Advice needed. Reported for prosecution

[Lanceshinobi]

Hi all, I've been scrolling through the forums for advice and appreciate there are a lot of these threads so sorry in advance!
I was issued a PFN today because I had attempted to through the barriers with a ticket that was from Reading West to Reading when I had come from London.

I tap in on a morning and tap back most of the way but if not checked from London onwards sometimes I'll be cheeky and buy a ticket just to get through the barriers.
I've been caught out and feel like a complete idiot. It was mentioned to me as something to do post COVID where my partner was still out of work and we were struggling, every penny in the pocket was invaluable.
Over the course of the last year there will maybe be a dozen times where I've done this.
I desparately would like to avoid any criminal proceedings because this was done at a time when we've been struggling and the consequences of that would mean us struggling more.
When I get my notice I would like to try and make them understand that this was done from a low point and I would like to pay whatever they deem appropriate and just apologise.
Given the panic I've been in since getting the notice I can guarantee this will never happen again. I'm dreading the wait for the letter tbh.

Any help or advice would be appreciated - and as much as I know it's unlikely- if someone could tell me that 99.9% of the time it's settled out of court or something that would be amazing (wishful thinking I know).

Thank You

 

[AlterEgo]

Have you been issued a Penalty Fare or something else? It would be unusual for them to Penalty Fare you for something like this; a report for prosecution (MG11) is the usual disposal here.

 

[Haywain]

I was issued a PFN today because I had attempted to through the barriers with a ticket that was from Reading West to Reading when I had come from London.

Were you actually issued a Penalty Fare Notice or reported for investigation? If you can post a copy of any paperwork you were given, with your details redacted, it will help us to advise you.

 

[Lanceshinobi]

They didn't hand me any documentation he just took some notes and borrowed my ID for a few moments. I haven't received any documentation yet.

 

[AlterEgo]

They didn't hand me any documentation he just took some notes and borrowed my ID for a few moments. I haven't received any documentation yet.

That would be a report for prosecution then; you’ve not been penalty fared. In the coming weeks GWR will write to you asking for your version of events; when this happens, come back to the forum for advice on how to reply to it. Until then, buy the correct fare and keep your nose clean.

 

[Lanceshinobi]

Thank you. I feel like a right idiot. Happy to pay whatever is due and 100% agreed and keeping my nose clean. Thank you for the prompt response and I'll come back on getting a letter. Are the prosecution letters usually prompt? Seen some horror stories of 6-7 months and I think it'll eat me alive waiting that long.

 

[Blinkbonny]

GWR may not be prompt, but they are very likely to settle out of court.

I believe it's their stated policy to avoid prosecution where possible.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@Lanceshinobi. Welcome to the forum. If you've been short-faring between London and Reading, you could well get asked to pay as much as £32.00 (one way, as a return journey will likely be charged as double that) for each and every occasion when the railway company reckon you didn't have the correct tickets for the entirety of your journey. Will let you do the maths. In addition they'll likely add on a three figure sum in admin fees. This could prove quite costly if there's been multiple previous occasions of you short-faring. Dozen times (if just that) multiplied by up to £32 × two. Plus the admin fee on top. Good luck, however, in sorting.

 

[Lanceshinobi]

Thank you again for all the responses. When I was stopped it was about one fare so I'm hoping this will be a case of taking it on the chin and learning my lesson but it serves me right either way. Been reading loads of posts on the forum and appreciate how much support you all are.

 

[AlterEgo]

Thank you again for all the responses. When I was stopped it was about one fare so I'm hoping this will be a case of taking it on the chin and learning my lesson but it serves me right either way. Been reading loads of posts on the forum and appreciate how much support you all are.

GWR will audit all your previous ticket purchases if you’ve been buying online, and will expect the full anytime fare for each and every occurrence. Where have you been obtaining the short tickets?

 

[Lanceshinobi]

Through trainline so it'll all be there online. It's only ever one way because I do contactless to get there which I'm hoping means they'll treat anything they deem as a short fare to be one way rather than a return. I also have a lot of legitimate short trips as well so it's a bit of a minefield.

 

[30907]

Through trainline so it'll all be there online. It's only ever one way because I do contactless to get there which I'm hoping means they'll treat anything they deem as a short fare to be one way rather than a return. I also have a lot of legitimate short trips as well so it's a bit of a minefield.

GW (and other train companies) are generally reasonable and if you can give a good (true) explanation of the legitimate parts of your travel history they will accept it.

 

[Egg Centric]

Through trainline so it'll all be there online. It's only ever one way because I do contactless to get there which I'm hoping means they'll treat anything they deem as a short fare to be one way rather than a return. I also have a lot of legitimate short trips as well so it's a bit of a minefield.

You can certainly hope that but they weren't born yesterday, so don't count on it (it couldn't realistically be proven in court, but you're in a position of weakness negotiating for an out of court settlement). It's certainly not implausible though either as they may decide it's easier that way. You may wish - once their response comes - if you need further advice to obfuscate it a bit so they cannot easily match your post to their records such as by not giving the precise numbers involved.

However on the bright side, unlike other TOCs GWR do tend to go for the return fare rather than two singles in a case like this so it may not matter much.

Any legitimate short trips can be evidenced and should not form part of any settlement.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

A few questions and observations:

As others have said GWR will likely offer an out of court settlement if you co-operate with them but it is likely to be expensive as they will audit your Trainline account and expect reimbursement for all the occasions where they believe you have short fared. GWR will write to you and if you post a redacted copy of that letter in this thread with your draft reply forum members will proof read it for you.

If you use contactless for your journey to London in the morning then I would download a copy of your journey history from the TfL website. It might be useful in showing to GWR that your fare evasion has 'only' been happening on your return journey from London.

What do you mean when you say 'tap most of the way back'? Exactly where is your journey to/from? How are you getting through the barriers at the start of your return journey?

 

[Lanceshinobi]

I usually go Reading to London contactless on the way to work and it's only on the occasions where a train is sat on an open platform when I'm on my way home that I short fare from London to Reading. Honestly it retrospect it was a stupid thing to do and mostly in annoyance with my place of work at a pointless call back to the office that's been expensive at a time when it wasn't needed. Unfortunately I've had a card changeover with TFL so I think I'll only have a few months history to show but hopefully it will show the pattern.