Chiltern letter - Intent to prosecute

[anewforumuser]

My family member received an intent to prosecute letter from Chiltern Railways. I have drafted a reply and would appreciate any comments before it is sent. This was a one off transgression yet the letter intimated they have identified other instances, which can not be the case, is it ok to ignore that part of their letter? Here is the draft text:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Ref:

I am replying in response to the above letter, dated 16th August.

I sincerely apologise for failing to buy a ticket for my complete journey to Marylebone. This is the first and only time I have not bought the correct ticket. I fully appreciate my lapse of judgement and can assure you that it has not and will not happen again.

I realised I had forgotten to buy a ticket as I was half way through the journey from Denham Golf Club to Marylebone and foolishly bought a ticket only from Wembley Park. On arrival the inspector quite rightly challenged my purchase and after initially panicking, I admitted starting my journey a few stops earlier.

I realise my action was wrong and does a disservice to Chiltern Railways and other passengers. I have learnt from my mistake and can assure you I will never retreat it.

I am anxious to settle this issue out of court and I am of course willing pay any outstanding fare and associated costs or compensation you deem appropriate.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours Faithfully etc.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

The letter is on the right lines but needs some amendments.

This is the first and only time I have not bought the correct ticket.

Be absolutely certain this the case. Chiltern will have audited your online ticketing account so they will know if there are regular purchases of tickets to/from Wembley Stadium.

I realised I had forgotten to buy a ticket as I was half way through the journey from Denham Golf Club to Marylebone

Are you really sure you'd forgotten to buy a ticket? Purchasing tickets from Wembley Stadium is often used by people who try to avoid paying for the full length of their journey. We see more issues in this section of the forum involving tickets to/from Wembley Stadium than from any other station anywhere in the country.

Wembley Park

It's Wembley Stadium station. Wembley Park station is nearby but it isn't served by Chiltern (although their trains pass through without stopping!)

I will never retreat it.

repeat it.

I am anxious to settle this issue out of court and I am of course willing pay any outstanding fare and associated costs or compensation you deem appropriate.

Chiltern are entitled to prosecute you if they want to. It's better to ay something like 'I wondered if it might be possible to settle this case without going to court. I am prepared to pay the outstanding fares and your administrative costs in dealing with this issue'.

I'd give it a couple of days before replying as other forum members might have further suggestions.

 

[anewforumuser]

Hadders, thank you so much for speedy reply your comments and corrections, which we shall make.
Yes, Stadium not Park, sorry for confusion.
Yes, I have looked at their Trainline app screen going back many weeks, it is Denham Golf Club to Marylebone every time. Only one other Wembley, which was to a gig.
And thank you for the other suggested wording, it is much appreciated.

We'll wait for any other feedback before sending.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@anewforumuser. Welcome to the forum. If this was indeed a one-off occasion, and Chiltern are minded to offer you/your family member an 'out of court settlement' (this is entirely their choice), then you/they can expect to have to pay the £10.20 Anytime Day Single fare due for the journey made from Denham Golf Club to London Marylebone, plus maybe a three figure sum to cover Chiltern's investigation and admin costs.

 

[anewforumuser]

Thank you Mcr Warrior. It was a one off. When the reply is sent, do you think it would be helpful to attach screen shots of the Train Line app showing all the other journeys / tickets they bought ?

 

[Gloster]

We haven’t seen the original letter. Are you sure that Chiltern haven’t found incidences of other ticketing errors, such as travelling at peak times with off-peak tickets, railcard errors, etc?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

We haven’t seen the original letter.

@anewforumuser. Are you able to upload a copy of the letter that you've received? Please be sure to obscure or cover up your name, address and case reference number.

 

[anewforumuser]

Here is the letter.

 

[30907]

It's a standard letter, and errors can happen, but I would be surprised if Chiltern had sent it without something to go on.

Short-faring is only one form of evasion. Others are: buying offpeak tickets but using them on earlier trains; using discounted tickets similarly before they are valid; refunding tickets that have been used but not been scanned.....

If you are certain that your record is clean you could add something like "I have examined my records and as far as I can see all the journeys I have been made with the correct tickets. Please could you give further details of the tickets you believe to be incorrect."

Don't just ignore that element in the letter - but obviously don't admit to things you haven't done

 

[Haywain]

Others are: buying offpeak tickets but using them on earlier trains; using discounted tickets similarly before they are valid; refunding tickets that have been used but not been scanned.....

Using a railcard discount without holding such a railcard...

 

[SuspectUsual]

Thank you Mcr Warrior. It was a one off. When the reply is sent, do you think it would be helpful to attach screen shots of the Train Line app showing all the other journeys / tickets they bought ?

I wouldn’t do it. They already have access to all this data

 

[CyrusWuff]

Using a railcard discount without holding such a railcard...

Adults using Child tickets, somehow apparently having a Jobcentre Plus discount card for nine months (maximum is three), buying a short ticket that needs to be collected and collecting it from your actual origin...It's an almost endless list.

 

[anewforumuser]

Thank you everyone for your advice. We have re-checked the ticket records and as expected, there are no anomalies that we can see. And as we knew, no other journeys from Wembley Stadium. We have amended the letter to address their "other possible misuses" comment. The new text is below in case anyone has any comments before sending it.? Thanks again.

Dear Sir/Madam,


Ref:


I am replying in response to the above letter, dated xxxx


I want to sincerely apologise for failing to buy a ticket for the complete journey to Marylebone on xxx I fully accept that what I did was wrong and I can assure you that it has not and will not happen again.


I realised I had forgotten to buy a ticket as I was half way through the journey from Denham Golf Club to Marylebone and foolishly bought a ticket only from Wembley Stadium. On arrival the inspector quite rightly challenged my purchase and after initially panicking, I admitted starting my journey a few stops earlier.


I realise my action does a disservice to Chiltern Railways and other passengers. I have learnt from my mistake and can assure you I will never repeat it.


Your letter refers to other possible issues with my ticket record. I have reviewed my Trainline account and to the best of my knowledge I can see no anomalies. I do shift-work with start times varying day to day, between 7am and 1pm, so each day I buy my tickets for the specific trains to get me to Marylebone on time. The shift patten results in a mixture of peak and off peak tickets being required. In addition to my daily commute there are a small number of ad-hoc journeys. Please let me know if I can provide you with any more information.


I apologise again for my wrongdoing and I wondered if it might be possible to settle this case without going to court. I would of course expect to pay the outstanding fares and your administrative costs in dealing with this issue.


I look forward to hearing from you.


Yours Faithfully

 

[John R]

I think that’s a very well put together letter.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The shift patten results in a mixture of peak and off peak tickets being required.

= pattern?

 

[anewforumuser]

The letter above has now been sent. We will report back on any progress.