SWR fare evasion and letter received

[cj1212]

Hi all,

Really sorry but I was caught short fared last month at Waterloo station by purchasing a fare from Vauxhall to Waterloo to exit the station. I was extremely embarrassed and scared, told the inspector the start station was Surbiton, but in fact it was Claygate. I felt guilty and shamed of myself since then, and travelling with the correct ticket ever since. I have received the letter today as attached, and wondering if anyone here can help to advise, that given I have ticket purchasing history of short fared over last 18months, do I need to include this information and details in the reply to them?

I would like to do everything to settle it outside of court, and really appreciate your advise please.

Thank you so much.

 

[z444z]

I have ticket purchasing history of short fared over last 18months, do I need to include this information and details in the reply to them?

They are likely to discover this and it will be expensive. However there’s nothing to gain by telling them about it in your initial reply. Just be careful not to imply that this was a mistake or a one off as it clearly wasn’t.

There are loads of similar cases, but you basically need to, in as much of your own words as possible (don’t directly copy my words below, other posts or use AI), apologise, assure them it won’t happen again, ask if they’d be willing to settle the matter out of court, and say that you’re prepared to pay the fare due and their admin costs.

Please have a look through similar cases and write a draft for us to review.

For reference, Claygate to Waterloo will be charged at the Anytime £9.60 and again for the return. 5 days a week for 18 months would add up to £6912. If you can count how many return journeys you’ve done this and multiply it by £19.20 that’ll be your rough total (plus probably a £150 admin fee).

If your total is anywhere near that amount, this could be one of the rare cases where a significant amount of money could be saved by accepting a criminal conviction (likely to cost less than £1000) instead of a settlement, but that’s for you to weigh up (with our help) and regardless the first step should be a standard apology not acknowledging other fare evasion, on the off chance they don’t investigate.

 

[Haywain]

If your total is anywhere near that amount, this could be one of the rare cases where a significant amount of money could be saved by accepting a criminal conviction (likely to cost less than £1000) instead of a settlement, but that’s for you to weigh up (with our help) and regardless the first step should be a standard apology not acknowledging other fare evasion, on the off chance they don’t investigate.

Although you would also need to weigh up the possibility of a civil claim for the those journeys that would not be part of the prosecution. So, accepting a prosecution should not necessarily be seen as 'saving' nearly £7000.

 

[cj1212]

They are likely to discover this and it will be expensive. However there’s nothing to gain by telling them about it in your initial reply. Just be careful not to imply that this was a mistake or a one off as it clearly wasn’t.

There are loads of similar cases, but you basically need to, in as much of your own words as possible (don’t directly copy my words below, other posts or use AI), apologise, assure them it won’t happen again, ask if they’d be willing to settle the matter out of court, and say that you’re prepared to pay the fare due and their admin costs.

Please have a look through similar cases and write a draft for us to review.

For reference, Claygate to Waterloo will be charged at the Anytime £9.60 and again for the return. 5 days a week for 18 months would add up to £6912. If you can count how many return journeys you’ve done this and multiply it by £19.20 that’ll be your rough total (plus probably a £150 admin fee).

If your total is anywhere near that amount, this could be one of the rare cases where a significant amount of money could be saved by accepting a criminal conviction (likely to cost less than £1000) instead of a settlement, but that’s for you to weigh up (with our help) and regardless the first step should be a standard apology not acknowledging other fare evasion, on the off chance they don’t investigate.

Thank you very much for your advice. For 2/3 of the time I have travelled from Surbiton by contactless. I would definitely want to settle outside of the court regardless of the amount. Below is my draft response, and appreciate if you can review and share the advice please:

Dear X,

I’m writing to respond your letter I have received with ref xx regarding my travel journey that was stopped by revenue protection officer on xx date.

On this occasion, when I was stopped by the officer at Waterloo station, I was extremely nervous and incorrectly stated that I had started my journey from Surbiton, when I actually boarded at Claygate. I soon realised how inappropriate that response was and am deeply regret not giving the correct information at the time. I would like to sincerely apologise for the wrong decisions I have made which has impact on SWR and take full responsibility for my actions.

Since then, I have taken full responsibility and reflected seriously on every journey I took. (I could attach the contactless charges for every journeys I have taken ever since if necessary) This has been an important lesson to me, and I am fully committed to ensure it never happens again.

I would be very grateful if you would consider settling this matter without legal proceedings. I’m committed to pay the owed fares plus any administrative costs incurred promptly if given the opportunity to do so. I sincerely appreciate your consideration.

Yours sincerely

 

[z444z]

Although you would also need to weigh up the possibility of a civil claim for the those journeys that would not be part of the prosecution. So, accepting a prosecution should not necessarily be seen as 'saving' nearly £7000.

True.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Feb 2026 ==

Dear X,

I’m writing to respond your letter I have received with ref xx regarding my travel journey that was stopped by revenue protection officer on xx date.

Put the reference at the top and remove it from this paragraph. Remove the word travel, or remove “travel” and “that was stopped by revenue protection officer”. Preferably the second, keep it shorter.

On this occasion, when I was stopped by the officer at Waterloo station, I was extremely nervous and incorrectly stated that I had started my journey from Surbiton, when I actually boarded at Claygate. I soon realised how inappropriate that response was and am deeply regret not giving the correct information at the time. I would like to sincerely apologise for the wrong decisions I have made which has impact on SWR and take full responsibility for my actions.

“Quickly” might be better than “soon”. I’m not entirely sure why but this would read better to me without the word “wrong”. “I have made which has impact” isn’t grammatically correct and “I have made and the impact they have had on SWR” reads better. I’d also separate “I take full responsibility for my actions” into a new sentence and add an apology to that sentence.

Since then, I have taken full responsibility and reflected seriously on every journey I took. (I could attach the contactless charges for every journeys I have taken ever since if necessary)

Just remove all of this, you’ve already said you’ve taken full responsibility right above, and this could be read as you reflecting on all the evasion you’ve done which you don’t want to say at this stage.

This has been an important lesson to me, and I am fully committed to ensure it never happens again.

Good.

I would be very grateful if you would consider settling this matter without legal proceedings. I’m committed to pay the owed fares plus any administrative costs incurred promptly if given the opportunity to do so. I sincerely appreciate your consideration.

Committed isn’t quite the right word, maybe prepared?

I’m being extra picky with this one because of the large amount of money at stake - though realistically any half decent reply to SWR will get the same result, best to be careful.

Do make these changes and post a new draft for us to review

 

[duffield]

...
I soon realised how inappropriate that response was and am deeply regret not giving the correct information at the time.
...

Remove the "am", it's ungrammatical.

 

[cj1212]

Thank you all for your help. Below the revised draft please:

Dear X,

I’m writing to respond your letter I have received regarding my journey on xx date.

On this occasion, when I was stopped by the officer at Waterloo station, I was extremely nervous and incorrectly stated that I had started my journey from Surbiton, when I actually boarded at Claygate. I quickly realised how inappropriate that response was and deeply regret not giving the correct information at the time. I would like to sincerely apologise for the decisions I have made and the impact they have had on SWR. I take full responsibility for my actions and words, and I am truly sorry for my behaviour.

This has been an important lesson to me, and I am fully committed to ensure it never happens again.

I would be very grateful if you would consider settling this matter without legal proceedings. I’m prepared to pay the owed fares plus any administrative costs incurred promptly if given the opportunity to do so. I sincerely appreciate your consideration.

Yours sincerely

One question for “pay the owed fares”, should it be “fare” or “fares” in this case, although they would have found out my purchasing history anyway. Just want to ensure that my full cooperation and genuine remorse is shown in the reply. Would they normally search history then send me enquiry again for those suspicious trips, or just add those trips up if they accept settlement outside of court please?

Thank you so much!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Feb 2026 ==

True.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Feb 2026 ==


Put the reference at the top and remove it from this paragraph. Remove the word travel, or remove “travel” and “that was stopped by revenue protection officer”. Preferably the second, keep it shorter.

“Quickly” might be better than “soon”. I’m not entirely sure why but this would read better to me without the word “wrong”. “I have made which has impact” isn’t grammatically correct and “I have made and the impact they have had on SWR” reads better. I’d also separate “I take full responsibility for my actions” into a new sentence and add an apology to that sentence.

Just remove all of this, you’ve already said you’ve taken full responsibility right above, and this could be read as you reflecting on all the evasion you’ve done which you don’t want to say at this stage.

Good.

Committed isn’t quite the right word, maybe prepared?

I’m being extra picky with this one because of the large amount of money at stake - though realistically any half decent reply to SWR will get the same result, best to be careful.

Do make these changes and post a new draft for us to review

Thank you and I have shared the revised draft and would appreciate your time to review if possible please.

 

[z444z]

Thank you all for your help. Below the revised draft please:

This looks good. The reference number needs to be at the top, make it really clear (though don’t post it here, just make sure it’s included in your response to SWR!)

One question for “pay the owed fares”, should it be “fare” or “fares” in this case

Fare. They’ll probably check, but they might not, and you don’t want to prompt them to if they weren’t going to anyway. We’ve never seen this tactic be held against someone. They’ll likely get back to you with a settlement offer that may or may not include historical fares, just have to wait and see.

Make sure you don’t miss the deadline to respond, but it would be a good idea to wait a day or two for others to give feedback on your draft.

 

[WesternLancer]

With SWR the op needs to be prepared for them to come back and ask about other occasions fares suspected of evading or being invited to an interview to discuss, as we see SWR being pretty thorough about checking on line records for evidence of this.

So if that happens head back here for advice on how to respond to that.

@cj1212 - does your travel pattern mean that you could reduce costs by buying a season or flexi season ticket for the journey or could a railcard help? If so you could buy such a thing as then it’s something you can also say to them in your reply you have done to actively demonstrate your commitment to having changed your behaviour. But if that doesn’t make financial sense I don’t imagine it’s a deal breaker.

 

[cj1212]

This looks good. The reference number needs to be at the top, make it really clear (though don’t post it here, just make sure it’s included in your response to SWR!)

Fare. They’ll probably check, but they might not, and you don’t want to prompt them to if they weren’t going to anyway. We’ve never seen this tactic be held against someone. They’ll likely get back to you with a settlement offer that may or may not include historical fares, just have to wait and see.

Make sure you don’t miss the deadline to respond, but it would be a good idea to wait a day or two for others to give feedback on your draft.

Thank you very much and will do!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Feb 2026 ==

With SWR the op needs to be prepared for them to come back and ask about other occasions fares suspected of evading or being invited to an interview to discuss, as we see SWR being pretty thorough about checking on line records for evidence of this.

So if that happens head back here for advice on how to respond to that.

@cj1212 - does your travel pattern mean that you could reduce costs by buying a season or flexi season ticket for the journey or could a railcard help? If so you could buy such a thing as then it’s something you can also say to them in your reply you have done to actively demonstrate your commitment to having changed your behaviour. But if that doesn’t make financial sense I don’t imagine it’s a deal breaker.

Thank you very much for your advice. As I usually use contactless by bus-train-tube route to London on weekdays, it works out the same price as season ticket so I didn’t get one. Is that too late to buy one from now? Should I include the season ticket details in the response if I buy one tomorrow?

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you very much and will do!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Feb 2026 ==


Thank you very much for your advice. As I usually use contactless by bus-train-tube route to London on weekdays, it works out the same price as season ticket so I didn’t get one. Is that too late to buy one from now? Should I include the season ticket details in the response if I buy one tomorrow?

Yep if same price buy one starting Monday and include its serial number in your response. Eg say I have now acted on this by buying a season ticket to ensure my future travel is properly paid for

 

[Haywain]

As I usually use contactless by bus-train-tube route to London on weekdays

Contactless? From Claygate?

 

[30907]

Contactless? From Claygate?

TfL bus K3 - it's a long-standing "red bus" area.

 

[Haywain]

TfL bus K3 - it's a long-standing "red bus" area.

The OP states that they were stopped after travelling from Claygate by train.

 

[cj1212]

Yep if same price buy one starting Monday and include its serial number in your response. Eg say I have now acted on this by buying a season ticket to ensure my future travel is properly paid for

Thank you very much and I have purchased the season ticket for Zone1-6 on SWR smartcard. In the response should I mention that I’m taking bus-train-tube route for my travel hence buying the Zone1-6 season ticket instead of buying Claygate-Waterloo which the investigator may doubt on?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Feb 2026 ==

Sorry for the confusion, I travelled from Claygate sometimes when I couldn’t catch the bus, and those times I had short fared. Rest of the journeys I use contactless from Surbiton.

 

[cj1212]

Yep if same price buy one starting Monday and include its serial number in your response. Eg say I have now acted on this by buying a season ticket to ensure my future travel is properly paid for

Just want to provide the update for my case, as I have responded to them by email on 20th Feb and I have received a letter today dated 24th Feb including the option to settle. So I have immediately made the payment online to settle. However I think they sent the settlement letter without reading or linking my case to my response, as I had admitted the journey was started from Claygate to Waterloo instead of Surbiton to Waterloo in my response, but the settlement was the single fare from Surbiton to Waterloo. I’m wondering if I need to reply to them mention this even I have paid the settlement already.

Many thanks for your help.

 

[z444z]

I personally wouldn’t, the matter is settled and it’s on them for not having read your response. If they get back in touch in future it will just be to ask for the extra payment though odds of that are very small.

However if you want to offer to pay the difference I can’t see that going down badly either.

Up to you.

 

[cj1212]

I personally wouldn’t, the matter is settled and it’s on them for not having read your response. If they get back in touch in future it will just be to ask for the extra payment though odds of that are very small.

However if you want to offer to pay the difference I can’t see that going down badly either.

Up to you.

Thank you very much and really appreciate your advice throughout.

 

[z444z]

Thank you very much and really appreciate your advice throughout.

No problem at all. Do come back if you hear anything further so we can help you navigate it