Intention to Prosecute

[AJ11]

Intention to Prosecute

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Hi all,

I’d really appreciate your help with this matter.


I recently received a letter from Govia Thameslink stating their intention to prosecute after I was caught short-faring. The letter only mentions the specific incident on the day I was caught, but this isn’t my first time doing it. I deeply regret my actions, and since being caught, I have never engaged in such behavior again.

The letter states that I should be honest and factual in my reply. Should I disclose my past instances of short-faring, even though they were not mentioned in the letter?

I’d appreciate any advice on how to proceed.

 

[island]

Should I disclose my past instances of short-faring, even though they were not mentioned in the letter?

No.

 

[notmyrealname]

Could you show us the letter please, with your person details and the reference number obsured? Then people will be able to advise further.

 

[AJ11]

Here's the letter sent to me

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2025 ==

I've looked through the forum on how to make an appeal, i'd be happy if you could look through this

Dear Sir/Madam,

Reference Number: XXXXXX

I am writing in response to your Notice of Intention to Prosecute letter dated 29th January 2025. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to provide a response.

On Thursday, 7th November 2024, at 10:34, my details were taken by a Revenue Protection Inspector at Letchworth Garden City Station after I was unable to produce a valid ticket for my journey. I was caught short-ticketing at Letchworth Garden City, having boarded at London Bridge and purchasing a ticket for Stevenage to Cambridge while already on the train.

I take full responsibility for this mistake and acknowledge that there is no excuse for my actions. I now fully understand the significant financial impact that fare evasion has on the rail industry, and I deeply regret my actions. I am truly sorry for the negative effect this has had on the rail network, its hardworking staff, and the honest passengers who adhere to ticketing rules. I sincerely assure you that I will never repeat this offense and will always ensure that I pay the correct fare going forward.

I would be extremely grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter without court proceedings. I am willing to cover any administrative costs incurred during this investigation, as well as any fines or outstanding fares you deem appropriate.

Once again, I sincerely apologize for my wrongdoing and for any inconvenience this has caused. I deeply regret my actions and appreciate your consideration in resolving this matter fairly.

Yours faithfully,
XXXXXX

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2025 ==

I need help please ASAP

 

[Titfield]

Here's the letter sent to me

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2025 ==

I've looked through the forum on how to make an appeal, i'd be happy if you could look through this

Dear Sir/Madam,

Reference Number: XXXXXX

I am writing in response to your Notice of Intention to Prosecute letter dated 29th January 2025. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to provide a response.

On Thursday, 7th November 2024, at 10:34, my details were taken by a Revenue Protection Inspector at Letchworth Garden City Station after I was unable to produce a valid ticket for my journey. I was caught short-ticketing at Letchworth Garden City, having boarded at London Bridge and purchasing a ticket for Stevenage to Cambridge while already on the train.

I take full responsibility for this mistake error of judgement and acknowledge that there is no excuse for my actions. I now fully understand the significant financial impact that fare evasion has on the rail industry, and I deeply regret my actions. I am truly sorry for the negative effect this has had on the rail network, its hardworking staff, and the honest passengers who adhere to ticketing rules. I sincerely assure you that I will never repeat this offense behaviour and will always ensure that I pay the correct fare going forward.

I would be extremely grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter without court proceedings. I am willing to cover any pay the outstanding fare together with the administrative costs incurred during this investigation, as well as any fines or outstanding fares you deem appropriate.

Once again, I sincerely apologise for my wrongdoing and for any inconvenience this has caused. I deeply regret my actions and appreciate your consideration of my asking to resolve this matter out of court.

Yours faithfully,
XXXXXX

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2025 ==

I need help please ASAP

Please see suggested changes either struck through or bolded. Please make sure you use British English spellings.

 

[AJ11]

Thank you for your response @Titfield, I really appreciate
This is the updated version below

Dear Sir/Madam,

Reference Number: XXXXXX

I am writing in response to your Notice of Intention to Prosecute letter dated 29th January 2025. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to provide a response.

On Thursday, 7th November 2024, at 10:34, my details were taken by a Revenue Protection Inspector at Letchworth Garden City Station after I was unable to produce a valid ticket for my journey. I was caught short-ticketing at Letchworth Garden City, having boarded at London Bridge and purchasing a ticket for Stevenage to Cambridge while already on the train.

I take full responsibility for this error of judgement and acknowledge that there is no excuse for my actions. I now fully understand the significant financial impact that fare evasion has on the rail industry, and I deeply regret my actions. I assure you that I will never repeat this behaviour and will always ensure that I pay the correct fare going forward.

I would be extremely grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter without court proceedings. I am willing to pay the outstanding fare together with any administrative costs incurred during this investigation.

Once again, I sincerely apologise for my wrongdoing. I deeply regret my actions and appreciate your consideration in allowing me to resolve this matter out of court.

Yours faithfully,
XXXXX

Could you help me look through the highlighted paragraph?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2025 ==

No.

Thanks for the response

 

[Titfield]

I think it is good to go. I am assuming that the facts in the highlighted paragraph are correct.

 

[AJ11]

I think it is good to go. I am assuming that the facts in the highlighted paragraph are correct.

Is it necessary to mention that I boarded a Southeastern Railway service from Mottingham to London Bridge before taking the Thameslink service to Cambridge?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2025 ==

I did tap in my card for that btw

 

[Titfield]

Is it necessary to mention that I boarded a Southeastern Railway service from Mottingham to London Bridge before taking the Thameslink service to Cambridge?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2025 ==

I did tap in my card for that btw

I dont think so. To me it just adds complexity - you want the recipient to think "ok apologises, shows contrition, will always pay in the future", and then sends back an offer of an out of court settlement".

 

[furlong]

Reading that letter, I ask myself "How did you get into London Bridge station?" - you're not telling them the full story, are you? Did you tap in and incur a charge for an incomplete journey? Or did you really make a longer unpaid-for journey that you still haven't declared?

 

[AJ11]

I dont think so. To me it just adds complexity - you want the recipient to think "ok apologises, shows contrition, will always pay in the future", and then sends back an offer of an out of court settlement".

Alright

Thank you so much

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2025 ==

Reading that letter, I ask myself "How did you get into London Bridge station?" - you're not telling them the full story, are you? Did you tap in and incur a charge for an incomplete journey? Or did you really make a longer unpaid-for journey that you still haven't declared?

I did board a train from Mottingham to London Bridge, I don't need barriers to board the Thameslink Service to Cambridge

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2025 ==

I dont think so. To me it just adds complexity - you want the recipient to think "ok apologises, shows contrition, will always pay in the future", and then sends back an offer of an out of court settlement".

One last question: Should I type my response, print it out, and attach it to the letter, or write it by hand on the back of the letter?

 

[Titfield]

Alright

Thank you so much

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2025 ==


I did board a train from Mottingham to London Bridge, I don't need barriers to board the Thameslink Service to Cambridge

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2025 ==


One last question: Should I type my response, print it out, and attach it to the letter, or write it by hand on the back of the letter?

Better to type and attach making sure that you have reference number on the response and that on the back of the letter you have been sent, make sure it says "please see attached response".

 

[Haywain]

I did board a train from Mottingham to London Bridge, I don't need barriers to board the Thameslink Service to Cambridge

Was that without a ticket? As starting at London Bridge without a scanned ticket is difficult to believe I tend to think you should state where you started.

 

[Hadders]

You aren't required to incriminate yourself and as you've only been asked about the incident on the day you were caught it is fine to only mention that incident in your reply. Do be aware that GTR may research your onine ticket purchasing history and if this reveals that you have short fared on a frequent basis then the might contact you in the future to ask you about this and seek recompense.

 

[furlong]

Was that without a ticket? As starting at London Bridge without a scanned ticket is difficult to believe I tend to think you should state where you started.

That's my view. If you tapped in at Mottingham as you say, where did you tap out? Get the journey record from the TfL website or app and include it to show the first part of the journey was paid for. If you tapped in but not out, then things get a lot more interesting as you might have had a valid ticket for more of your journey than you realised (with the potential for a slightly lower settlement). Did you even tap in with a valid zonal season ticket?

 

[AJ11]

That's my view. If you tapped in at Mottingham as you say, where did you tap out? Get the journey record from the TfL website or app and include it to show the first part of the journey was paid for. If you tapped in but not out, then things get a lot more interesting as you might have had a valid ticket for more of your journey than you realised (with the potential for a slightly lower settlement). Did you even tap in with a valid zonal season ticket?

Thanks for the response. I've gone through my payment card history, and I didn't tap in on that day. The tickets i bought was a return tickets, hope it doesn't make things complicated?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Feb 2025 ==

Was that without a ticket? As starting at London Bridge without a scanned ticket is difficult to believe I tend to think you should state where you started.

Yes, but the mottigham train to London Bridge is a southerneastern, Is SE under GTR as well?

 

[Haywain]

The tickets i bought was a return tickets,

Returns tickets from where to where?

 

[AJ11]

Returns tickets from where to where?

I bought a return Tickets from Stevenage to Cambridge

 

[Haywain]

Yes, but the mottigham train to London Bridge is a southerneastern, Is SE under GTR as well?

Train companies who catch fare dodgers will seek to recover unpaid fares for all train journeys regardless of who operates the trains.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Feb 2025 ==

I bought a return Tickets from Stevenage to Cambridge

So nothing from Mottingham? My opinion is that you should state that you started your journey there.

 

[AJ11]

When i was caught, i was told to not use that ticket to return back, so i bought a tickets from Cambridge to Finsbury park, then i took a Bus to home

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Feb 2025 ==

Train companies who catch fare dodgers will seek to recover unpaid fares for all train journeys regardless of who operates the trains.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Feb 2025 ==


So nothing from Mottingham? My opinion is that you should state that you started your journey there.

How should I draft my response? Should I explain that I took a train from Mottingham to London Bridge, then traveled from London Bridge to Cambridge while holding a Stevenage to Cambridge ticket?

 

[Titfield]

On reflection, and having considered the views of other forum members, I think you should declare that you travelled from Mottingham. I presume that Mottingham is unbarriered hence you travelled without a ticket. (Otherwise how did you access the platform).

On Thursday, 7th November 2024, at 10:34, my details were taken by a Revenue Protection Inspector at Letchworth Garden City Station after I was unable to produce a valid ticket for my journey. I was caught short-ticketing at Letchworth Garden City, having travelled from Mottingham to London Bridge without a ticket and then boarded at London Bridge and purchasing a ticket for Stevenage to Cambridge while already on the train.

Please see additional wording in bold.

 

[AJ11]

On reflection, and having considered the views of other forum members, I think you should declare that you travelled from Mottingham. I presume that Mottingham is unbarriered hence you travelled without a ticket. (Otherwise how did you access the platform).


Please see additional wording in bold.

Thanks for your support
This is the refined version below

Dear Sir/Madam,

Reference Number: XXXXXX

I am writing in response to your Notice of Intention to Prosecute letter dated 29th January 2025. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to provide a response.

On Thursday, 7th November 2024, at 10:34, my details were taken by a Revenue Protection Inspector at Letchworth Garden City Station after I was unable to produce a valid ticket for my journey. I regretfully admit to short-ticketing, having traveled from Mottingham to London Bridge without a ticket. From London Bridge, I then boarded a Thameslink service to Cambridge and, while already on the train, purchased a ticket from Stevenage to Cambridge.

I take full responsibility for this error of judgement and acknowledge that there is no excuse for my actions. I now fully understand the significant financial impact that fare evasion has on the rail industry, and I deeply regret my actions. I assure you that I will never repeat this behaviour and will always ensure that I pay the correct fare going forward.

I would be extremely grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter without court proceedings. I am willing to pay the outstanding fare together with any administrative costs incurred during this investigation.

Once again, I sincerely apologise for my wrongdoing. I deeply regret my actions and appreciate your consideration in allowing me to resolve this matter out of court.

Yours faithfully,
XXXXX

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Feb 2025 ==

Thanks for your support
This is the refined version below

Dear Sir/Madam,

Reference Number: XXXXXX

I am writing in response to your Notice of Intention to Prosecute letter dated 29th January 2025. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to provide a response.

On Thursday, 7th November 2024, at 10:34, my details were taken by a Revenue Protection Inspector at Letchworth Garden City Station after I was unable to produce a valid ticket for my journey. I regretfully admit to short-ticketing, having traveled from Mottingham to London Bridge without a ticket. From London Bridge, I then boarded a Thameslink service to Cambridge and, while already on the train, purchased a ticket from Stevenage to Cambridge.

I take full responsibility for this error of judgement and acknowledge that there is no excuse for my actions. I now fully understand the significant financial impact that fare evasion has on the rail industry, and I deeply regret my actions. I assure you that I will never repeat this behaviour and will always ensure that I pay the correct fare going forward.

I would be extremely grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter without court proceedings. I am willing to pay the outstanding fare together with any administrative costs incurred during this investigation.

Once again, I sincerely apologise for my wrongdoing. I deeply regret my actions and appreciate your consideration in allowing me to resolve this matter out of court.

Yours faithfully,
XXXX

Here's the letter sent to me

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2025 ==

I've looked through the forum on how to make an appeal, i'd be happy if you could look through this

Dear Sir/Madam,

Reference Number: XXXXXX

I am writing in response to your Notice of Intention to Prosecute letter dated 29th January 2025. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to provide a response.

On Thursday, 7th November 2024, at 10:34, my details were taken by a Revenue Protection Inspector at Letchworth Garden City Station after I was unable to produce a valid ticket for my journey. I was caught short-ticketing at Letchworth Garden City, having boarded at London Bridge and purchasing a ticket for Stevenage to Cambridge while already on the train.

I take full responsibility for this mistake and acknowledge that there is no excuse for my actions. I now fully understand the significant financial impact that fare evasion has on the rail industry, and I deeply regret my actions. I am truly sorry for the negative effect this has had on the rail network, its hardworking staff, and the honest passengers who adhere to ticketing rules. I sincerely assure you that I will never repeat this offense and will always ensure that I pay the correct fare going forward.

I would be extremely grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter without court proceedings. I am willing to cover any administrative costs incurred during this investigation, as well as any fines or outstanding fares you deem appropriate.

Once again, I sincerely apologize for my wrongdoing and for any inconvenience this has caused. I deeply regret my actions and appreciate your consideration in resolving this matter fairly.

Yours faithfully,
XXXXXX

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2025 ==

I need help please ASAP

@Titfield Could you look through this pls, I"ll be sending my letter tomorrow

 

[Titfield]

Yes I think this is good to go as it deals with all the issues as well as being suitably apologetic and demonstrating your intent to comply going forward.

 

[furlong]

And will they believe Mottingham? Is it near the address they are using to write to you? If not, is that address anywhere else on the route, or further away, or somewhere else entirely etc? Or does your record of taps show Mottingham a lot if they were to challenge you?

(And assuming you did not have a valid zones 1-4 travelcard which I thought I saw mentioned at one point. If you did, the letter is wrong even if you didn't tap in.)

 

[jumble]

Thank you for your response @Titfield, I really appreciate
This is the updated version below

Dear Sir/Madam,

Reference Number: XXXXXX

I am writing in response to your Notice of Intention to Prosecute letter dated 29th January 2025. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to provide a response.

On Thursday, 7th November 2024, at 10:34, my details were taken by a Revenue Protection Inspector at Letchworth Garden City Station after I was unable to produce a valid ticket for my journey. I was caught short-ticketing at Letchworth Garden City, having boarded at London Bridge and purchasing a ticket for Stevenage to Cambridge while already on the train.

I take full responsibility for this error of judgement and acknowledge that there is no excuse for my actions. I now fully understand the significant financial impact that fare evasion has on the rail industry, and I deeply regret my actions. I assure you that I will never repeat this behaviour and will always ensure that I pay the correct fare going forward.

I would be extremely grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter without court proceedings. I am willing to pay the outstanding fare together with any administrative costs incurred during this investigation.

Once again, I sincerely apologise for my wrongdoing. I deeply regret my actions and appreciate your consideration in allowing me to resolve this matter out of court.

Yours faithfully,
XXXXX

Could you help me look through the highlighted paragraph?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2025 ==


Thanks for the response

So you ask earlier if you should confess to previous misdemenours and then provide enough information ref the actual stop for Govia to probably easily identify you?
This will probably makes no difference here but might prompt one to consider being more careful in future

 

[AJ11]

And will they believe Mottingham? Is it near the address they are using to write to you? If not, is that address anywhere else on the route, or further away, or somewhere else entirely etc? Or does your record of taps show Mottingham a lot if they were to challenge you?

(And assuming you did not have a valid zones 1-4 travelcard which I thought I saw mentioned at one point. If you did, the letter is wrong even if you didn't tap in.

Mottingham is close to my address, as is the other nearby station. Both stations are about 10–15 minutes away. My records will likely show more activity at the other station, but I do tap in at Mottingham as well.

I don’t have a Zones 1–4 travelcard. I use my credit card and sometimes my Oyster card for travel.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Feb 2025 ==

Hi everyone, I sent my letter to GTR and tracked it, and i confirmed that it was delivered. However, the issue is that it was delivered along with other items. How can I be sure that the prosecution department received my letter, given that I only had their address on it? Also, how long does it usually take to receive a response from them?

 

[AJ11]

Hi everyone, I received an out-of-court settlement yesterday! Thank you all so much for your guidance. @Titfield, I really appreciate your help!

 

[Titfield]

Hi everyone, I received an out-of-court settlement yesterday! Thank you all so much for your guidance. @Titfield, I really appreciate your help!

Thats good news. Are you willing to advise what the settlement was? It helps the forum members to give up to date guidance?

 

[Hadders]

Thanks for letting us know. I'm pleased you managed to obtain a satisfactory outcome.

 

[AJ11]

Thats good news. Are you willing to advise what the settlement was? It helps the forum members to give up to date guidance?

An out of court settlement 0f £90.90

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Feb 2025 ==

Thanks for letting us know. I'm pleased you managed to obtain a satisfactory outcome.

All thanks to y'all help, I appreciate