Job center rail card

[moonking]

Hi
I am very worried today officer inside the Birmingham new street station stopped me to check my train and I showed them and they asked about job center rail card and I showed my 26-30 rails card.
I come to Uk last year I dont even know the difference between these two I thought they are the same. But they asked me to answer few question and told me that wait for a post from them.. U did persecution I was shocked and explain them that I didn't even know the difference between them and it was a seasonal ticket from bham new street and bham International for 7 days I used 4 days…upon questioning I request them to please explain me what is the difference between this two cards and they told me only people on benefits and UC can use that card and I told them I am on benefits and UC..I was very worried and still worried please guide me wat to do it was totally unintentional

 

[methecooldude]

If not going to write what I want to write as it would potentially get me banned from the forum, but I am VERY hesitant to believe that you didn't know what you were selecting. The JobCenter Plus Discount Card, which gives 50% discount in comparison to the 26-30's 33(ish)% and can be used on seasons (which the 26-30 cannot) is regularly abused. I question how you thought they were the same.

 

[AlterEgo]

Hi
I am very worried today officer inside the Birmingham new street station stopped me to check my train and I showed them and they asked about job center rail card and I showed my 26-30 rails card.
I come to Uk last year I dont even know the difference between these two I thought they are the same.

They have different names and different discounts, why would you think they are "the same"?

I don't recommend advancing this attempt at explaining what happened to the investigator when they write to you. It's not believable, people abuse the JobCentre railcard all the time because it gives half price fares including on season tickets, unlike the 26-30 card, which you actually hold.

upon questioning I request them to please explain me what is the difference between this two cards and they told me only people on benefits and UC can use that card and I told them I am on benefits and UC

This is not quite the criteria. You need to have been issued the JobCentre railcard by your adviser if you are out of work and using it to travel to secure work. If you don't have it, you don't have it. Your best bet is to be honest with the investigator when they write. Have you been buying your tickets online?

 

[gray1404]

Being in receipt of Universal Credit does not entitle you to use the Job Centre Plus Rail Card discount. You have to be a holder of such a Railcard and Job Centre Plus have to have actually issued one to you.

 

[moonking]

If not going to write what I want to write as it would potentially get me banned from the forum, but I am VERY hesitant to believe that you didn't know what you were selecting. The JobCenter Plus Discount Card, which gives 50% discount in comparison to the 26-30's 33(ish)% and can be used on seasons (which the 26-30 cannot) is regularly abused. I question how you thought they were the same.

It's my very first time that I bought a seasonal ticket.. Plus I used to buy the other tickets and always used trianline but this time due to complexities of the train pal app I did this mistake unintentionally.. I regret why I used train pal

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Mar 2025 ==

Being in receipt of Universal Credit does not entitle you to use the Job Centre Plus Rail Card discount. You have to be a holder of such a Railcard and Job Centre Plus have to have actually issued one to you

I go to job center once every 2 weeks and they didn't give me such card…belive I didn't even know the difference between them until today..and it is my very first time that I bought a seasonal ticket..and I booked it through train pal app. Which is very complex app.

 

[moonking]

They have different names and different discounts, why would you think they are "the same"?

I don't recommend advancing this attempt at explaining what happened to the investigator when they write to you. It's not believable, people abuse the JobCentre railcard all the time because it gives half price fares including on season tickets, unlike the 26-30 card, which you actually hold.


This is not quite the criteria. You need to have been issued the JobCentre railcard by your adviser if you are out of work and using it to travel to secure work. If you don't have it, you don't have it. Your best bet is to be honest with the investigator when they write. Have you been buying your tickets online?

I don't work I am searching for work. I am still on UC and they didn't give me such card.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Mar 2025 ==

If not going to write what I want to write as it would potentially get me banned from the forum, but I am VERY hesitant to believe that you didn't know what you were selecting. The JobCenter Plus Discount Card, which gives 50% discount in comparison to the 26-30's 33(ish)% and can be used on seasons (which the 26-30 cannot) is regularly abused. I question how you thought they were the same.

I thought they are all the same I used train pal app and its very complex and I bought the seasonal ticket for the very first time. I didn't even noticed how much discount they give me

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Mar 2025 ==

Being in receipt of Universal Credit does not entitle you to use the Job Centre Plus Rail Card discount. You have to be a holder of such a Railcard and Job Centre Plus have to have actually issued one to you.

I come to uk last year I dont know about terms, rules and regulations It's my very first time that I bought a seasonal ticket.. And I didn't even pay attention that which card was applied I was in rush while booking.
I showed my ticket to them without any hesitation It was totally unintentional and booked it via train pal app which is very complex

 

[moonking]

I don't work I am searching for work. I am still on UC and they didn't give me such card.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Mar 2025 ==


I thought they are all the same I used train pal app and its very complex and I bought the seasonal ticket for the very first time. I didn't even noticed how much discount they give me

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Mar 2025 ==


I come to uk last year I dont know about terms, rules and regulations It's my very first time that I bought a seasonal ticket.. And I didn't even pay attention that which card was applied I was in rush while booking.
I showed my ticket to them without any hesitation It was totally unintentional and booked it via train pal app which is very complex

I was soo shocked I asked them did I commit a crime will they put me on jail? I was about to cry because it was totally unintentional and I have a very clear record. They can check my previous history.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Mar 2025 ==

I don't work I am searching for work. I am still on UC and they didn't give me such card.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Mar 2025 ==


I thought they are all the same I used train pal app and its very complex and I bought the seasonal ticket for the very first time. I didn't even noticed how much discount they give me

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Mar 2025 ==


I come to uk last year I dont know about terms, rules and regulations It's my very first time that I bought a seasonal ticket.. And I didn't even pay attention that which card was applied I was in rush while booking.
I showed my ticket to them without any hesitation It was totally unintentional and booked it via train pal app which is very complex

Wat if I apply to job center card now and tell them that I just applied for the job center card now but while booking on that time I didn't even know that it is different from the normal rail card? Plz guide me I am quite tensed..how much they will charge me as fine? Will they put me on jail? Will I go to court for this?

 

[skyhigh]

I didn't even know that it is different from the normal rail card?

That's hard to believe - why didn't you select your Railcard from the list, but instead picked one of the very few that offered a bigger discount?

Will they put me on jail?

No.

how much they will charge me as fine?

If they agree to settle the matter without court action, you can probably expect to pay the full Anytime Single fare for each journey you made with the incorrect discount, plus an administration fee of around £150. If you've been purchasing incorrectly discounted season tickets for a while you might find it's quite a large sum of money they ask for.

 

[AlterEgo]

Wat if I apply to job center card now and tell them that I just applied for the job center card now but while booking on that time I didn't even know that it is different from the normal rail card?

It's very difficult for anyone to believe that you thought they were the same. You already had a 26-30 railcard, and this did not give the largest possible discount, nor does it discount season tickets. You didn't know what a JobCentre railcard was until you asked the staff what one was and how you qualify, so this excuse will not wash with the investigators. Unless you are honest about what has happened, the company is unlikely to settle out of court.

Plz guide me I am quite tensed..how much they will charge me as fine? Will they put me on jail? Will I go to court for this?

The company is entitled to take you to court for the offence, but they will usually settle out of court for the fares avoided plus £100-200 in administration fees. If you have been buying tickets online and wrongly claiming season ticket discounts for some time this may add up to a lot of money as @skyhigh suggests.

Once the company writes, we can help you write a letter apologising and taking responsibility for what has happened.

 

[Cuthbert]

Either Avanti or WMR as they were operating a Revenue Block at some of the gate lines at BHM from the afternoon till the evening yesterday (27th March)

 

[moonking]

Either Avanti or WMR as they were operating a Revenue Block at some of the gate lines at BHM from the afternoon till the evening yesterday (27th March)

Yeah it happened to me on 27 March but my seasonal ticket was from Transport for wales only it was mentioned on my ticket..

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Mar 2025 ==

It's very difficult for anyone to believe that you thought they were the same. You already had a 26-30 railcard, and this did not give the largest possible discount, nor does it discount season tickets. You didn't know what a JobCentre railcard was until you asked the staff what one was and how you qualify, so this excuse will not wash with the investigators. Unless you are honest about what has happened, the company is unlikely to settle out of court.


The company is entitled to take you to court for the offence, but they will usually settle out of court for the fares avoided plus £100-200 in administration fees. If you have been buying tickets online and wrongly claiming season ticket discounts for some time this may add up to a lot of money as @skyhigh suggests.

Once the company writes, we can help you write a letter apologising and taking responsibility for what has happened.

Its my very first time That I bought a seasonal ticket and very first time that job center rail was applied.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Mar 2025 ==

It's very difficult for anyone to believe that you thought they were the same. You already had a 26-30 railcard, and this did not give the largest possible discount, nor does it discount season tickets. You didn't know what a JobCentre railcard was until you asked the staff what one was and how you qualify, so this excuse will not wash with the investigators. Unless you are honest about what has happened, the company is unlikely to settle out of court.


The company is entitled to take you to court for the offence, but they will usually settle out of court for the fares avoided plus £100-200 in administration fees. If you have been buying tickets online and wrongly claiming season ticket discounts for some time this may add up to a lot of money as @skyhigh suggests.

Once the company writes, we can help you write a letter apologising and taking responsibility for what has happened.

The officer/investigater man told me it's a very rare case that they will take u to court.
My seasonal ticket price was 20 pound after that rail card it was for 10 pound. And the ticket was from transport for wales..but on the paper that they give it to me after asking multiple question Its written west midlands train.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Mar 2025 ==

It's very difficult for anyone to believe that you thought they were the same. You already had a 26-30 railcard, and this did not give the largest possible discount, nor does it discount season tickets. You didn't know what a JobCentre railcard was until you asked the staff what one was and how you qualify, so this excuse will not wash with the investigators. Unless you are honest about what has happened, the company is unlikely to settle out of court.


The company is entitled to take you to court for the offence, but they will usually settle out of court for the fares avoided plus £100-200 in administration fees. If you have been buying tickets online and wrongly claiming season ticket discounts for some time this may add up to a lot of money as @skyhigh suggests.

Once the company writes, we can help you write a letter apologising and taking responsibility for what has happened.

Once the company writes, we can help you write a letter apologising and taking responsibility for what has happened.


If they wrote something like this then I don't have to pay any fine??

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Mar 2025 ==

That's hard to believe - why didn't you select your Railcard from the list, but instead picked one of the very few that offered a bigger discount?

No.

If they agree to settle the matter without court action, you can probably expect to pay the full Anytime Single fare for each journey you made with the incorrect discount, plus an administration fee of around £150. If you've been purchasing incorrectly discounted season tickets for a while you might find it's quite a large sum of money they ask for.

The investigator told me I don't know about the consequences I am sorry Im just doing my job..u can explain to them that are on benefit and cannot Pay… wat should I say please guide me I will also share their letter in here once I receive it..the investigator told me u will receive it in 5/6 weeks and reply to them

 

[gray1404]

West Midland Trains are one of the more pragmatic train companies to deal with so you have hit lucky.

 

[AlterEgo]

My seasonal ticket price was 20 pound after that rail card it was for 10 pound.

Which stations was your weekly season ticket valid between?

If they wrote something like this then I don't have to pay any fine??

You will definitely have to pay the fares avoided plus their administration fee of £100 to £200. This isn’t a fine but is a payment they will accept to deal with the matter outside court. There is no outcome here which won’t be expensive for you. If you can’t or won’t pay the settlement to put things right they will take you to the magistrates’ court for the offence, which is a crime under Bylaw 18 of the Railway Bylaws.

 

[moonking]

Which stations was your weekly season ticket valid between?


You will definitely have to pay the fares avoided plus their administration fee of £100 to £200. This isn’t a fine but is a payment they will accept to deal with the matter outside court. There is no outcome here which won’t be expensive for you. If you can’t or won’t pay the settlement to put things right they will take you to the magistrates’ court for the offence, which is a crime under Bylaw 18 of the Railway Bylaws.

From Birmingham new street to Birmingham international 7 days seasonal ticket which I used 4 days..

They asked me questions and documented my answer in their digital devices and told me to sign. Is that the same with everyone?
The questions were was it unintentional? I answered yes
One question was about court

 

[Pushpit]

From Birmingham new street to Birmingham international 7 days seasonal ticket which I used 4 days..

They asked me questions and documented my answer in their digital devices and told me to sign. Is that the same with everyone?
The questions were was it unintentional? I answered yes
One question was about court

What you have experienced is not unusual. You will receive a letter in the post in a few weeks or perhaps a month or two, and this is where you must reply accurately and honestly. The rail companies get a lot of fare evasions and have seen every excuse under the sun. When the letter comes in, you best check with this forum, by uploading a copy of it, but redacting your personal details and any reference numbers. Then you can get targetted advice as to what to do next. But if you are honest and reply to the letter then it's almost certain you won't go to court so long as you reply to their letter, and you certainly won't go to jail. But it will cost you a big sum of money to fix your fare evasion. Intent does not come into this, the responsibility was on you to get it right.

You may find it helpful to stand back a bit and consider the reaction above. If you are not being widely believed here, the rail company certainly is not going to believe you. This is relevant in terms of any letter you write to the company and whether they accept your version of the truth.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

An undiscounted Anytime Day Single between Birmingham International and Birmingham New Street is £4.60 if charged at the current "route TfWRS Only" rate. So potentially the OP could be asked to pay eight lots of that (= four days' return travel use, so £27.60 in total) plus a likely three figure admin fee as @AlterEgo has mentioned, with no allowance made for whatever was paid for the inappropriately discounted season ticket (= £10.75).

 

[moonking]

I didn’t use this ticket today why it shows days used : 5

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Mar 2025 ==

What you have experienced is not unusual. You will receive a letter in the post in a few weeks or perhaps a month or two, and this is where you must reply accurately and honestly. The rail companies get a lot of fare evasions and have seen every excuse under the sun. When the letter comes in, you best check with this forum, by uploading a copy of it, but redacting your personal details and any reference numbers. Then you can get targetted advice as to what to do next. But if you are honest and reply to the letter then it's almost certain you won't go to court so long as you reply to their letter, and you certainly won't go to jail. But it will cost you a big sum of money to fix your fare evasion. Intent does not come into this, the responsibility was on you to get it right.

You may find it helpful to stand back a bit and consider the reaction above. If you are not being widely believed here, the rail company certainly is not going to believe you. This is relevant in terms of any letter you write to the company and whether they accept your version of the truth.

Yeah sure I will
Thank you so much

 

[Haywain]

I didn’t use this ticket today why it shows days used : 5

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Mar 2025 ==

It's a weekly ticket, so the days are used whether you travel or not.

 

[moonking]

Soo once they send me a letter will they they know about it that I didn’t use it on day 5? Can they check how many times I used it? Plus will I get a criminal conviction ??
My ticket was for TFW only but West Midlands train inspector stopped me yesterday.

 

[AlterEgo]

Soo once they send me a letter will they they know about it that I didn’t use it on day 5?

I wouldn’t worry about this at the moment, it’s a matter of a few pounds and the more important thing is settling out of court.

Plus will I get a criminal conviction ??

This has been answered in the thread already. Yes if you don’t settle out of court, no if you do settle.

 

[moonking]

I wouldn’t worry about this at the moment, it’s a matter of a few pounds and the more important thing is settling out of court.



This has been answered in the thread already. Yes if you don’t settle out of court, no if you do settle.

Thanks
I have a very clear record and it happened to me for the very first time. I am waiting for their letter and will share it in here..after that let’s see wat will happen.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thanks
I have a very clear record and it happened to me for the very first time. I am waiting for their letter and will share it in here..after that let’s see wat will happen.

On a related matter - you say you are on benefits and Universal Credit (UC) - if you are, then you should ask at your Job Centre if they would actually issue you with / help you get a Job Centre Plus Railcard (if they consider you meet the criteria to have one).

That won't have any bearing on what has happened with this incident because you needed to have one before you bought the train tickets at that discount - but it might help you reduce your travel costs legitimately in future

This will tell you how you go about getting one:

Concessionary Travel Schemes | National Rail

Some local authorities or councils offer concessionary travel schemes, which let residents who are elderly or disabled use public and community transport services, including some National Rail services, at a discounted rate or for free.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card​

If you are claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit, you may be entitled to a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card. This entitles you to a 50% discount on selected rail tickets.

The card is provided to those claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit for 3 to 9 months (for 18 to 24 year olds) or 3 to 12 months (for over 25s). You can apply through your Work Coach or local Jobcentre Plus. Other benefit recipients may receive a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card from 3 months of their claim and if they are actively engaged with a Jobcentre Plus adviser.

Contact your nearest Jobcentre for more information.

 

[6Gman]

From Birmingham new street to Birmingham international 7 days seasonal ticket which I used 4 days..

They asked me questions and documented my answer in their digital devices and told me to sign. Is that the same with everyone?
The questions were was it unintentional? I answered yes
One question was about court

Too late now but if you find the trainline app complicated and you don't understand the system it would have made much more sense to have bought your ticket at the booking office, where the staff could have explained.

For now you just have to wait for them to get in touch, and then come back here for further advice.

As others have said, West Midlands Trains tend to offer settlements if you co-operate.

 

[fandroid]

Another issue that the OP should be aware of if continuing to buy season tickets for that journey:

The season ticket is described as Route - TFWRS ONLY on the BR Fares website. Presumably this means that only Transport for Wales (TfW) trains can be used with that ticket. TfW are just one of at least four train companies on that route.

It won't affect the current problem that the OP has, but when doing that journey in the future, with that ticket only TfW trains must be used , in both directions. Unfortunately, other more flexible tickets are more expensive.

If checked on the train in the future, and it's not a TfW train, there could be yet more trouble!

 

[moonking]

Hi
I am very worried today officer inside the Birmingham new street station stopped me to check my train and I showed them and they asked about job center rail card and I showed my 26-30 rails card.
I come to Uk last year I dont even know the difference between these two I thought they are the same. But they asked me to answer few question and told me that wait for a post from them.. U did persecution I was shocked and explain them that I didn't even know the difference between them and it was a seasonal ticket from bham new street and bham International for 7 days I used 4 days…upon questioning I request them to please explain me what is the difference between this two cards and they told me only people on benefits and UC can use that card and I told them I am on benefits and UC..I was very worried and still worried please guide me wat to do it was totally unintentional

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Apr 2025 ==

Hello everyone,
Hope all is well so I just got the letter today can u please guide me wat to do now?

 

[furlong]

They are saying that if you pay them £180 it'll be over. It's hard to understand why the amount they are requesting is so high but the least worst thing to do is to pay it, then if you're sufficiently motivated take up the question of how they can justify such a high amount afterwards.

 

[WesternLancer]

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Apr 2025 ==

Hello everyone,
Hope all is well so I just got the letter today can u please guide me wat to do now?

As I understand it, unless I have mis read it, they are offering to close the matter without taking you to court if you pay them £180 within 14 days.

This seems like quite a good offer given that if they took you to court it would almost certainly cost you more, as well as meaning you would have a criminal record

So unless you can convince them that they should not do this then I suspect that what you should do now is pay them that sum, and keep a receipt / proof of payment

When they ask for 'mitigating circumstances' it means you convincing them that you did in fact have the Job Seekers Railcard, or you had reasonable belief that you did. But you have never said that - you have just said you thought the Railcard you had and this one were the same even though by 'good luck' the Railcard you used saved you more money than the Railcard you actually have, which to me means you have not taken care to check what railcard you have and what its terms are. So I can't think of mitigating circumstances you may have.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Apr 2025 ==

It's hard to understand why the amount they are requesting is so high

Typical 'admin fee' plus 4 days use of a 7 day season ticket with a Railcard discount applied that the person was not entitled to have?

 

[Cuthbert]

They are charging £175 admin plus £5.

 

[Krokodil]

Pay up. You won't get a better offer than this.

 

[AlterEgo]

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Apr 2025 ==

Hello everyone,
Hope all is well so I just got the letter today can u please guide me wat to do now?

Pay the £180 as the letter instructs you to, as you have no defence.