Gave false details and unsure what to do. Need help!!

[c2001]

A few days ago I was caught with having a train ticket purchased from a station one stop away from the one I get off to save money. Eventually they knew I was lying and I told them I got on at a different station instead which would have cost something like £3 more. I know it’s stupid of me and I’m regretting it a lot.

On top of this, I gave the ticket inspectors false details and I’m unsure whether I take the risk and hope I don’t get caught or contact them and hope for an out of court settlement. If I 100% knew they’d settle the case with just a penalty fare and not taking me to court I’d happily do that. Can I have some help please?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

A few days ago I was caught with having a train ticket purchased from a station one stop away from the one I get off to save money. Eventually they knew I was lying and I told them I got on at a different station instead which would have cost something like £3 more. I know it’s stupid of me and I’m regretting it a lot.

On top of this, I gave the ticket inspectors false details and I’m unsure whether I take the risk and hope I don’t get caught or contact them and hope for an out of court settlement. If I 100% knew they’d settle the case with just a penalty fare and not taking me to court I’d happily do that. Can I have some help please?

The false details were fake name and address but correct date of birth.

 

[styles]

How was the ticket purchased?

Do you travel on this route often?

What was the fare you paid, and the fare which you should've paid?

 

[c2001]

How was the ticket purchased?

Do you travel on this route often?

What was the fare you paid, and the fare which you should've paid?

 

[jfollows]

They will not settle with a Penalty Fare because this can only be issued at the time, but if you’ve been reported for prosecution you will have a reference number and, if you’ve give us the information requested at https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/please-read-before-posting-in-disputes-prosecutions.77759/, we can probably advise you further.

If you don’t correct your details with them, they will try to take you to court, but they may be unable to identify you although they will try.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

If nothing else, we need to know who took your details, which train company? But if you don’t give us more details we will be limited in how much we can help you further.

 

[c2001]

Hi, thank you for replying. The ticket was purchased through trainline app. I travel on this route often. Most of the time I purchase the ticket from one stop away. I should be paying £6.10 but then usually pay £3.10 instead

How was the ticket purchased?

Do you travel on this route often?

What was the fare you paid, and the fare which you should've paid?

How was the ticket purchased?

Do you travel on this route often?

What was the fare you paid, and the fare which you should've paid?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

They will not settle with a Penalty Fare because this can only be issued at the time, but if you’ve been reported for prosecution you will have a reference number and, if you’ve give us the information requested at https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/please-read-before-posting-in-disputes-prosecutions.77759/, we can probably advise you further.

If you don’t correct your details with them, they will try to take you to court, but they may be unable to identify you although they will t

They will not settle with a Penalty Fare because this can only be issued at the time, but if you’ve been reported for prosecution you will have a reference number and, if you’ve give us the information requested at https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/please-read-before-posting-in-disputes-prosecutions.77759/, we can probably advise you further.

If you don’t correct your details with them, they will try to take you to court, but they may be unable to identify you although they will try.

What do you think will happen if I correct my details with them?

 

[c2001]

They will not settle with a Penalty Fare because this can only be issued at the time, but if you’ve been reported for prosecution you will have a reference number and, if you’ve give us the information requested at https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/please-read-before-posting-in-disputes-prosecutions.77759/, we can probably advise you further.

If you don’t correct your details with them, they will try to take you to court, but they may be unable to identify you although they will try.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

If nothing else, we need to know who took your details, which train company? But if you don’t give us more details we will be limited in how much we can help you further.

It was revenue officer and it was through West Midlands railway

 

[c2001]

It was revenue officer and it was through West Midlands railway.

West mids railway

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

Not sure if you’re seeing my messages

 

[styles]

If it's purchased via Trainline, they scanned your ticket at the time, then they essentially have your details and your travel history, including showing you doing this often.

I would proactively contact them to inform them that they have the wrong name and address.

 

[c2001]

What do you think will happen if I contact them and explain

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

Do you think they will take me to court for proving false information

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

What do you think will happen if I contact them and explain

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

Do you think they will take me to court for proving false information

Also can someone provide an email of who I contact

 

[John R]

You’ve committed a separate criminal offence by giving false details, so in theory they could, but in practice if you fess up now as to the false details, they will be more interested in getting an out of court settlement out of you. You can achieve that by being honest, cooperative and very apologetic when they subsequently write to you.

 

[c2001]

I’m trying to contact them but can’t find any contact numbers. They gave me receipt which I’m guessing a prosecution case.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I’m trying to contact them but can’t find any contact numbers. They gave me receipt which I’m guessing a prosecution case.

Could always write to them at the following postal address....
Fraud and Investigations Team Manager, West Midlands Trains Ltd., 2nd Floor, 134 Edmund Street, Birmingham. B3 2ES

 

[c2001]

I’ve just spoken to someone from west midlands over the phone they’ve recommended me to contact customer.services@ital-uk.com tomorrow. They said the team will be reasonable and will want to sort things out of court so hopefully that’s the case

 

[Hadders]

A couple of things:

• The false details you gave - were these a 'real' person you know? If so, they are going to end up getting letters about your case. You need to have a conversation with them about this.
• The matter won't go away. The best thing you can do is contact WMR about this. ITAL do work on behalf of WMT but I'm not sure it's them you need to contact at this stage. I'd have thought it would be WMR Prosecutions department. They are the people who normally send out initial letters.

 

[c2001]

The person was completely made up name and the woman over the phone who works for West Midlands told me to contact ITAL

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

The person was completely made up name and the woman over the phone who works for West Midlands told me to contact ITAL

I haven't heard anything from no one yet the incident only happened on Thursday 3rd July I just want to get it sorted to avoid being prosecuted

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

A couple of things:

• The false details you gave - were these a 'real' person you know? If so, they are going to end up getting letters about your case. You need to have a conversation with them about this.
• The matter won't go away. The best thing you can do is contact WMR about this. ITAL do work on behalf of WMT but I'm not sure it's them you need to contact at this stage. I'd have thought it would be WMR Prosecutions department. They are the people who normally send out initial letters.

Is there a contact number for WMR Prosecutions Department

 

[Hadders]

The person was completely made up name and the woman over the phone who works for West Midlands told me to contact ITAL

I wouldn't necessarily trust what customer services say. Perhaps a forum member with loinks to WMR can comment.

My understanding is that ITAL deal with appeals against Penalty Fares. But you weren't given a Penalty Fare, you details were taken for investigation and these are done by the Prosecutions Department.

 

[c2001]

I wouldn't necessarily trust what customer services say. Perhaps a forum member with loinks to WMR can comment.

My understanding is that ITAL deal with appeals against Penalty Fares. But you weren't given a Penalty Fare, you details were taken for investigation and these are done by the Prosecutions Department.

What do you think will end up happening

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

What do you think will end up happening

Also why don’t you necessarily trust what customer services say? And do you think I should prosecutions@ital-uk.com instead?

 

[Hadders]

What do you think will end up happening

If you co-operate with WMT then there's a good chance of being offered an out of court settlement.

Also why don’t you necessarily trust what customer services say? And do you think I should prosecutions@ital-uk.com instead?

Customer services aren't experts in prosecution processes. A look through the forum will see customer services often give incorrect advice.

Prosecutions departments and ITAL won't deal with you by phone. This sort of thing needs to be put in writing, that way you have a record of what's been sent and when.

It would probably be wise to contact both ITAL and WMT. The email address for their digital fraud team is:

DigitalFraudTeam@wmtrains.co.uk I'm not sure if there's another one for Prosecutions.

 

[c2001]

Ok thank you I’ve written up an email and I’ll send it over just hopefully they’ll offer me and out of court settlement

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

What do you think I’ll need to include on email?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

What do you think I’ll need to include on email?

Are you expecting the forum to write it for you? Really?

 

[c2001]

Not to write it for me but like a step by step

 

[WesternLancer]

I’m trying to contact them but can’t find any contact numbers. They gave me receipt which I’m guessing a prosecution case.

You should not be ringing them at all. You need to contact them in writing by e mail or post.

And you need to contact the revenue enforcement team at WMR not eg customer services.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

Ok thank you I’ve written up an email and I’ll send it over just hopefully they’ll offer me and out of court settlement

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

What do you think I’ll need to include on email?

If you have not been contacted by them yet DO NOT write to them about anything other than to give them your correct name and address

This is very important at this stage.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

Not to write it for me but like a step by step

You do not need this advice at this stage.

 

[c2001]

How will they contact me if they’ve not got my correct details eg: name and address is fake? So are you saying I should leave it for now and wait and see what happens to see if they contact me. I just want to sort it out to save all the stress

 

[WesternLancer]

Ok thank you I’ve written up an email and I’ll send it over just hopefully they’ll offer me and out of court settlement

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

What do you think I’ll need to include on email?

All you should say in your e mail is

Dear Sir/ Madam

I was stopped on x date at y location and qeustioned about the validity of my rail ticket.

I was given this ref number xxxxx

Unfortunately I did not give correct personal detail and I would like to apologise for this.

Please note my correct name and address is …..

Yours faithfully

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

How will they contact me if they’ve not got my correct details eg: name and address is fake? So are you saying I should leave it for now and wait and see what happens to see if they contact me. I just want to sort it out to save all the stress

No. I’m saying give them your correct details now and that is all. Give it to the two organisations listed above using the addresses listed.

Then when they write to you come back here on what to do next because that is how you will then best be able to try to avoid court

 

[c2001]

All you should say in your e mail is

Dear Sir/ Madam

I was stopped on x date at y location and qeustioned about the validity of my rail ticket.

I was given this ref number xxxxx

Unfortunately I did not give correct personal detail and I would like to apologise for this.

Please note my correct name and address is …..

Yours faithfully

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==


No. I’m saying give them your correct details now and that is all. Give it to the two organisations listed above using the addresses listed.

Then when they write to you come back here on what to do next because that is how you will then best be able to try to avoid court

Ok thank you I really appreciate it!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

DigitalFraudTeam@wmtrains.co.uk
Should I contact that email address?

 

[WesternLancer]

If you want your best chance of avoiding court then you need to follow the tried and tested advice here because it’s based on lots of other cases similar to yours.

Do have a look at some other threads involving WMR to get an idea of things.

 

[c2001]

Thank you I appreciate it

 

[WesternLancer]

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

DigitalFraudTeam@wmtrains.co.uk
Should I contact that email address?

Yes I would think so. And it the postal one too for WMR (print off your e mail and post it to them as well second class post)

You can also e mail it to ital I would think.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2025 ==

The basic key to not getting prosecuted and being offered an out of court settlement is being co operative with them.

Telling them your correct details is the start of that co operation route really.

They probably already have your details from your ticket scan so would find them anyway but would then think you are trying to avoid being found. By correcting that now you are changing that narrative in your favour. In my view.

 

[c2001]

Thank you I’ve just emailed both of them hopefully I’ll receive a positive response!

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you I’ve just emailed both of them hopefully I’ll receive a positive response!

Yes. Then head back here for help as things progress.

You need to be prepared for the fact that they will trawl your trainline account for other instances of this sort of evasion and seek to get you to pay for other fares they think you have avoided. They will use the info on your ticket scan to help do that. You can’t prevent this by eg deleting your account by the way so don’t do that as it puts you in a disadvantaged position.

That will be why they didn’t issue a Penalty Fare on the spot I would think as they will want to see what they think you owe overall.