Hi there,
Just as some context last year I used this site for advice for when I was caught shorting fares on the trainline app. Lasy year or maybe late 2023 i had been caught for shorting multiple fares (buying two tickets to save money). I have had the letter and was given a out of court settlement however I was very lucky they said to not go to court as I had been caught 3 times doing this in a period of a month but since i was honest and admitted to everything in my talk to Thameslink prosecution they gave me a out of court settlement which was roughly a £1000. This was a train journey from hitchin to city thameslink.
Since then, I have had learnt my lesson and have started buying the full ticket and have had no issues since. However, for the same train journey recently when the train was busy, I sat in first class while having bought a standard ticket as to my knowledge at the time first class is declassified. However, I was not aware that it is only for the rear end first class. So when I sat down on my train, I immediately get my ticket checked by a inspector when I had just sat down. She scanned my ticket and told me she will need my details and i explained to her what I knew about first class being declassified and she informed me it was the other end. I told her I didn't know this and would happily move into the normal section for standard ticket holders as it was a honest mistake. She said she would have to take me details down. Due to anger and fear of this being a potential second offence I had left the train and got a taxi home, and I did not give them my details and didn't use return ticket at all. What does this mean for me will I still be able to get a out of court settlement as they scanned my trainline ticket and going to assume they can still link it back to me and still prosecute me or fine me.
What will this mean for me as it is a second time being caught by Thameslink however this was a genuine mistake and if I was lucky on my previous offence to not go court does this mean this time I will if they track it back to me if they can. Also to help my case but run the risk of it not being caught out am I better of contacting Thameslink and giving them my details so it looks good for me.
Any help whatsoever will be appreciated.
Just as some context last year I used this site for advice for when I was caught shorting fares on the trainline app. Lasy year or maybe late 2023 i had been caught for shorting multiple fares (buying two tickets to save money). I have had the letter and was given a out of court settlement however I was very lucky they said to not go to court as I had been caught 3 times doing this in a period of a month but since i was honest and admitted to everything in my talk to Thameslink prosecution they gave me a out of court settlement which was roughly a £1000. This was a train journey from hitchin to city thameslink.
Since then, I have had learnt my lesson and have started buying the full ticket and have had no issues since. However, for the same train journey recently when the train was busy, I sat in first class while having bought a standard ticket as to my knowledge at the time first class is declassified. However, I was not aware that it is only for the rear end first class. So when I sat down on my train, I immediately get my ticket checked by a inspector when I had just sat down. She scanned my ticket and told me she will need my details and i explained to her what I knew about first class being declassified and she informed me it was the other end. I told her I didn't know this and would happily move into the normal section for standard ticket holders as it was a honest mistake. She said she would have to take me details down. Due to anger and fear of this being a potential second offence I had left the train and got a taxi home, and I did not give them my details and didn't use return ticket at all. What does this mean for me will I still be able to get a out of court settlement as they scanned my trainline ticket and going to assume they can still link it back to me and still prosecute me or fine me.
What will this mean for me as it is a second time being caught by Thameslink however this was a genuine mistake and if I was lucky on my previous offence to not go court does this mean this time I will if they track it back to me if they can. Also to help my case but run the risk of it not being caught out am I better of contacting Thameslink and giving them my details so it looks good for me.
Any help whatsoever will be appreciated.
