Email from WMT’s Digital Fraud Team

[odetoboy]

Hi all,

Received a ‘final warning’ from the Digital Fraud Team today, advising that i owed around £3000 including fees because of around 500 incidents where it appeared I was fraudulently using a railcard discount.

This stems from an incident in January where i was stopped by RPIs and unable to produce a ticket because my phone died. Fair enough, I suppose that was my fault, and I paid that penalty fare promptly.

However this just seems ridiculous. I have an active railcard on Trainline that I am not violating. I’ve got in touch with Trainline in order to access details on my previous railcard too as I’m assuming just under 500 incidents will span actual years.

My main question is, if i was using a valid railcard on all of those occasions and can provide proof of such railcards will they drop the case? I have until the 8th of July to reply to their email.

Thanks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jul 2025 ==

I meant to add that in conjunction with being unable to produce my e-ticket, i was also obviously unable to produce my railcard.

 

[Titfield]

Yes if you can prove that you had a valid railcard for each of these bookings then there is no case to answer.

As has been said many times on this forum though buying a railcard discounted ticket without holding such a railcard is not an offence., It is the use of the ticket (ie travelling) that is the offence. The TOC would have to prove that you used those tickets without a railcard.

 

[odetoboy]

Yes if you can prove that you had a valid railcard for each of these bookings then there is no case to answer.

As has been said many times on this forum though buying a railcard discounted ticket without holding such a railcard is not an offence., It is the use of the ticket (ie travelling) that is the offence. The TOC would have to prove that you used those tickets without a railcard.

Thank you for the reply! I’m waiting for Trainline to get back to me wrt my old railcard so i can also send that one. I’m fairly certain i renewed the railcard 1 day before it expired, so I should be covered.

The vast majority of these journeys were to Birmingham New Street, is that a concern with the ticket gates?

 

[ainsworth74]

The vast majority of these journeys were to Birmingham New Street, is that a concern with the ticket gates?

If they were scanned on the gates or by staff on trains/platforms that would show that the tickets were used by someone. It might be hard to defend against the suggestion that that person wasn't you (but not impossible of course).

However if you've definitely had a valid railcard for all those journeys it's a moot point anyway.

 

[Puffing Devil]

It would help if you could post a redacted copy of the warning. Is it a warning, or a request for information?

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you for the reply! I’m waiting for Trainline to get back to me wrt my old railcard so i can also send that one. I’m fairly certain i renewed the railcard 1 day before it expired, so I should be covered.

The vast majority of these journeys were to Birmingham New Street, is that a concern with the ticket gates?

In addition to sourcing your own records (can you not log on to you train buying account and find out - it might be a while before Trainline reply to you) or find any other evidence you may have of your old Railcards?

What you should do is politely ask the railway company for a break down of the list of journeys concerned that have given rise to the sum they are asking you for - they will then send you a spreadsheet and you can look at this against your own travel and ticket records. If you co-operate with them and can show or convince them that you have had a valid railcard then we do see that they will amend these sums requested from you where you can show you did in fact have valid tickets / railcards.

Post your draft reply asking for a such a breakdown if you want help getting the wording correct

But as others have said it may help if you can post copies of what they have sent you and your replies to date (remove any person info and ref numbers before posting it here)

As a general rule however you are required to be able to show your ticket when requested and your railcard - a dead phone battery does not count as a valid excuse to that rule unfortunately - but that's probably a lesson you have already learned.

 

[odetoboy]

It would help if you could post a redacted copy of the warning. Is it a warning, or a request for information?

Sorry, also experiencing a power cut right now. It’s all going on today!

Here is a redacted version of the email they sent me, I missed the request for information sent last week.

Just a reminder that the sum is approximately £3k.
~~~~~
Dear [my name]

As you have failed to provide the evidence requested on 24th of June 2025.

We have further investigated this matter and found [500ish]incidents where you have purchased fraudulent tickets at a value of £[sum]which together with our costs of £250totals £[sum+£250]and should you fail to provide the evidence requested or the sum of £[sum+250]by 8th of July 2025 we will have no alternative but to consider passing this matter to our Prosecutions Team for legal action which will increase the amount payable.

Please respond within the next 7 days from the date of this email to avoid further escalation.

Investigator ID X

Fraud and Investigations Manager

West Midlands Trains Ltd, 2nd Floor, 134 Edmund Street, Birmingham, B3 2ES

We will reply without any undue delay no later than 20 working days, please do not attend our head office in Birmingham as the West Midlands Trains Digital Fraud team are not based in this location.
~~~~
I’ve seen these being called scams and they really do read like scams, lol.

If they were scanned on the gates or by staff on trains/platforms that would show that the tickets were used by someone. It might be hard to defend against the suggestion that that person wasn't you (but not impossible of course).

However if you've definitely had a valid railcard for all those journeys it's a moot point anyway.

I’ve checked my purchase dates for each railcard and the only day i made journeys between the 8/10/24 and 11/10/24 (the 2 days when i didn’t have a railcard) was on the 10th, but i think i just bought an Adult Evening Return and foolishly one ticket in the morning using an expired railcard, it would appear. Its only a SLY-BHM return, though i assume they’ll still chuck a hearty fee on top of that.

As for my old railcard - what do i need to prove i had it? I found the email confirming my purchase from Trainline but the agent i spoke to couldn’t provide any more information because i purchased it nearly 4 years ago. Is this bad?

 

[Hadders]

These emails aren't scamsn although they way some of them are written you could easily think they were!

A railcard purchase confirmation email should be sufficient so I would send this.

 

[WesternLancer]

I’ve checked my purchase dates for each railcard and the only day i made journeys between the 8/10/24 and 11/10/24 (the 2 days when i didn’t have a railcard) was on the 10th, but i think i just bought an Adult Evening Return and foolishly one ticket in the morning using an expired railcard, it would appear. Its only a SLY-BHM return, though i assume they’ll still chuck a hearty fee on top of that.

As for my old railcard - what do i need to prove i had it? I found the email confirming my purchase from Trainline but the agent i spoke to couldn’t provide any more information because i purchased it nearly 4 years ago. Is this bad?

My advice at this stage would be to put the ball back with them but in a co-operative way - by asking them for the breakdown of journeys they are including

Then you can push back on that when you get it. Conformation of the Railcard purchase is a good start - but was it a 12 month railcard or a longer period?

 

[odetoboy]

In addition to sourcing your own records (can you not log on to you train buying account and find out - it might be a while before Trainline reply to you) or find any other evidence you may have of your old Railcards?

What you should do is politely ask the railway company for a break down of the list of journeys concerned that have given rise to the sum they are asking you for - they will then send you a spreadsheet and you can look at this against your own travel and ticket records. If you co-operate with them and can show or convince them that you have had a valid railcard then we do see that they will amend these sums requested from you where you can show you did in fact have valid tickets / railcards.

Post your draft reply asking for a such a breakdown if you want help getting the wording correct

But as others have said it may help if you can post copies of what they have sent you and your replies to date (remove any person info and ref numbers before posting it here)

As a general rule however you are required to be able to show your ticket when requested and your railcard - a dead phone battery does not count as a valid excuse to that rule unfortunately - but that's probably a lesson you have already learned.

I checked on trainline and it’s as if there’s no record of me having a Railcard pre 11/10/24, thankfully I’ve been using my email account for 7 years so it goes back that far.

I haven’t actually replied to them at all, yet, when this power cut has ended i’ll break out my laptop and draft a proper reply on here, thank you for the offer!

Would it still be helpful to send the information request?

Also i keep forgetting to mention. I received another email about an hour after the ‘Final Warning’ titled ‘Recall: Final Warning’, though i ignored this as they had my full name and email address so it’s clearly intended for me.

And as for the dead phone thing, yeah i spent hours on here trying to find out if i could appeal it, tried it anyway, and obviously got denied. It was just annoying at the time as I’m a very organised person and my phone died on me after a shift at 13%, almost theatrical that. But i understand the legality of course.

These emails aren't scamsn although they way some of them are written you could easily think they were!

A railcard purchase confirmation email should be sufficient so I would send this.

It was my first thought because the sums were so ridiculous, but after a little research yes.

That’s really good to know - i hope it is sufficient because thats the only evidence i have! And obviously i can send them a screenshot of my current Railcard.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jul 2025 ==

My advice at this stage would be to put the ball back with them but in a co-operative way - by asking them for the breakdown of journeys they are including

Then you can push back on that when you get it. Conformation of the Railcard purchase is a good start - but was it a 12 month railcard or a longer period?

Okay, I’ll start with that then, thank you.

Both of my railcards have been 3 year term railcards. As in Oct 21-24, and Oct 24-27.

 

[WesternLancer]

I checked on trainline and it’s as if there’s no record of me having a Railcard pre 11/10/24, thankfully I’ve been using my email account for 7 years so it goes back that far.

I haven’t actually replied to them at all, yet, when this power cut has ended i’ll break out my laptop and draft a proper reply on here, thank you for the offer!

Would it still be helpful to send the information request?

Also i keep forgetting to mention. I received another email about an hour after the ‘Final Warning’ titled ‘Recall: Final Warning’, though i ignored this as they had my full name and email address so it’s clearly intended for me.

And as for the dead phone thing, yeah i spent hours on here trying to find out if i could appeal it, tried it anyway, and obviously got denied. It was just annoying at the time as I’m a very organised person and my phone died on me after a shift at 13%, almost theatrical that. But i understand the legality of course.

It was my first thought because the sums were so ridiculous, but after a little research yes.

That’s really good to know - i hope it is sufficient because thats the only evidence i have! And obviously i can send them a screenshot of my current Railcard.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jul 2025 ==


Okay, I’ll start with that then, thank you.

Both of my railcards have been 3 year term railcards. As in Oct 21-24, and Oct 24-27.

So can you clarify - with a degree of confidence - the period of time when you did not have a valid railcard (dates to and from)?

also - which Railcard are we talking about?

You are not required to retain proof of old railcards but you may only be able to assert that you had one and hope they believe you.

If they are looking at tickets bought before 11/10/24 then i definitely think you need to get the draft of whatever you want to send them checked here carefully by experts before you send your reply

 

[swt_passenger]

I checked on trainline and it’s as if there’s no record of me having a Railcard pre 11/10/24, thankfully I’ve been using my email account for 7 years so it goes back that far.
[…]
Both of my railcards have been 3 year term railcards. As in Oct 21-24, and Oct 24-27.

Where did you buy your earlier railcards? If they came from the National Rail site, or over the counter at a station, as I understand it then Trainline would never know.

 

[odetoboy]

Oh, and for reference here is the original information request:
~~~~
24/06/2025



Dear [my name],



We have recently been handed a file relating to an incident on 12/01/2025 when you were approached by staff carrying out their revenue duties, you were asked to show your valid ticket but due to a Ticket discrepancy, no railcard. It has been reported to the Digital Fraud Department for further investigation.



Further investigations into this matter have been carried out, including a full review of the ticket records. It would appear, at this stage, that this may be a case of fraud.



West Midlands Trains take travel fraud extremely seriously and is committed to prosecuting all cases of fare evasion to the full extent of the law. Travelling on the railway with the intent to avoid paying the full fare is an offence under the Regulation of Railways Act 1889. Such an offence carries a maximum fine of £1,000 and/or three months’ imprisonment and, in either case, a criminal record. It must also be considered whether this matter amounts to a much more serious offence under the Fraud Act 2006.



At this stage we would be grateful if you would provide any evidence to support the claim that none of the above legislation has been contravened to prevent further action being contemplated. Please respond within seven days from the date on this email.



We look forward to hearing from you.



Investigator ID X

Fraud and Investigations Manager

West Midlands Trains Ltd, 2nd Floor, 134 Edmund Street, Birmingham, B3 2ES

We will reply without any undue delay no later than 20 working days, please do not attend our head office in Birmingham as the West Midlands Trains Digital Fraud team are not based in this location.
~~~~

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jul 2025 ==

So can you clarify - with a degree of confidence - the period of time when you did not have a valid railcard (dates to and from)?

also - which Railcard are we talking about?

You are not required to retain proof of old railcards but you may only be able to assert that you had one and hope they believe you.

If they are looking at tickets bought before 11/10/24 then i definitely think you need to get the draft of whatever you want to send them checked here carefully by experts before you send your reply

I can absolutely clarify that the first railcard expired on the 8th of October 2024, and I purchased the new one on the 11th October 2024. This leaves a single instance where i unknowingly purchased a ticket with an expired railcard hence why i bought a new ticket later, and a new railcard the next day. AIUI the journeys i made on the 8th were covered, is this true?

Both were 3 year 16-25 Railcards. I was 19 when i purchased the first one and 22 when i purchased the second one, I’m still within the age range.

Okay, I’ll draft it up soonish. Thank you for your advice.

Where did you buy your earlier railcards? If they came from the National Rail site, or over the counter at a station, as I understand it then Trainline would never know.

Both of my railcards have been (foolishly) purchased from Trainline. The agent i was speaking to said they can’t access records that are more than 2 years old, which is hilarious.

 

[womble10]

You mentioned above having an email from Trainline confirming your railcard purchase. Is this for both of the two railcards you hold/held, or just the one?

 

[WesternLancer]

Both of my railcards have been (foolishly) purchased from Trainline. The agent i was speaking to said they can’t access records that are more than 2 years old, which is hilarious.

More likely can't be concerned enough to help you by looking.... I'd switch your future buying power to another ticket retailer in future. Trainline never seem to be as helpful as one might want....this forum has abetter ticket buying facility that helps fund it's operation

any chance that you may have e-mail confirmations of buying it from them or something on old bank statements? If easy to find then that would help - but i accept that may not be possible

 

[odetoboy]

You mentioned above having an email from Trainline confirming your railcard purchase. Is this for both of the two railcards you hold/held, or just the one?

I have this information for both, the payment method is slightly different though.

More likely can't be concerned enough to help you by looking.... I'd switch your future buying power to another ticket retailer in future. Trainline never seem to be as helpful as one might want....this forum has abetter ticket buying facility that helps fund it's operation

any chance that you may have e-mail confirmations of buying it from them or something on old bank statements? If easy to find then that would help - but i accept that may not be possible

Yes, that is my plan!

I could get in touch with my bank to request an October 2021 statement.

 

[Haywain]

Both of my railcards have been (foolishly) purchased from Trainline.

If you have email records confirming the purchases that should be satisfactory, but see my comments below.

In general terms, while this email is definitely not a scam, I would normally advise against responding at all. It is highly unlikely that WMT have enough real evidence against you to bring a case to court and win. I am not convinced that anything good can come from responding even with evidence that you had held/purchased railcards and therefore have not committed any offence. It appears that WMT have already made a decision about what you owe, including their costs, and I just have doubts that they will back off easily.

 

[odetoboy]

If you have email records confirming the purchases that should be satisfactory, but see my comments below.

In general terms, while this email is definitely not a scam, I would normally advise against responding at all. It is highly unlikely that WMT have enough real evidence against you to bring a case to court and win. I am not convinced that anything good can come from responding even with evidence that you had held/purchased railcards and therefore have not committed any offence. It appears that WMT have already made a decision about what you owe, including their costs, and I just have doubts that they will back off easily.

I understand. This seems a daunting route, but I totally get why it would work. I'll still accrue evidence now in case I need to use it later - I assume what you're describing is usually how these things go? Is that the case even with the amount of money i "owe" or are they likely to gun for it harder?

 

[Haywain]

Is that the case even with the amount of money i "owe" or are they likely to gun for it harder?

They will probably follow up with another 'threatening' letter or two, but they can't really do much more than that. They don't have enough to bring criminal action, and it would be more difficult for them to seek the same amounts through the civil courts. We have yet to see one of these cases end up in court and, in any case, you have a pretty solid defence. So, my advice is to gather your evidence and then get on with your life.

 

[odetoboy]

They will probably follow up with another 'threatening' letter or two, but they can't really do much more than that. They don't have enough to bring criminal action, and it would be more difficult for them to seek the same amounts through the civil courts. We have yet to see one of these cases end up in court and, in any case, you have a pretty solid defence. So, my advice is to gather your evidence and then get on with your life.

alright, that is quite convincing. I wonder what kind of thing they'd need as evidence if they were going to take me to court? it'd have to be damning.

Thank you (and everyone else) for all the input. I'll see you all elsewhere on the forum!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jul 2025 ==

Sorry, I’d like to know other people’s thoughts on Haywain’s suggestion. My parents aren’t too pleased with that idea and I’ve just moved back into their house so there’s no real getting away from that - otherwise i would’ve just left it. I’m aware of the chance of WMT continuing to push for the full amount, but I think I’d like to go down the refined response route @WesternLancer was suggesting. I’m planning to attach the email receipts I’ve retrieved as well as an in-app screenshot, as my paper statement from October 2021 is arriving in the post in about 5 working days.

Cheers

 

[WesternLancer]

alright, that is quite convincing. I wonder what kind of thing they'd need as evidence if they were going to take me to court? it'd have to be damning.

Thank you (and everyone else) for all the input. I'll see you all elsewhere on the forum!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jul 2025 ==

Sorry, I’d like to know other people’s thoughts on Haywain’s suggestion. My parents aren’t too pleased with that idea and I’ve just moved back into their house so there’s no real getting away from that - otherwise i would’ve just left it. I’m aware of the chance of WMT continuing to push for the full amount, but I think I’d like to go down the refined response route @WesternLancer was suggesting. I’m planning to attach the email receipts I’ve retrieved as well as an in-app screenshot, as my paper statement from October 2021 is arriving in the post in about 5 working days.

Cheers

Thanks - I confess to having noticed that you had been stopped and questioned, but I'd not noted that this had resulted in a penalty fare (I assumed you had been reported for investigation but this is my fault for not reading your OP carefully).

So I can now see @Haywain 's line of thinking.

I tend to think you seem to have access to information that will establish you had a valid railcard for all (?) of the trips they are probably asking about, in which case you would have had a valid ticket. But without a list of occasions from them you can't 100% check this I assume.

If you do reply to them I tend to think in this reply you perhaps should not send them evidence of railcards etc yet - but get them to send you their list of travel undertaken that they believe you did not have a valid ticket / railcard for - this might help you establish exactly what they are accusing you of before you give them any information they can use against you. You can then take further advice here on what to do after that.

I would keep any communication to them very brief however, and assuming this is all correct, perhaps along these lines

eg

Dear Sir / Madam

ref number:

As you are aware I was stopped and questioned about my ticket and was unable to show it because my phone would not work. I was issued with a Penalty Fare which I have paid.

You are now asking me for a substantial sum of money in relation to other journeys I have taken in the past.

I would be grateful if you could send me a full breakdown of those journeys and how you have arrive at this sum of money demanded so that I can check this against my own ticket and travel records.

Yours faithfully

But maybe don't send this for 15 to 24 hours to let other experts consider this as they may give good advice on why what I suggest is a bad idea. There are some very knowledgeable people posting on your thread some giving them a chance to comment would be helpful. I'd certainly be interested in thoughts from @Hadders and others who have posted

 

[odetoboy]

Thanks - I confess to having noticed that you had been stopped and questioned, but I'd not noted that this had resulted in a penalty fare (I assumed you had been reported for investigation but this is my fault for not reading your OP carefully).

So I can now see @Haywain 's line of thinking.

I tend to think you seem to have access to information that will establish you had a valid railcard for all (?) of the trips they are probably asking about, in which case you would have had a valid ticket. But without a list of occasions from them you can't 100% check this I assume.

If you do reply to them I tend to think in this reply you perhaps should not send them evidence of railcards etc yet - but get them to send you their list of travel undertaken that they believe you did not have a valid ticket / railcard for - this might help you establish exactly what they are accusing you of before you give them any information they can use against you. You can then take further advice here on what to do after that.

I would keep any communication to them very brief however, and assuming this is all correct, perhaps along these lines

eg

Dear Sir / Madam

ref number:

As you are aware I was stopped and questioned about my ticket and was unable to show it because my phone would not work. I was issued with a Penalty Fare which I have paid.

You are now asking me for a substantial sum of money in relation to other journeys I have taken in the past.

I would be grateful if you could send me a full breakdown of those journeys and how you have arrive at this sum of money demanded so that I can check this against my own ticket and travel records.

Yours faithfully

But maybe don't send this for 15 to 24 hours to let other experts consider this as they may give good advice on why what I suggest is a bad idea. There are some very knowledgeable people posting on your thread some giving them a chance to comment would be helpful. I'd certainly be interested in thoughts from @Hadders and others who have posted

Yeah, at the time, I was simply caught by RPIs without an accessible e-ticket, it happens, just irritating that a dead phone 5 months ago has resulted in this!

I exclusively buy tickets on Trainline, so I have email receipts for every journey I've made in the time-frame they're talking about, with pretty consistent records on Trainline itself with the only missing coverage being for purchases made on my old phone (which I do still have!)

I like the idea of asking them for info, that was suggested by my partner and one of my parents, I suppose if I can find an example of a journey I didn't make that would be handy, but I know that isn't the main point.

Thanks again for the template. I'll take your advice on waiting. I've got til the 8th anyway and they've reserved the right to take 20 days so...

 

[WesternLancer]

Yeah, at the time, I was simply caught by RPIs without an accessible e-ticket, it happens, just irritating that a dead phone 5 months ago has resulted in this!

I exclusively buy tickets on Trainline, so I have email receipts for every journey I've made in the time-frame they're talking about, with pretty consistent records on Trainline itself with the only missing coverage being for purchases made on my old phone (which I do still have!)

I like the idea of asking them for info, that was suggested by my partner and one of my parents, I suppose if I can find an example of a journey I didn't make that would be handy, but I know that isn't the main point.

Thanks again for the template. I'll take your advice on waiting. I've got til the 8th anyway and they've reserved the right to take 20 days so...

asking for breakdowns of these sums when they are large is standard on this forum I think - and we often see railways provide them so it's not unusual. It's what you do next after that is the issue I guess.

Others here will definitely have thoughts for you to consider

 

[Silverlinky]

I do read about these cases with interest.

Questions for those in the know. How would WMT know about all the journeys an individual has made? Where do they get that info from?
Secondly, wouldn't it be easier to find out whether an individual held a railcard at any point in time? Isn't there a centralised database for this type of thing?
Then have they put two and two together..... checked for ownership of a railcard and found none, but checked for discounted tickets bought through Trainline and decided to bill for the total?

There would be a big hole in their system if you were able to provide evidence of a railcard that they didn't know you had. Where would that leave any of their fraud cases if they didn't have access to complete information?

 

[Haywain]

There would be a big hole in their system if you were able to provide evidence of a railcard that they didn't know you had. Where would that leave any of their fraud cases if they didn't have access to complete information?

It really doesn't leave a big hole - all cases will be based on a level of suspicion which may or may not be misplaced. They are usually based on someone using a railcard they are unlikely to have (16-17 or Job Centre Plus) or having failed to produce one when requested. However, this os not helpful to the OP so if you want to discuss it further I would suggest starting a new thread.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

How would WMT know about all the journeys an individual has made? Where do they get that info from?
Secondly, wouldn't it be easier to find out whether an individual held a railcard at any point in time? Isn't there a centralised database for this type of thing?

They don't know about journeys taken, only tickets purchased. Hence the advice not to reply.

I don't think there is a central database of railcards. Some sellers of these are better at retaining historic records than others. Ticket sellers have no direct knowledge of railcards held if it wasn't them that sold it. Instead they are trusting that discounted tickets will only be used in conjuction with the terms and conditions.

 

[crablab]

I don't usually comment in this section. I make an exception given your situation & responses to other posters.

I would agree with the advice given by @Haywain, which is similar to the advice given by @AlterEgo in adjacent situations.

There is nothing to be gained by responding to these fishing expeditions if you're confident that you've not done anything wrong.

To successfully prosecute either a RoRA or Bylaw offence, WMT would need to show (in simple terms) both:
a) you made the journeys in question
b) the ticket was invalid on each occasion

Both beyond reasonable doubt.

At the moment they merely suspect b) is true based on a single instance of a PF (which was disposed of, as you paid it) and your purchase history. That does not prove b) beyond reasonable doubt, and it shows little related to a).

It is a leap to go from one instance of an unrelated PF to assuming most (all?) of your online purchasing history is fraudulent. Remember - you have a presumption of innocence until proven otherwise. And suspicion ≠ proof.

So there is no advantage to entering dialogue with them, assuming your ticket purchasing history really is legit, as they cannot show a) or b) to be true. As the caution goes "anything you say may be used in evidence" - that applies here.

It may be a little uncomfortable and awkward, but unfortunately these fishing expeditions are really just looking for people to tread on rakes. There's no reason for you to do that and it's the same logic a solicitor would likely use to advise a 'no comment' interview before adequate disclosure.

To satisfy them you'll need to justify all 500-ish journeys, and they only have to find one minor transgression for it to be a major headache.

You may find this post useful.

It's much better to leave well alone.

(General 'IANAL' disclosure, this is just an opinion)

 

[odetoboy]

I don't usually comment in this section. I make an exception given your situation & responses to other posters.

I would agree with the advice given by @Haywain, which is similar to the advice given by @AlterEgo in adjacent situations.

There is nothing to be gained by responding to these fishing expeditions if you're confident that you've not done anything wrong.

To successfully prosecute either a RoRA or Bylaw offence, WMT would need to show (in simple terms) both:
a) you made the journeys in question
b) the ticket was invalid on each occasion

Both beyond reasonable doubt.

At the moment they merely suspect b) is true based on a single instance of a PF (which was disposed of, as you paid it) and your purchase history. That does not prove b) beyond reasonable doubt, and it shows little related to a).

It is a leap to go from one instance of an unrelated PF to assuming most (all?) of your online purchasing history is fraudulent. Remember - you have a presumption of innocence until proven otherwise. And suspicion ≠ proof.

So there is no advantage to entering dialogue with them, assuming your ticket purchasing history really is legit, as they cannot show a) or b) to be true.

It may be a little uncomfortable and awkward, but unfortunately these fishing expeditions are really just looking for people to tread on rakes. There's no reason for you to do that and it's the same logic a solicitor would likely use to advise a 'no comment' interview before adequate disclosure.

To satisfy then you'll need to justify all 500-ish journeys, and they only have to find one minor transgression for it to be a major headache.

It's much better to leave well alone.

(General 'IANAL' disclosure, this is just an opinion)

Thank you very much for your input.

 

[Haywain]

Is this the type of situation where i should try and settle or leave it?

As previously advised, do nothing.

 

[odetoboy]

As previously advised, do nothing.

OK, thanks again, i apologise for being a little jumpy.