Fined on SWR for not producing a railcard

[ricezn]

I was fined going to waterloo for not being able to produce a railcard. I later found this railcard after i got off the train but it wasnt activated because of trip.com. I had bought this railcard in may and it just wasnt activated. I activated it when i found out it wasnt like an hour later. I have also sent an appeal that has my railcard attatched. Do you lot think the appeal would work? I just want some advice or someone elses thoughts so I can mentally prepare if 70 quid is going out of my account and so I can stop stressing.

 

[notmyrealname]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

It would be helpful if you could show us any paperwork that you were given on the day please. Make sure you cover up your name, address and any reference numbers.

 

[jfollows]

If your railcard was valid at the time you bought a ticket with it, then you’ll be able to show it and your appeal will succeed.

If your railcard was not valid because it wasn’t activated in some way, then it’s unlikely your appeal will succeed.

 

[ricezn]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

It would be helpful if you could show us any paperwork that you were given on the day please. Make sure you cover up your name, address and any reference numbers.

Ive attatched the paperwork here

If your railcard was valid at the time you bought a ticket with it, then you’ll be able to show it and your appeal will succeed.

If your railcard was not valid because it wasn’t activated in some way, then it’s unlikely your appeal will succeed.

Let's say it doesnt succeed, I would just pay the 70 quid that I owe them right? and nothing else happens afterwards?

 

[jfollows]

Ive attatched the paperwork here

Let's say it doesnt succeed, I would just pay the 70 quid that I owe them right? and nothing else happens afterwards?

Yes.
A Penalty Fare paid closes the issue.
They will retain a record so if you fall foul of them in future they might take you to court, but there is nothing else to follow from this event if it’s paid.
The clock for the reduced amount stops during your appeal also.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Let's say it doesnt succeed, I would just pay the 70 quid that I owe them right? and nothing else happens afterwards?

If you pay the £70.50 in time (n.b. the clock stops for £70.50 rather than £120.50 while you've got an appeal in, but starts again if the appeal is rejected) that will be the end of the matter for this incident. But there's a possibility that now the railway know about you, they may look back at any other tickets that you bought and want to check that you bought them properly.

 

[ricezn]

Yes.
A Penalty Fare paid closes the issue.
They will retain a record so if you fall foul of them in future they might take you to court, but there is nothing else to follow from this event if it’s paid.
The clock for the reduced amount stops during your appeal also.

If you pay the £70.50 in time (n.b. the clock stops for £70.50 rather than £120.50 while you've got an appeal in, but starts again if the appeal is rejected) that will be the end of the matter for this incident. But there's a possibility that now the railway know about you, they may look back at any other tickets that you bought and want to check that you bought them properly.

Is it worth to pay now while the appeal is in progress? as to stop them from potentially auditing my past purchases (i think ive only done 2 with the railcard). And if I do, will it automatically stop the appeal

 

[Bertie the bus]

Yes.
A Penalty Fare paid closes the issue.
They will retain a record so if you fall foul of them in future they might take you to court, but there is nothing else to follow from this event if it’s paid.
The clock for the reduced amount stops during your appeal also.

That's a bold statement. It seems TOCs are more frequently checking purchase history after people are caught so the OP could easily receive a demand for payment for other times the railcard has been used, assuming non-activation makes it invalid.

 

[AlterEgo]

Is it worth to pay now while the appeal is in progress? as to stop them from potentially auditing my past purchases (i think ive only done 2 with the railcard). And if I do, will it automatically stop the appeal

Paying the penalty fare now or later won't have any impact on whether the train company audits your past purchases.

 

[jfollows]

That's a bold statement. It seems TOCs are more frequently checking purchase history after people are caught so the OP could easily receive a demand for payment for other times the railcard has been used, assuming non-activation makes it invalid.

Payment closes the specific issue for which the Penalty Fare was issued.

Looking into purchase history and issuing fishing emails is a different issue.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2025 ==

Is it worth to pay now while the appeal is in progress? as to stop them from potentially auditing my past purchases (i think ive only done 2 with the railcard). And if I do, will it automatically stop the appeal

No. Makes no difference. If they’re going to audit your purchase history they’ll do it anyway.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2025 ==

Is it worth to pay now while the appeal is in progress? as to stop them from potentially auditing my past purchases (i think ive only done 2 with the railcard). And if I do, will it automatically stop the appeal

If you subsequently receive anything from them along the lines of an audit of past purchase history, I advise you to come here for advice before responding to them in any way.

 

[ricezn]

This might be a dumb question but If I show them the purchase date, even if the railcard is invalid, will they let me off if the appeal is rejected? I had full intention of purchasing the railcard, I just didnt know I had to activate it from Trip.com

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2025 ==

Payment closes the specific issue for which the Penalty Fare was issued.

Looking into purchase history and issuing fishing emails is a different issue.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2025 ==


No. Makes no difference. If they’re going to audit your purchase history they’ll do it anyway.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2025 ==


If you subsequently receive anything from them along the lines of an audit of past purchase history, I advise you to come here for advice before responding to them in any way.

will do that, thank you

 

[Fawkes Cat]

This might be a dumb question but If I show them the purchase date, even if the railcard is invalid, will they let me off if the appeal is rejected? I had full intention of purchasing the railcard, I just didnt know I had to activate it from Trip.com

I don't think that will work - the question the railway will want answering is whether you held a valid railcard when you travelled.

I don't know enough about railcards purchased through Trip. com to say when they became valid (time of purchase or time of activation?), but now you have activated your card, look at what the expiry date is. In practice, I would expect the railway to accept that it was valid for a year before that: so as an example, if the railcard shows an expiry date of 14 August 2026, it would be valid from 15 August 2025.

 

[ricezn]

I don't think that will work - the question the railway will want answering is whether you held a valid railcard when you travelled.

I don't know enough about railcards purchased through Trip. com to say when they became valid (time of purchase or time of activation?), but now you have activated your card, look at what the expiry date is. In practice, I would expect the railway to accept that it was valid for a year before that: so as an example, if the railcard shows an expiry date of 14 August 2026, it would be valid from 15 August 2025.

The expiry says 22 august 2028, and i was travelling on the 23rd. Is there a timestamp of activation?

 

[Fawkes Cat]

The expiry says 22 august 2028, and i was travelling on the 23rd. Is there a timestamp of activation?

I believe that there is. Hopefully someone who knows for certain will be along shortly.

It's beginning to look most likely to me that the most straightforward option will be to get ready to pay the £70.50.

 

[AlterEgo]

This might be a dumb question but If I show them the purchase date, even if the railcard is invalid, will they let me off if the appeal is rejected?

Not likely, because the railcard wasn't valid; that you didn't activate it means the expiry date is further in the future than if you had.

The expiry says 22 august 2028, and i was travelling on the 23rd. Is there a timestamp of activation?

It will not have been valid before your journey; this much is obvious from the expiry date, which is exactly 3 years into the future less a day.

 

[ricezn]

Thank you all for the advice and words, I will just mentally prepare to pay the 70 quid and not go on a couple nights out.

 

[notmyrealname]

You could also make a reminder for yourself a long way ahead, about renewing the card. You may not get a reminder.

 

[ricezn]

You could also make a reminder for yourself a long way ahead, about renewing the card. You may not get a reminder.

That is smart, i will set a reminder for myself. Thank you also

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2025 ==

another note does anyone know how long it takes for them to respond?

 

[furlong]

Saturday afternoon Wokingham to Waterloo costs £18.10 EVA

Wrong fare => appeal because not issued in accordance with the regulations
(plus probably wasn't issued to the next station)

We've seen people tricked like this by trip.com before - the regulatory framework should have dealt with it long ago.

 

[ricezn]

Saturday afternoon Wokingham to Waterloo costs £18.10 EVA

Wrong fare => appeal because not issued in accordance with the regulations
(plus probably wasn't issued to the next station)

We've seen people tricked like this by trip.com before - the regulatory framework should have dealt with it long ago.

so i can appeal because it was not issued with regulations? he gave it to me ages away from waterloo