Writing to GTR proactively for fare evasion

[marva26k]

Hello,

About a month ago my girlfriend was given a witness receipt because she was travelling from Hatfield to Cambridge (northbound) on a ticket from Hatfield to Welham Green (southbound). Looking at her trainline history there are 6 other similar short tickets.

Her english is sort of poor and she has severe anxiety (which she is seeking treatment for) so I fear there could have been a lot of miscommunication between her and officer. She told him that a member of staff told her to buy short tickets when really she does not understand anything about the rail/tfl systems. She essentially thought it was okay to buy short tickets if she was using further transport (tubes, buses) because the finsbury park station where you need to change lets you take a tube without scanning your rail ticket. I believe what may have happened was that he told her she was paying double as she bought London tickets then used the tube from Finsbury.

We looked into solicitors that offer to negotiate for £725. We are both students and that is a significant amount for us, as that does not include the fines even.

Currently waiting for the NIP letter, but soon we will have to leave our uni accommodations and go home for the summer (overseas) in 6 weeks so I'm worried that the letter might come then and if there's no reply they will bring her to court.

Can we email/mail them proactively explaining this and asking for an out of court settlement?

And, can I write to them on her behalf?

 

[notmyrealname]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

I expect the pros will be here a bit later, so please wait for their advice before you do anything. The normal advice is not to write about out of court settlements until you receive their letter, because you don't know what they think you've done wrong.

But the pros might think it's worth writing to provide another address, to make sure that correspondence reaches you.

You can't write on your GF's behalf, but I believe you could write a letter that she signs.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

I don't normally recommend contacting a train company ahead of them sending an initial letter to you. When you moive away you should make arrangements for your post to be forwarded to you, or alternatively update GTR with an address at which you can be reached.

The letter will need to come from your friend, although you can help to write it.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Currently waiting for the NIP letter, but soon we will have to leave our uni accommodations and go home for the summer (overseas) in 6 weeks so I'm worried that the letter might come then and if there's no reply they will bring her to court.

Can we email/mail them proactively explaining this and asking for an out of court settlement?

Have a look at what it says right at the bottom of https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/help-and-support/penalty-fares. Under 'I need to contact you, how can I do this?' it says

If your query is relating to an “Intention to Prosecute letter” we would ask that this is completed and returned to us for consideration.

All matters of appeal should be made in writing to:

(...)

If your query is regarding anything else please contact us via email gtr.prosecutions@gtrailway.com

So if you want to send details of your girlfriend's summer address, send an email to gtr.prosecutions@gtrailway.com.

 

[John R]

Have a look at what it says right at the bottom of https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/help-and-support/penalty-fares. Under 'I need to contact you, how can I do this?' it says



So if you want to send details of your girlfriend's summer address, send an email to gtr.prosecutions@gtrailway.com.

And as that is abroad, ask politely if they would be willing to send any correspondence by email. Make sure that you give the reference number on the witness receipt, and keep the email purely to discussing the contact point - don't go into any detail or apology as to the case itself.