required fare and I deeply regret the incident.




I guess something about wanting to pay should be in there but I'm not sure what to put... I should probably throw in something to do with anxiety... I've had trouble with that in the past. It's rather late to get a doctor involved though.. I don't think I could get an appointment (certainly not in time to send a doctor's letter with this letter). The letter has to be sent tomorrow really, as it's getting close to being too late to respond.

 

[jon0844]

I wouldn't mention anxiety at all, as it seems totally irrelevant.

 

[najaB]

I guess something about wanting to pay should be in there but I'm not sure what to put...

Something like "I would like to pay the outstanding fare and compensate you for the costs you have incurred due to my actions."

 

[alias97]

Yeah... do these things often escalate beyond the minimum fine? Is it a given that I'll get a criminal record? I couldn't find out how long I'd have a record for either - I thought I saw somewhere that it was only for a year, which wouldn't be an issue as my current job wouldn't care. More worried about the future...

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Some people might briefly comment on what they have learned from the episode and how that knowledge might influence their future behavior when travelling.

 

[crehld]

Thanks guys. Here's my draft:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding my ticket on <date>. Regrettably, after a friend offered use of their season ticket which they no longer needed, I accepted and traveled using this ticket from <station> to <station>. I did so without thinking, as I had consumed a lot of alcohol the night before and was suffering the effects on the afternoon of travel.

The seriousness of this action did not occur to me until the member of staff checking tickets on the platform noticed that my ticket was a season ticket, needing an accompanying photo ID card. I was oblivious to this before being stopped, given my state and was unsure why I was stopped.

Whilst carelessness and absent-mindedness cannot not excuse my actions, it was not my intention to deliberately avoid paying the required fare and I deeply regret the incident.




I guess something about wanting to pay should be in there but I'm not sure what to put... I should probably throw in something to do with anxiety... I've had trouble with that in the past. It's rather late to get a doctor involved though.. I don't think I could get an appointment (certainly not in time to send a doctor's letter with this letter). The letter has to be sent tomorrow really, as it's getting close to being too late to respond.

It's a pretty good draft which can be improved slightly with najaB and DaveNewcastle's suggestions. As jonmorris0844 points out the railway company won't be too concerned about your feelings or anxiety, so try and stay focused on what matters to them: the fact you used your friend's ticket when you shouldn't have.

 

[alias97]

Thanks. I'll type it up at lunchtime and post it. Only four days left for it to get there on time. Hopefully it's just the £150 and that's the end of it.

 

[alias97]

Does anybody know how long it will take to receive a response and what happens next?

 

[DaveNewcastle]

It is likely to be several weeks. Some of the rail companies have such a large backlog of incidents to investigate that it can take months. I'm sure that this probably isn't what you want to hear, but all you can do now is put it to the back of your mind and try not to worry about it until they do get round to it and you receive an indication of how thay might proceed with it.

 

[DasLunatic]

Does anybody know how long it will take to receive a response and what happens next?

Some TOCs are quicker dealing with these incidents than others. What TOC did you travel with, and do they own the starting and finishing stations?

 

[alias97]

Northern Rail and I believe they do own both stations.

 

[alias97]

It is likely to be several weeks. Some of the rail companies have such a large backlog of incidents to investigate that it can take months. I'm sure that this probably isn't what you want to hear, but all you can do now is put it to the back of your mind and try not to worry about it until they do get round to it and you receive an indication of how thay might proceed with it.

Yeah that isn't great but I've decided it isn't the end of the world. It did Johnny just dawn on me that this could mean I have trouble getting loans and even finding a place to live... My current employers won't care if I get a record for this, but I'm not sure what it would mean for the future... Is it permanent, does anybody know? I couldn't find any useful information on this stuff.

 

[Elecman]

TOCs don't own any stations they merely lease them front Network Rail, I assume you mean who was the Staion Facility Operator (SFO) for the relevant stations.

 

[DasLunatic]

TOCs don't own any stations they merely lease them front Network Rail, I assume you mean who was the Staion Facility Operator (SFO) for the relevant stations.

I did, yes. I was putting my question as simply as possible for the OP.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

alias97, the only significance you can attach to the question of which Company or which station it was, is to identify the Company who wrote to you. It is their workload and their backlog which matters. Beyond that, I really can't see any significance that attaches to DasLunatic's question. Even if you did provide the names of the 3 Companies concerned, I'd be very surprised if that information would enable DasLunatic to assist in answering your question.

As I said earier today, you really just have to wait and put it to the back of your mind in the meantime.

 

[Fahad]

A little while ago, before getting on a train, a friend told me that I might as well use their ticket because they had no use for it any more. Without really thinking about it, I used it and the person checking tickets at the end of the platform (no ticket barriers in this station) noticed that it was a season ticket and should have been presented with a photo ID card.

I was pretty bemused, because the ticket would've cost less than £10 and I was happy to pay it anyway but I wasn't thinking because I was very hungover. Because I was hungover, I was quick to say whatever I thought would get me out of there quickest which unfortunately means that I didn't tell the truth and didn't realise that I was asked to sign my statement which is why I'm now even more worried.

I told them that I'd just misplaced my photo ID... and they can surely tell that the ID was used again (it has been used since then, several times) as the code from it gets printed on the ticket - easy to record how many times that's been done, I would guess. That makes it look like I have stolen a season ticket which cost about £50 and is pretty serious... so now I can either go back on my story and explain that I lied (and proceeded to sign it) or just go along with it...

The letter which they've sent me says I can write an explanation on the reverse and I'm not sure if that would be more or less incriminating at this point. Please help.

Thanks.

You might have heard, 'Once you tell a lie, you need 10 more lies to cover the lie.'
It is wise to tell the truth to the concerned department.