GTR Notice of Intent to Prosecute

[Banye]

Hi all,

I had a railcard 16-25 mature student for the last 1 year valid till 5th March 2025. 19th March I was travelling short distance and I got checked in the station. I could not show them railcard, I told the officer I dont have it with me, he explained to enter the railcard website where I should see it. it was a mess, I could not do that as well. Only that day after the check point I realized that railcard expired on 5th march and I did 7 journeys between 5th and 19th March with expired railcard. I immediately purchased a railcard on 19th but it was obviously after the journey and activation code was valid from 19th March. GTR prosecution team received my both railcards - expired one and new one. after 3 months almost I received today a notice of intent to prosecute. I wonder what they were doing during that time. I was happy that my case is settled but it is not... So couple of questions here..

1. Should I send them my 7 journeys history or I will expose myself? - I always purchase e tickets so they have my whole history in southern website if they want to see it
2. what is the likelihood of avoiding court but just paying full fares and admin fees?
3. should I write them email and at the same time send them printed documents as they ask in their letter that I have to write them back in letter with supporting documents.

the think is that I was truely forgot about expiration date, I assumed I still have 1 months to update it. and within a year of having it literally nobody ever asked it, but only after expiration I got caught

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

It's your responsibility to make sure your railcard is valid when you use it to travel with discounted tickets. However inadvertent it was, you've committed a criminal offence and GTR are entitled to prosecute you if they want to.

As things stand, GTR are asking you to upload a copy of your railcard because you told the inspector who stopped you that you didn't have it with you. You can't do this because but rather than do nothing I would write a short, concise letter mentioning that your railcard had expired but also add that:

- That you are sorry for what has happened
- What you have learned from the incident
- That you are keen to settle the matter without the need for court action
- Offer to pay the outstanding fare and the GTR's administrative costs in dealing with the matter

Send the letter to their postal address on the letter and make sure you include your details and the case reference number.

I expect GTR will offer you an out of court settlement costing the outstanding fare at the full Anytime rate with no credit given for the invalid ticket you did purchase plus an admin fee of £150. They will probably search your online ticket purchasing history and factor into the settlement fee any other journeys made since the railcard expired.

If you post a draft of your reply in this thread forum members will proof read it for you.

 

[Banye]

Welcome to the forum!

It's your responsibility to make sure your railcard is valid when you use it to travel with discounted tickets. However inadvertent it was, you've committed a criminal offence and GTR are entitled to prosecute you if they want to.

As things stand, GTR are asking you to upload a copy of your railcard because you told the inspector who stopped you that you didn't have it with you. You can't do this because but rather than do nothing I would write a short, concise letter mentioning that your railcard had expired but also add that:

- That you are sorry for what has happened
- What you have learned from the incident
- That you are keen to settle the matter without the need for court action
- Offer to pay the outstanding fare and the GTR's administrative costs in dealing with the matter

Send the letter to their postal address on the letter and make sure you include your details and the case reference number.

I expect GTR will offer you an out of court settlement costing the outstanding fare at the full Anytime rate with no credit given for the invalid ticket you did purchase plus an admin fee of £150. They will probably search your online ticket purchasing history and factor into the settlement fee any other journeys made since the railcard expired.

If you post a draft of your reply in this thread forum members will proof read it for you.

Thank you very much for the response. Appreciate your answer. I will post a drafted letter here. Do you recomment it to their their gtrprosecutions email address alongside with the mail as well or it is not needed?

 

[Hadders]

Thank you very much for the response. Appreciate your answer. I will post a drafted letter here. Do you recomment it to their their gtrprosecutions email address alongside with the mail as well or it is not needed?

Might be best to post and email to be certain.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you very much for the response. Appreciate your answer. I will post a drafted letter here. Do you recomment it to their their gtrprosecutions email address alongside with the mail as well or it is not needed?

IIRC GTR do not accept these types of responses by e mail so maybe best to post it. Use tracked postage and keep a record of it.

 

[Banye]

Hi all, I have drafted this letter for GTR: Would appreaciate your feedback!

______________________________________

I am writing in response to your letter regarding the incident that happened on 19 March 2025 at 16:55.

I have been a holder of a 16–25 Railcard since 5 March 2024, which was valid till 5th March 2025. Unfortunately, I did not realise that my Railcard had expired by the date of travel. I informed the inspector that I do not the railcard with me at the moment when they asked at 16:55 that I do not carry it with me. And when I came home I realized that I mistook the other travel card for a railcard.

As soon as I returned home and checked the Railcard website, I realised the my Railcard had expired which I assumed I have one month time to update it. I immediately contacted Railcard Customer Services and I saw that renewal was not automatic. I made a purchase on 19th March for 1-year railcard. Unfortunately, this renewal occurred after the 19th March train journey. Please understand that this was an honest mistake, not an attempt to avoid paying the correct fare. I simply overlooked the renewal date during a particularly busy period. After this incident, I have uploaded the railcard app to my phone, and the digital version is always with me to show a valid railcard anytime when requested.

I kindly ask you to offer me an out-of-court settlement, such as outstanding fares and or administrative costs required for this case.

For your reference, I attach my old railcard, current railcard, and order history of railcards.

I now have a valid Railcard that is active until March 2026, and I will ensure that I renew it in advance in the future to avoid such issues.

Thank you very much for your time and understanding.

 

[30907]

I have been a holder of a 16–25 Railcard since 5 March 2024, which was valid till 5th March 2025. Unfortunately, I did not realise that my Railcard had expired by the date of travel. I informed the inspector that I do not the railcard with me at the moment when they asked at 16:55

Do you mean "did not have"?

that I do not carry it with me.

You are required to carry it with you - you should probably delete this.

And when I came home I realized that I mistook the other travel card for a railcard.

I don't understand this.

As soon as I returned home and checked the Railcard website, I realised the my Railcard had expired which I assumed I have one month time to update it. I immediately contacted Railcard Customer Services and I saw that renewal was not automatic.

Delete this - it's not relevant. Railcard normally send a reminder mail BTW.

I thinkcthe rest is OK.

 

[Hadders]

Your draft letter is on the right lines. I suggest a few minor amendments:

that I do not carry it with me. And when I came home I realized that I mistook the other travel card for a railcard.

Take this out. You must carry your railcard when you make a journey. Just say you didn't have it with you.

which I assumed I have one month time to update it. I immediately contacted Railcard Customer Services and I saw that renewal was not automatic.

Again, I'd remove this. All that matters is the railcard was out of date.

I made a purchase on 19th March for 1-year railcard. Unfortunately, this renewal occurred after the 19th March train journey.

Suggest a minor change to 'Later that day I purchased a new 1-year railcard.

I kindly ask you to offer me an out-of-court settlement, such as outstanding fares and or administrative costs required for this case.

I'd reword it to say 'I wondered if it would be possible to settle this matter without having to go to court. I am willing to pay the outstanding fare plus your administrative costs in dealing with this matter'.

 

[Banye]

Your draft letter is on the right lines. I suggest a few minor amendments:


Take this out. You must carry your railcard when you make a journey. Just say you didn't have it with you.


Again, I'd remove this. All that matters is the railcard was out of date.


Suggest a minor change to 'Later that day I purchased a new 1-year railcard.


I'd reword it to say 'I wondered if it would be possible to settle this matter without having to go to court. I am willing to pay the outstanding fare plus your administrative costs in dealing with this matter'.

Thank you very much for your feedback! Highly appreciated. I will make nthe ecessary changes. this helps a lot!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jul 2025 ==

GTR sent me a spare sheet to write a response. Does it make any difference if I send the response printed, or should I handwrite on their paper?

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you very much for your feedback! Highly appreciated. I will make nthe ecessary changes. this helps a lot!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jul 2025 ==

GTR sent me a spare sheet to write a response. Does it make any difference if I send the response printed, or should I handwrite on their paper?

The consensus here is to write ‘please see attached’ on their paper work that they want you to reply on then send a typed letter that includes your address and ref number in case things get separated their end and sign it with your name printed.

Post it tracked post and keep copies of everything sent.