Hi I was going from King’s Cross to Stevenage on the 5th April 2024 and at potters bar I got asked for my railcard. I could not produce it at the time as it had expired and I told the officer my mum had it and she was going to send it. The officer said if I could produce one before the end of the day it would be fine. He gave me an email GTR prosecutions and I emailed them my railcard as I bought one on the same day. It says to expire 4th april2025 and then on 31st may I got a letter but I was was not home for a while and couldn’t open it. What do I do and what is going to happen.
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Railcard and GTR prosecution
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notmyrealname
Member
Hi.
If you have the letter, could you post it on this thread please? That way we'll know what you're dealing with. Be sure to cover up your name, address and their reference number.
If you have the letter, could you post it on this thread please? That way we'll know what you're dealing with. Be sure to cover up your name, address and their reference number.
Gloster
Veteran Member
Please obscure the reference number.
It is good that you have bought a new railcard, as it may help GTR believe that you won't offend again, however, you didn't have one at the time you bought the ticket so you have committed an offence.
GTR have almost certainly checked to see if you have done this before (how long ago had your previous railcard expired BTW).
Nevertheless, if you engage with them suitably you will probably be offered an administrative settlement. If no other journeys are involved they may ask you to pay the full fare for the journey plus a sum for admin expenses - the lowest I can remember is £50-60 but that's not a promise
You need to write apologising for what happened, acknowledging that fare evasion costs the railways large sums, promising to mend your ways, and asking if they would consider a settlement. Keep it reasonably short, steer clear of AI waffle, and no sob-stories.
Long-serving forum member @Hadders regularly suggests the points to make - search for his posts.
GTR have almost certainly checked to see if you have done this before (how long ago had your previous railcard expired BTW).
Nevertheless, if you engage with them suitably you will probably be offered an administrative settlement. If no other journeys are involved they may ask you to pay the full fare for the journey plus a sum for admin expenses - the lowest I can remember is £50-60 but that's not a promise
You need to write apologising for what happened, acknowledging that fare evasion costs the railways large sums, promising to mend your ways, and asking if they would consider a settlement. Keep it reasonably short, steer clear of AI waffle, and no sob-stories.
Long-serving forum member @Hadders regularly suggests the points to make - search for his posts.
Mcr Warrior
Veteran Member
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@timiokusz. They may assume that all your railcard discounted ticket purchases/journeys made before 4th April 2024 were made without you holding a valid, in date, unexpired railcard, unless you can retrospectively prove that you did, at the time, actually have one.
BTW, when did your previous railcard expire and how many journeys were made in between its expiry and the occasion when you were stopped on 4th April 2024?
They may audit your ticket purchases and are entitled to recover unpaid fares for any National Rail company’s route.
I didn’t have a railcard and got a letter but I wasn’t at home to view the letter. Then I saw it after two and half months now but I forgot to send it Now I got an SJPN what do I do I want to get about of court settlement. Please please can someone help me
If you’ve received an SJP notice it means it’s already gone to court and you’ve been charged but not yet sentenced.
You must respond promptly to the SJPN. There is a discount for a guilty plea, you’ll pay more if you ignore the SJPN or plead guilty without a defence.
You must respond promptly to the SJPN. There is a discount for a guilty plea, you’ll pay more if you ignore the SJPN or plead guilty without a defence.
No - it means the train company are planning to take you to court. Nothing has been heard by the court yet.
Haywain
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It does mean it has been formally laid before the court, so that time for contacting the train company is rather tight. I would suggest that the OP needs to get their act together and respond to the train company without delay.
You need to contact GTR urgently, and beg / plead with them to consider offering you an out of court settlement.
But be aware, you need to contact them, and if they agree then you will need to pay them in full, before the deadline for sending the SJPN.
But be aware, you need to contact them, and if they agree then you will need to pay them in full, before the deadline for sending the SJPN.
This is incorrect.
A single justice procedure notice means that the matter is before the court and the person is being prosecuted.
It's possible but this matter is urgent.
Do nothing else tomorrow until you have contacted them. What is the date by which you have to reply to the SJPN?
WesternLancer
Veteran Member
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HI - have you taken action on this and contacted the railway company? You almost certainly need to do this in writing - it is strongly recommended that you do so - you may want to post a draft of what you plan to say to them here so people here can help you get the wording right - this is URGENT for you to do as has been pointed out.
Then I would advise that you post your letter to them with next day delivery and signed for so you know it has been delivered. Do this at a post office.
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