Govia Thameslink GTREMG - Expired Railcard

[johnjohnjohn]

Hi all,
Earlier today I encountered a ticket inspector on a Thameslink service and was asked for my ticket. I showed them the QR code ticket from the Trainline app and was then asked to show my railcard, which I did but was infact expired for some months. I genuinely hadn't known as ticket inspectors have honestly never asked me for my railcard before, only the ticket.

I got off the train and they followed me off, took down my details and gave me a GTREMG********* slip which says they may pursue prosecution when contacting me in writing.

This is really stressful and the first time something like this has happened. I offered to pay the full price ticket without the railcard discount, but I was ignored and given this instead, which is of course worrying me.

I am concerned as to why I wasn't able to just pay the full price ticket as I offered (at a cost of £5.40) or receive a penalty fare of £50/£100, which I would be comfortable paying as it was my mistake.
My friend has also had an encounter with Thameslink on the same route some months ago, however in their scenario, they didn't have a ticket at all and received a penalty fare (of £50 rising to £100 if not paid in three weeks). It just seems really unfair that I was given a harsher punishment for a less serious infraction? I was cooperative throughout, respectful and all and gave my details when asked, so just not sure what I should do at this point. Guess I just have to wait but just seems unfair and overblown at this point.

Thanks.

 

[John R]

If it has been expired for some months then reporting you for potential prosecution gives them time to investigate your account and any other fares you have incorrectly purchased. Then when they write to you they can build in the cost of paying properly for the other tickets.

If you don’t have a ticket then by definition, there is no online account that you can search for other incorrect fares, which may be why a penalty fare was issued to your friend.

GTR is pretty reasonable, and you should be offered an out of court settlement instead of prosecution, but it will probably cost you around £150 in admin costs together with the full cost again at Anytime Single rates for any tickets they find on your account since your railcard expired.

 

[AlterEgo]

I am concerned as to why I wasn't able to just pay the full price ticket as I offered (at a cost of £5.40) or receive a penalty fare of £50/£100, which I would be comfortable paying as it was my mistake.

As your railcard has expired, the company will note the date of expiry and see how many other fares you've been improperly discounting over that period. They can audit your purchase history and will charge you the full fare for each occasion since the rail card expired.

My friend has also had an encounter with Thameslink on the same route some months ago, however in their scenario, they didn't have a ticket at all and received a penalty fare (of £50 rising to £100 if not paid in three weeks)

This is common for ticketless passengers; this offence of course can't be detected historically, so is dealt with there and then, rather than being reported for the back office to conduct an investigation.

. It just seems really unfair that I was given a harsher punishment for a less serious infraction?

This is just the nature of the beast, but look at it from the train company's point of view - in three months you might have claimed hundreds of pounds of discount which you weren't entitled to. I don't agree with their behaviour but it is what it is.

I was cooperative throughout, respectful and all and gave my details when asked, so just not sure what I should do at this point. Guess I just have to wait but just seems unfair and overblown at this point.

Thanks.

The company will write to you within the next few weeks, at which point you should come back here and post the letter on here when it arrives. It will either offer a disposal of the matter for the fare/s avoided plus an admin fee, or they will ask for your side of the story about the suspected offences.

 

[Haywain]

I am concerned as to why I wasn't able to just pay the full price ticket as I offered (at a cost of £5.40) or receive a penalty fare of £50/£100, which I would be comfortable paying as it was my mistake.

I simple terms, because those who do this deliberately are also comfortable with paying those amounts if they get caught.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Apr 2025 ==

but it will probably cost you around £150 in admin costs

With GTR it is usually considerably less than this.

 

[johnjohnjohn]

Seems a bit backwards that someone intentionally dodging the fare could just refuse to show a ticket and accept the £50. I would have been better off if I hadn't paid for anything at all if that's how it works. Surely not the best way to treat paying passengers, but what can I do?

I think a criminal prosecution of a 17 year old is a little much over a mistake worth £2.70 to be honest - if I get a criminal record that's staying with me for life?

Thanks for the replies in any case - I wasn't told how long it would take to hear back, but I've seen it's about 6 months so that will be fun.

 

[WesternLancer]

Seems a bit backwards that someone intentionally dodging the fare could just refuse to show a ticket and accept the £50. I would have been better off if I hadn't paid for anything at all if that's how it works. Surely not the best way to treat paying passengers, but what can I do?

I think a criminal prosecution of a 17 year old is a little much over a mistake worth £2.70 to be honest - if I get a criminal record that's staying with me for life?

Thanks for the replies in any case - I wasn't told how long it would take to hear back, but I've seen it's about 6 months so that will be fun.

Well. A person with a record of previous penalty fares if stopped again is more likely to be reported for prosecution as they will be more likely considered a deliberate fare evader.

And it’s not a rule that everyone without a ticket gets a penalty fare by any means.

If under 18 the chances of prosecution are reduced I think.

 

[AlterEgo]

You didn’t mention you were 17. They won’t prosecute you if they know your age. Your parents will instead receive a letter, not you.