Letter advice - Greater Anglia short faring

[essexcommuter1]

Hi all, looking for some advice if possible. To cut the story short I purchased return tickets from Harlow town to London, short faring basically rather than buying from my home station of Stansted Mountfitchet. I have just recieved the letter inviting me to comment for the opportunity to settle. I’ve worked out that I have purchased the Harlow to London return tickets a total of 38 times over the last few months. I know this incredibly stupid and obviously I am ashamed and very keen to settle this out of court. I’ve seen previous posts advising how to set out a letter- I’m wondering whether I need to mention that I have done this return journey 38 times or whether I just acknowledge the mistake on the day? I’m assuming they will look through my travel history as the tickets were purchased on train line. Any advice for the letter would be appreciated!

 

[John R]

Greater Anglia are normally very good at offering a settlement, which is good news. Our normal advice is only to respond to the question asked, and so if it is specifically in respect of the one journey then cover only that in your reply. However, do not say anything which is untrue, such as "this was the first time" or similar. If they come back and say we want to discuss other occasions then there will still be a very high likelihood of being offered a settlement - it's just that it will then be for a much greater amount!

 

[essexcommuter1]

Thank you- at the time the inspector took my phone and looked through my train line account and saw I had done this a few times. Is it still right not to comment on other occasions even though he may have made a note of this?

 

[John R]

If you upload the letter but redact anything that will identify you or the case, we can give a better view on whether to mention other instances.

 

[essexcommuter1]

Letter attached!

 

[Southern Beau]

I believe there was another Stansted Mountfitchet case on here a few days ago.
Having used this station many times, it’s rare to see ticket blockades however good to see that when they are actioned, they do catch fare evaders.

 

[Titfield]

It is worth considering some advice @Hadders recently posted re multiple fare evasion:

Online ticket sales and ticket scan data makes it easier for train companies to investigate purchases they believe look suspicious. What normally happens is that someone gets caught for a ticketing irregularity, their details are taken and an audit of their online ticket purchasing account takes place. There are then two outcomes:

1. Co-operate with the train company and they will normally offer an out of court settlement costing the full value of the fares avoided plus an admin fee
2. The train company prosecutes for the single offence on the day you were caught

We have seen some cases where train companies have contacted people without being caught, purely on the basis of the data alone. They threaten all sorts of action up a prosecution for fraud. Personally speaking, it would probably be difficult for a train company to prosecute for a ticketing irregularity without catching the person red handed or having some other sort of corroborating evidence such a CCTV or an undercover operation noting a persons movements etc. Cases like this that we have seen on here generally end up getting settled out of court because the people don't want to face the prospect of a criminal record.

There is debate on this forum about whether to fess up or not to all occasions - with some advancing the view that as the TOC would not be able to prove the wrongdoing on occasions when the OP had not been physically caught, the OP should not incriminate themselves. My personal view is that it is better to "fess up" and get it all settled (hopefully by out of court settlement) than not fess up and run the risk of the Train Operating Company proceeding to court where the penalty is likely to be higher and there is the downside of a criminal record. There has also been debate as to the real long term effect of a criminal record with some advancing the point that except in regulated professions the effect is likely to be negligible but again my view is that there is some risk that it could one day come back and "bite you on the bum" at the most inopportune moment or inconvenient way.

 

[greyman42]

Thank you- at the time the inspector took my phone and looked through my train line account and saw I had done this a few times. Is it still right not to comment on other occasions even though he may have made a note of this?

What do you mean by "the inspector took my phone"?

 

[essexcommuter1]

He took my phone out of my hand and looked through my purchase and Trainline history

 

[Hadders]

Not that it matters now, but railway staff have no right to take passengers phones and search through an app. They can ask to look at the phone, but all a passenger is legally required to do is give their name and address and show the ticket for the journey they are making at the time.

I'm confident that Greater Anglia will audit your ticket purchasing history and will quickly realise what you've been up to. They've only asked you about the single incident ont he day you were caught, and there is no requirement to incriminate yourself. That said, I would expect them to contact you about the other occasions in due course so the OP will need to think about whether it's just better to be 'up front' about what they've been up to when they reply.

 

[essexcommuter1]

I did think it was strange at the time but thank you for the advice. I have replied to the letter today with advice that’s been given out on the forum previously, stating I apologise and am happy to cover what ever costs GA thinks is appropriate. Hopefully they allow me to settle with a fine!

 

[ben27]

I believe there was another Stansted Mountfitchet case on here a few days ago.
Having used this station many times, it’s rare to see ticket blockades however good to see that when they are actioned, they do catch fare evaders.

Yeah that was me looks like we got stopped on the same day by ticket people standing at the exit, I'll update this thread if I get an email back before given that I had a very similar situation with previous occasions on my trainline account.

 

[essexcommuter1]

I’ve just had an update offering a settlement, hoping the same for you!

 

[ben27]

Ah brilliant yeah hopefully ill get the same