GTR Notice of Intent to Prosecute

[GloRoy]

Hello!

I have received a letter from GTR notifying me of their intent to prosecute me for travelling without a valid ticket. I bought a shorter ticket from East Croydon to Gatwick Airport although I should have bought one from London Bridge. I was caught by a Revenue Protection Officer at Gatwick Airport. I admitted to the offence when I was caught. I have no excuse and feel very silly for doing it since I could now end up with a criminal record.

I am very eager to settle the matter out of court. I want to respond to the letter with an apology and ask them to consider letting me pay the fare and any other additional costs but I am worried because the letter says I was stopped at London Bridge Station when I was actually stopped at Gatwick. I'm concerned that my account won't match with theirs.

I have short ticketed before but on random occasions so I wouldn't be able to correctly identify times when I have done it in the past. Should I inform them of this as well? The threat of prosecution has rattled me through my bones I wont even think about doing it again.

I was was wondering if anyone had any advice on the best ways to go about responding to them.

Any help is appreciated and welcomed.
Thank you

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

I would send a short, concide reply that mentions:

- That you are sorry for what has happened
- What you have learned from the incident
- That you are keen to settle the matter without the need for court action
- Offer to pay the outstanding fare and the train company's administrative costs in dealing with the matter

I don't think think the letter mentioning London Bridge rather than Gatwick Airport is too significant. I wouldn't mention previous incidents - you aren't required to incriminate yourself although it is possible that GTR might contact you at some point in the future about other journeys you've made with invalid tickets.

GTR will almost certainly offer you an out of court settlement. Expect to have to pay the fare avoided at the full Anytime rate with no credit given for the invalid ticket you did purchase. In addition you will have to pay an admin fee, typically £150.

If you post a draft of your reply in this thead forum members will be happy to proof read it for you.

 

[GloRoy]

Thank you so much for your help. I've drafted a response. If anyone is willing to proof read or offer further guidance I'd greatly appreciate it !!

Dear Fare Evasion Manager,

I am writing to take accountability for the incident that occurred on 24th Oct 2024 when I was travelling without a valid ticket. I admit to buying a ticket from East Croydon to Gatwick Airport when my journey was from London Bridge.

I understand the severity of this situation and how actions like mine can contribute to the financial strain that railway companies like Govia Thameslink Railway face. There is no excuse for my behaviour and I am deeply sorry for my error of judgement. I regret it and I will never do it again.

I would be very grateful if you’d consider allowing me to settle this matter out of court. I am prepared to pay the cost of the fare as well as any additional administrative costs that may have arisen from dealing with this matter.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kind Regards,

 

[Hadders]

I think this is fine to send and I would be very surprised if they don't offer you an out of court settlement. Please do let us know how you get on.

 

[GloRoy]

Hello! Does anyone know how long GTR takes to get back to you? I sent the letter on the 18th January and I still haven't heard back from them. I know they received it because I used recorded delivery. I'm really worried and wondering if there is anything I should do?

Thank you!

 

[WesternLancer]

Hello! Does anyone know how long GTR takes to get back to you? I sent the letter on the 18th January and I still haven't heard back from them. I know they received it because I used recorded delivery. I'm really worried and wondering if there is anything I should do?

Thank you!

Might take 6 weeks or so. You can sometimes work it out from other threads if people update as things progress. You are correct to keep an eye on it.

 

[GloRoy]

It has now been 7 weeks since I initially responded to GTR. I've looked on other threads and others who sent their letters more recently have heard back from them within 2-4 weeks. I'm concerned that this may be because of an error in the original letter they sent me which stated that I was stopped by an officer at London Bridge when I was in fact stopped at Gatwick Airport. Is there anything at all that I can do or or am I at their mercy until I hear back?

 

[WesternLancer]

It has now been 7 weeks since I initially responded to GTR. I've looked on other threads and others who sent their letters more recently have heard back from them within 2-4 weeks. I'm concerned that this may be because of an error in the original letter they sent me which stated that I was stopped by an officer at London Bridge when I was in fact stopped at Gatwick Airport. Is there anything at all that I can do or or am I at their mercy until I hear back?

An option would be for you to write again, short covering letter enclosing what you previously sent and politely asking if they received it and can you expect to hear back soon.

Did you send earlier letter tracked postage and thus you know for certain it was delivered to them? If you didn't send it tracked I'd be certainly sending it again - which I might do anyway even if I did have proof they received it.

 

[GloRoy]

I used recorded delivery so I know it has been delivered as someone signed for it. In this case is it worth sending an email asking when I will hear back or should I just wait?

 

[WesternLancer]

I used recorded delivery so I know it has been delivered as someone signed for it. In this case is it worth sending an email asking when I will hear back or should I just wait?

They may have lost it internally - that's a risk.

There are reasons for delay eg if they are investigating your short ticketing evidence over a longer period of time and need to get data from ticket retailers - but given that is deliberate evasion and thus the risk of prosecution is higher I think I would be writing to them again as per my advice above if you want to avoid escalation to prosecution.

 

[GloRoy]

Okay thank you! Do you think this is okay?

Dear Fare Evasion Manager,

I am writing regarding a letter I sent to you on the 18th January responding to a Notice of Intention to Prosecute. I am hoping to get an update on whether you have received it and if I can expect to hear back regarding an outcome.

I have documented the content of my original letter below:

I am writing to take accountability for the incident that occurred on 24th Oct 2024 when I was travelling without a valid ticket. I admit to buying a ticket from East Croydon to Gatwick Airport when my journey was from London Bridge.

I understand the severity of this situation and how actions like mine can contribute to the financial strain that railway companies like Govia Thameslink Railway face. There is no excuse for my behaviour and I am deeply sorry for my error of judgement. I regret it and I will never do it again.

I would be very grateful if you’d consider allowing me to settle this matter out of court. I am prepared to pay the cost of the fare as well as any additional administrative costs that may have arisen from dealing with this matter.

Thank you again for your time and consideration,
Best Wishes

 

[WesternLancer]

Okay thank you! Do you think this is okay?

Dear Fare Evasion Manager,

I am writing regarding a letter I sent to you on the 18th January responding to a Notice of Intention to Prosecute. I am hoping to get an update on whether you have received it and if I can expect to hear back regarding an outcome.

I have documented the content of my original letter below:

I am writing to take accountability for the incident that occurred on 24th Oct 2024 when I was travelling without a valid ticket. I admit to buying a ticket from East Croydon to Gatwick Airport when my journey was from London Bridge.

I understand the severity of this situation and how actions like mine can contribute to the financial strain that railway companies like Govia Thameslink Railway face. There is no excuse for my behaviour and I am deeply sorry for my error of judgement. I regret it and I will never do it again.

I would be very grateful if you’d consider allowing me to settle this matter out of court. I am prepared to pay the cost of the fare as well as any additional administrative costs that may have arisen from dealing with this matter.

Thank you again for your time and consideration,
Best Wishes

Yes, looks OK - add in your case ref number.

 

[GloRoy]

I received an out of court settlement offer of £70.40. Thank you to everyone who helped me with this matter. It is greatly appreciated. Take care!

 

[30907]

I received an out of court settlement offer of £70.40. Thank you to everyone who helped me with this matter. It is greatly appreciated. Take care!

Thanks for the update - it seems par for the course