Travelled on Wrong Railcard

[StephNotCurry]

Hi, I have a 26-30 railcard but selected a 16-17 railcard in error whilst rushing to purchase a ticket. I didn’t realise the error until a revenue officer mentioned it and gave me a slip with a reference number saying I’d get a notice sent to my address.
It’s been a week and I haven’t received the letter or email.
Is it wise to call the prosecution office stating my wish to resolve the issue?.

 

[skyhigh]

Is it wise to call the prosecution office stating my wish to resolve the issue?.

No, a week is nothing. If you gave your correct address just wait for them to get in touch.

 

[StephNotCurry]

No, a week is nothing. If you gave your correct address just wait for them to get in touch.

Okay. Thank you for your response. I’ll be moving to a new address this week. They have my old address. Does this mean I’d have to keep checking my former address?.

 

[Buzby]

Just tell the truth? You have a railcard and can prove it - you erred when selecting the card name but hopefully this was a one-off and this can be easily proved. Just wait for the letter. Get your mail forwarded - this is important!

 

[AndroidBango]

Okay. Thank you for your response. I’ll be moving to a new address this week. They have my old address. Does this mean I’d have to keep checking my former address?.

https://www.royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail/redirection

 

[StephNotCurry]

Just tell the truth? You have a railcard and can prove it - you erred when selecting the card name but hopefully this was a one-off and this can be easily proved. Just wait for the letter. Get your mail forwarded - this is important!

Yes. It’s one-off. I have short travel history and it can be proven.

 

[John R]

Yes. It’s one-off. I have short travel history and it can be proven.

If you can prove a good track record of regularly purchasing the correct ticket then that should be helpful in increasing the chances that you are offered an out of court settlement, rather than being prosecuted. Once you get the letter, please return and post an anonymised copy here, and we can give some help with drafting it. Out of interest, which train company is involved here?

 

[StephNotCurry]

If you can prove a good track record of regularly purchasing the correct ticket then that should be helpful in increasing the chances that you are offered an out of court settlement, rather than being prosecuted. Once you get the letter, please return and post an anonymised copy here, and we can give some help with drafting it. Out of interest, which train company is involved here?

Okay. Thanks.

It’s Govia Thameslink Railway.

 

[WesternLancer]

. I’ll be moving to a new address this week. They have my old address. Does this mean I’d have to keep checking my former address?.

It is vital that you make arrangements to get hard copy post when you move - for the next few weeks and months at least - when they write you get less then 14 days to reply at most, - no reply to that and they will send the matter to court automatically (and even if you have moved the court will find you eventually), if it goes to court without you knowing it will take you a lot of time and effort, and more money to sort it out.

If the paper you were given has a ref number on you could write to Thameslink prosecution office to tell them of your new address, but it may be you need wait for their letter before you can do that.

 

[StephNotCurry]

It is vital that you make arrangements to get hard copy post when you move - for the next few weeks and months at least - when they write you get less then 14 days to reply at most, - no reply to that and they will send the matter to court automatically (and even if you have moved the court will find you eventually), if it goes to court without you knowing it will take you a lot of time and effort, and more money to sort it out.

If the paper you were given has a ref number on you could write to Thameslink prosecution office to tell them of your new address, but it may be you need wait for their letter before you can do that.

Thank you for your reply. I have now gone ahead to redirect my mails, as advised in a previous response. I suppose I’ll get the letter delivered to my new address.

 

[MotCO]

Yes. It’s one-off. I have short travel history and it can be proven.

Doesn't the 16-17 railcard give you a greater discount than a 25 - 30 railcard, in which case, if you have a short travel history, did you not notice that you paid less than usual?

 

[StephNotCurry]

Doesn't the 16-17 railcard give you a greater discount than a 25 - 30 railcard, in which case, if you have a short travel history, did you not notice that you paid less than usual?

Yes. I’ve travelled that route 8 times in total. I paid £5 less on that day but wasn’t paying attention to realise that it was significantly lesser than normal. It only dawned on me when the officer pointed it out.

 

[John R]

If someone received that letter saying confirm your offences or deny, how must you answer that properly if you want the matter to proceed with out of court settlement? Should you deny it and write sympathetic speech even though you aware you committed fare evasion multiple times, or should you confirm you were guilty and apologise etc.

Yes. I’ve travelled that route 8 times in total. I paid £5 less on that day but wasn’t paying attention to realise that it was significantly lesser than normal. It only dawned on me when the officer pointed it out.

The good news is that any settlement offer will only include the cost of the correct ticket for the one journey. In many cases we see where the incorrect fare has been paid over a period of time, the cost rapidly becomes very large. Unless they are very generous, and recognise from your ticketing history that it was a genuine error, then there will still be an administrative fee to cover their costs in dealing with the case. That could be in the region of £150.

All this assumes that you write the appropriate letter when you've got theirs and so make sure you come back here then, to maximise your chances of being made an offer.

 

[StephNotCurry]

The good news is that any settlement offer will only include the cost of the correct ticket for the one journey. In many cases we see where the incorrect fare has been paid over a period of time, the cost rapidly becomes very large. Unless they are very generous, and recognise from your ticketing history that it was a genuine error, then there will still be an administrative fee to cover their costs in dealing with the case. That could be in the region of £150.

All this assumes that you write the appropriate letter when you've got theirs and so make sure you come back here then, to maximise your chances of being made an offer.

I definitely will. Thank you so much.