thameslink notice of intention to prosecute.....please help out

[fizzle08]

Good Morning House
please help me out
i boarded a train from Finsbury park to Potters bar with the intention to tap out my oyster card at potters bar but I changed my mind while on the trip so Ibought online ticket from potters bar to Hatfield. I was stopped by an inspector at Hatfield who asked why I didnt tap in at potters bar then I told him exacrtly what happened and He said I bought a short fare ticket so I will be fine. I agreed to pay the fine because I got a taxi waiting for me at the station then requested for my name and address which I gave him and he told me to go without paying the fine. I got a letter last weekend from GTR on notice to prosecute..Please can someone guide me on what to do. Thanks
I will be at the comment session

 

[signed]

Please post the whole letter with your personal details redacted

Did you tap your Oyster Card in at Finsbury Park? If so, you may want to extract your journey history from TfL before doing anything. It should show a maximum fare trip because of missing touch-out.

 

[fizzle08]

Please post the whole letter with your personal details redacted

Did you tap your Oyster Card in at Finsbury Park?

yes..I tapped but didnt tap at potters bar because I was late already for the mission at potters bar

 

[signed]

By all means wait for the experts here.

Get your Oyster history as that could quash their accusation of intent to short fare https://oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/entry.do (make sure to save it, it is deleted from TfL servers after 8 weeks)

 

[fizzle08]

By all means wait for the experts here.

Get your Oyster history as that could quash their accusation of intent to short fare https://oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/entry.do (mâle sure to save it, it is deleted from TfL servers after 8 weeks)

Ok..will check it now

 

[WesternLancer]

Ok..will check it now

when you have got that record and can see what it says in terms of money taken then people here can help you write a reply to the letter you have received threatening you with prosecution.

 

[John R]

Did you buy your ticket before the train departed Potters Bar?

 

[fizzle08]

Did you buy your ticket before the train departed Potters Bar?

I bought the ticket online before the train departed potters bar

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Aug 2024 ==

Good Morning all,
I have gone through some of the threads with similar case here and will want to ask if the help of a solicitor is needed on this case?

 

[WesternLancer]

I bought the ticket online before the train departed potters bar

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Does the purchase record prove that with purchase transaction time stamp that is timed at before the departure of the train from Potters Bar (assume you know what time train you were on)? In which case that is something you can use in any response to them to help show / prove you had a valid ticket at the required time.

If you state date / time of train people here can find the train running logs for you to support that proof

Good Morning all,
I have gone through some of the threads with similar case here and will want to ask if the help of a solicitor is needed on this case?

General advice here is you do not need a solicitor unless your own efforts to resolve it fail and they move towards prosecutions, or if it is a complex case. IMHO this is not a complex case so I suspect you can handle it yourself with advice on how to reply from the forum, if you are confident in doing that (see lots of other threads where things get sorted without solicitors input)

Have you had a letter from the railway yet?

 

[John R]

So you had an Oyster card for the part of your journey as far as Potters Bar, having tapped in at Finsbury Park (?) and a valid ticket for the rest of your journey? The only thing you didnt do was tap out at PB, for which you would have been charged a maximum fare (which presumably you can evidence?)

 

[fizzle08]

Does the purchase record prove that with purchase transaction time stamp that is timed at before the departure of the train from Potters Bar (assume you know what time train you were on)? In which case that is something you can use in any response to them to help show / prove you had a valid ticket at the required time.

If you state date / time of train people here can find the train running logs for you to support that proof



General advice here is you do not need a solicitor unless your own efforts to resolve it fail and they move towards prosecutions, or if it is a complex case. IMHO this is not a complex case so I suspect you can handle it yourself with advice on how to reply from the forum, if you are confident in doing that (see lots of other threads where things get sorted without solicitors input)

Have you had a letter from the railway yet?

yes..I got the letter last week..

 

[Snow1964]

Simple question, have you been charged Finsbury Park to maximum fare (as didn't tap out) on oyster (or contactless)

Then as already stated you had bought a ticket onwards from Potters Bar (before getting to Potters Bar)

If that is the case, and neither have been refunded, then you had two consecutive tickets and no short fare.

Others will be along soon, but because oyster and national rail fares are two different organisations, just need to evidence the payment for first part of the journey which Thameslink presumably don't yet know about, so are assuming you travelled free (ticketless) to Potters Bar

 

[fizzle08]

Simple question, have you been charged Finsbury Park to maximum fare (as didn't tap out) on oyster (or contactless)

Then as already stated you had bought a ticket onwards from Potters Bar (before getting to Potters Bar)

If that is the case, and neither have been refunded, then you had two consecutive tickets and no short fare.

Others will be along soon, but because oyster and national rail fares are two different organisations, just need to evidence the payment for first part of the journey which Thameslink presumably don't yet know about, so are assuming you travelled free (ticketless) to Potters Bar

I WASNT CHARGED MAXIMUM FARE
YES I BOUGHT THE TICKET BEFORE GETTING TO POTTERS BAR....

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Aug 2024 ==

This is the letter send

 

[Haywain]

I WASNT CHARGED MAXIMUM FARE

What were you charged?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Aug 2024 ==

Then as already stated you had bought a ticket onwards from Potters Bar (before getting to Potters Bar)

I don't think it follows that a maximum fare charged after the event can be part of a split.

 

[fizzle08]

Good Afternoon ..
Please I intend to send the letter tomorrow morning
Please I need some clarifications
Do I need to explain that I got my oyster with me which was meant to cover my trip to potters bar although I didn't alight from the same train because I was already late due to train service delay that day or I should just admit and follow the normal thread on this platform.
Thanks for. Moral support

 

[WesternLancer]

Do I need to explain that I got my oyster with me which was meant to cover my trip to potters bar although I didn't alight from the same train because I was already late due to train service delay that day or I should just admit and follow the normal thread on this platform.
Thanks for. Moral support

I think you need to reply with the normal approach advised on this platform (ie apologise for the situation, and ask if they would be kind enough to settle the matter out of court by letting you pay any sums owed)
AND
You can also say that you tried to pay for your journey with Oyster card from point of origin to Potters Bar

However, it would help if you could tell them how much you paid on your Oyster for the initial part of the journey - a question asked above but that you have not yet answered - as this will help show them that you were trying to pay for the trip but something presumably went wrong.

 

[fizzle08]

please kindly assist in proof reading the below letter which I intend to send tomorrow


Dear Fare Evasion Manager,





I am writing in response to the Notice of Intention to Prosecute dated xxxxxx I wish to explain the circumstances of the incident on xxxxxx and respectfully request your consideration of my case.I was travelling from Whitechapel to potters bar, I tapped in at Whitechapel and also tapped in at finsbury park but due to service delay on train network,. I had to change my travel plans to hatfield and I opted to get a travel ticket from potters bar to hatfield but I was unable to tap my card at potters bar before embarking on the journey to hatfield.On inspection at hatfield, I was told that I got a short fare travel ticket and my details were collected



I understand that its my responsibility to always have a valid ticket for my entire journey, I am really sorry for any inconveniencies that have caused the investigation team and I have ensured that I always pay for a valid ticket encompassing my full journey whenever I have to travel by train.



In the light of the above, I wondered if it would be possible to settle this matter without having to go to court, I am prepared to pay any outstanding fare in addition to administration cost in dealing with this matter and I hope my desire to settle will be sincerely considered



Yours Sincerely

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Aug 2024 ==

I think you need to reply with the normal approach advised on this platform (ie apologise for the situation, and ask if they would be kind enough to settle the matter out of court by letting you pay any sums owed)
AND
You can also say that you tried to pay for your journey with Oyster card from point of origin to Potters Bar

However, it would help if you could tell them how much you paid on your Oyster for the initial part of the journey - a question asked above but that you have not yet answered - as this will help show them that you were trying to pay for the trip but something presumably went wrong.

I am sorry I didnt really talk about the oyster card
1..Myself and my wife uses the oyster card when going out so it might be hard to get the travel history
2..I havent registered the card

but the oyster card travel journey for my trip from whitechapel was screenshot by the inspector .initially he told that am to pay a fine and the cost of trip from finsbury to hatfield then he just asked for my details and told me to go..

 

[WesternLancer]

I am sorry I didnt really talk about the oyster card
1..Myself and my wife uses the oyster card when going out so it might be hard to get the travel history
2..I havent registered the card

but the oyster card travel journey for my trip from whitechapel was screenshot by the inspector .initially he told that am to pay a fine and the cost of trip from finsbury to hatfield then he just asked for my details and told me to go..

I would advise that you register the Oyster card as soon as possible as the evidence on it may be important for you to have access to.

I would also suggest that you consider getting 2 Oyster cards if you can, one for you and one for your wife so that you can obtain individual travel records if you need them in future.

 

[fizzle08]

I would advise that you register the Oyster card as soon as possible as the evidence on it may be important for you to have access to.

I would also suggest that you consider getting 2 Oyster cards if you can, one for you and one for your wife so that you can obtain individual travel records if you need them in future.

Ok..I got a separate own for my wife already.
Please with the Above draft letter, is there any adjustments I need to make it?

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Is it necessary I explained that I was asked to pay a town immediate at the station before the Inspector changed his mind and collected my details??

 

[WesternLancer]

Ok..I got a separate own for my wife already.
Please with the Above draft letter, is there any adjustments I need to make it?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Aug 2024 ==

Is it necessary I explained that I was asked to pay a town immediate at the station before the Inspector changed his mind and collected my details??

I think your letter to them covers the request you need to make. I don't think you need to go into further details about the discussion with the Inspector at this stage.

You may want to correct the names of the stations with a capital letter eg Hatfield, Finsbury Park etc

You might want to wait until tomorrow morning to see if there are other comments from people here before finalising it and sending it off - if you are sending it by post I recommend getting it sent 'Signed for' service by Royal Mail and 1st class so you can track it to be sure it gets there

You need to go to a post office probably before about 10.30am on Saturday morning to sort that out if you need to send it tomorrow.

Keep a copy of all the pages and anything you send to them.

 

[fizzle08]

I think your letter to them covers the request you need to make. I don't think you need to go into further details about the discussion with the Inspector at this stage.

You may want to correct the names of the stations with a capital letter eg Hatfield, Finsbury Park etc

You might want to wait until tomorrow morning to see if there are other comments from people here before finalising it and sending it off - if you are sending it by post I recommend getting it sent 'Signed for' service by Royal Mail and 1st class so you can track it to be sure it gets there

You need to go to a post office probably before about 10.30am on Saturday morning to sort that out if you need to send it tomorrow.

Keep a copy of all the pages and anything you send to them.

Thank you very much for your contribution,it's really not being easy emotional in the last couple of weeks dealing with this....You can imagine checking my mail box (early in the morning, afternoon and sometimes late at night in anticipation for the letter)..
Your contribution have sort brought some relief to me emotionally..
I will be waiting for other members contributions before sending it or do you think Monday Morning will be too late just to be on the
safe side..

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you very much for your contribution,it's really not being easy emotional in the last couple of weeks dealing with this....You can imagine checking my mail box (early in the morning, afternoon and sometimes late at night in anticipation for the letter)..
Your contribution have sort brought some relief to me emotionally..
I will be waiting for other members contributions before sending it or do you think Monday Morning will be too late just to be on the
safe side..

Hope it helps - re sending it you have 14 days from the date on the letter for them to get it back - but the date on the letter is not showing I don't think, so when is the deadline they have to have it back by?

Of course do not leave it until the last minute to send it (and if you have to use something like guaranteed next day postal delivery that will cost you more to post than 1st class signed for service)

 

[fizzle08]

Hope it helps - re sending it you have 14 days from the date on the letter for them to get it back - but the date on the letter is not showing I don't think, so when is the deadline they have to have it back by?

Of course do not leave it until the last minute to send it (and if you have to use something like guaranteed next day postal delivery that will cost you more to post than 1st class signed for service)

Letter was dated 30th july

 

[WesternLancer]

Letter was dated 30th july

So if you wait till Monday to post it I think you would have to pay for next day delivery

 

[Crithylum]

I tapped in at Whitechapel and also tapped in at finsbury park but due to service delay on train network

Did you tap out before tapping back in at Finsbury Park? Was it a freestanding validator or at a gateline that you tapped your card?
If you tapped at Finsbury Park, it is a possibility that you closed your Oyster journey, so did not have a valid ticket from Finsbury Park to Potters Bar.

 

[WesternLancer]

Did you tap out before tapping back in at Finsbury Park? Was it a freestanding validator or at a gateline that you tapped your card?
If you tapped at Finsbury Park, it is a possibility that you closed your Oyster journey, so did not have a valid ticket from Finsbury Park to Potters Bar.

Indeed. Seems likely this is what happened.

Oyster card travel record from registering it would thus help. But op says the inspector checked that. So my view is it makes no difference to what action the op should take in terms of response to the letter they have received.

 

[fizzle08]

Good Afternoon House..
Please I will like to know how long it takes to get a reply from GTR after posting. Response letter (intention to prosecute)

 

[Hadders]

it typically takes a few week, normally 3-4. They deal with loads of cases at a time and it's peak holiday season at the moment.

 

[fizzle08]

Ok ..Will keep my heart crossed for a positive response....

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Aug 2024 ==

Thank you @Hadders ,I have just been so Disturbed in the last 2Month since the incident

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Sep 2024 ==

Good Evening ALL
I want to use this medium to appreciate the brains behind this wonderful forum and also to appreciate the members that contributed to this thread . With a big relieved in my heart, I got mail from GTR with an out of court settlement of 67.70pounds which includes the outstanding fare due...
Thank you all once again...

 

[WesternLancer]

Ok ..Will keep my heart crossed for a positive response....

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Aug 2024 ==

Thank you @Hadders ,I have just been so Disturbed in the last 2Month since the incident

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Sep 2024 ==

Good Evening ALL
I want to use this medium to appreciate the brains behind this wonderful forum and also to appreciate the members that contributed to this thread . With a big relieved in my heart, I got mail from GTR with an out of court settlement of 67.70pounds which includes the outstanding fare due...
Thank you all once again...

Sounds like good news!