GTR - railcard ticket - no railcard

[whr1297]

Grateful for any advice here.

On Friday i travelled from Victoria to Eastbourne. i bought my ticket at the machine in Victoria and added the railcard (which i thought was valid). When i arrived at Eastbourne all tickets were being checked by inspectors, they asked to see my railcard, which i didn't have on me as i thought was saved on my other phone (which I wasn't carrying). I was handed a receipt and told to upload an image of my railcard to the address shown within 14 days.
I now realise i don't have a valid railcard at all - i rarely travel by train (a couple of times each year from London to Eastbourne to visit family), but honesty thought that the railcard just automatically renewed. I"m not great at personal admin and don't look too closely at my bank statements so had never really thought about it (Cringeing as i write this because i sound very stupid - I'm not, just disorganised about some things).

I don't use the trains very often, but I would have used the railcard discount a couple of times each year on the same route over the past two years - so maybe 4-5 journeys in total. For all journeys around London i just use Apple Pay at the barriers.

So i can't upload the railcard to the website link provided. Having read through these forums it sounds like in 3-4 months i should receive a Notice of Intention to Prosecute letter, is that correct? If it will take 3-4 months i'm worried as i have an overseas trip planned from mid-April for 2.5 weeks.

Should i pre-emptively write to the address on the slip i was given at the station to tell them I will be away then? What if the letter arrives while I'm gone and I can't respond in time? Should I pre-emptively explain the situation to them and own up to having not paid the full fare on the additional journeys? For the journey i made before Christmas, the train was very delayed and i claimed delay repay so they will have evidence of me having used a railcard ticket then also.

I'm incredibly distraught by this all and anxiety is through the roof. There was no intention to avoid paying the full fares, but i realise that isn't taken into account and i know i am fully responsible. I feel so stupid and angry at myself for not being more organised. Would instructing one of the law firms specialising in fare evasion to try to get this resolved quickly (I don't think i can deal with this anxiety and worry for the next three months). I work in a profession where i have to declare each year that i have no criminal record and am worrying also about losing my job.

Thank you

 

[WesternLancer]

Grateful for any advice here.

On Friday i travelled from Victoria to Eastbourne. i bought my ticket at the machine in Victoria and added the railcard (which i thought was valid). When i arrived at Eastbourne all tickets were being checked by inspectors, they asked to see my railcard, which i didn't have on me as i thought was saved on my other phone (which I wasn't carrying). I was handed a receipt and told to upload an image of my railcard to the address shown within 14 days.
I now realise i don't have a valid railcard at all - i rarely travel by train (a couple of times each year from London to Eastbourne to visit family), but honesty thought that the railcard just automatically renewed. I"m not great at personal admin and don't look too closely at my bank statements so had never really thought about it (Cringeing as i write this because i sound very stupid - I'm not, just disorganised about some things).

I don't use the trains very often, but I would have used the railcard discount a couple of times each year on the same route over the past two years - so maybe 4-5 journeys in total. For all journeys around London i just use Apple Pay at the barriers.

So i can't upload the railcard to the website link provided. Having read through these forums it sounds like in 3-4 months i should receive a Notice of Intention to Prosecute letter, is that correct? If it will take 3-4 months i'm worried as i have an overseas trip planned from mid-April for 2.5 weeks.

Should i pre-emptively write to the address on the slip i was given at the station to tell them I will be away then? What if the letter arrives while I'm gone and I can't respond in time? Should I pre-emptively explain the situation to them and own up to having not paid the full fare on the additional journeys? For the journey i made before Christmas, the train was very delayed and i claimed delay repay so they will have evidence of me having used a railcard ticket then also.

I'm incredibly distraught by this all and anxiety is through the roof. There was no intention to avoid paying the full fares, but i realise that isn't taken into account and i know i am fully responsible. I feel so stupid and angry at myself for not being more organised. Would instructing one of the law firms specialising in fare evasion to try to get this resolved quickly (I don't think i can deal with this anxiety and worry for the next three months). I work in a profession where i have to declare each year that i have no criminal record and am worrying also about losing my job.

Thank you

Welcome.

You can almost certainly avoid a criminal record if you engage with them.

It’s sometimes suggested here that instead of uploading a copy of a valid railcard, because you can’t do that as it was not valid, you could upload a letter apologising and seeking to resolve the matter by paying any fare owed.

If you wish to do this however I strongly suggest you get a draft of any such letter checked here before you upload it to the railway company site.

That way we can help you get the wording as good as it can be for you.

Thus should not be a difficult situation for you to resolve with help from here.

In the meantime have you bought a new railcard? It’s probably a good idea to do that as it’s something you can say to them you did to prevent the matter happening again. Even if you are not about to use the train again imminently.

 

[whr1297]

Thank you for your reply. I came back from Eastbourne today and bought a non-discounted single ticket as i didn't want to use the return half of the one with the railcard discount. I took a photo of that as a record. I also bought a new railcard when i got back home so that I know this won't happen again.

I will draft a letter tomorrow and share that here. Do you think i should mention about the previous journeys also? It feels to me like i should be completely honest, even if that the amount they may charge me more.

Thank you again.

 

[John R]

No, don’t tell them about the other journeys. As you bought it at a machine, I doubt they will identify them, and at worst they will find them and ask you about them.

Unless you actively lie and say it was the only journey we’ve not seen anyone taken forward for prosecution purely on the grounds of not having volunteered the information regarding previous journeys.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you for your reply. I came back from Eastbourne today and bought a non-discounted single ticket as i didn't want to use the return half of the one with the railcard discount. I took a photo of that as a record. I also bought a new railcard when i got back home so that I know this won't happen again.

I will draft a letter tomorrow and share that here. Do you think i should mention about the previous journeys also? It feels to me like i should be completely honest, even if that the amount they may charge me more.

Thank you again.

Also you don’t need to instruct a solicitor at this stage because you can almost certainly resolve it yourself with help from here whilst a solicitor will cost you at least £500 I would think.

With regards to you being away you could mention the dates you will be away from your address in your message to them and request they contact you by e mail during that period, unless you have a trusted person at the postal address you gave them who can monitor your post for you.

It won’t matter that you claimed delay repay on a previous journey so long as the train was genuinely delayed as you were entitled to that.

We can help you with all this at each step of the way so try not to be over anxious. It’s important to take this seriously, as you are clearly doing, but don’t let it dominate your thinking.

 

[whr1297]

I've drafted the letter below - please let me know any suggested edits. I will then send to the address on the witness slip by recorded post, and also upload to the railcard upload link.
thank you in advance here.



Dear Prosecutions Team,


I am writing in response to a witness statement I received at Eastbourne railway station on Friday, 30 January.


I had purchased a return rail ticket with a railcard discount at Victoria station. At that point, I did truly believe that I had a valid railcard that was stored on my other phone (which wasn’t with me at the time). Later that evening, upon checking, I realised that the railcard was no longer valid. I had mistakenly believed that the railcard auto renewed each year. I do not travel often by rail and I realise that my carelessness led me to travel with an invalid ticket. I take full responsibility for this.


I have taken steps to ensure that i now pay the correct rail fare every time. For my return journey to London on 1 February, I purchased a new ticket (attached) and did not use the return portion of the invalid ticket. Upon arriving at home, I also purchased a new railcard (number XXX) so that I can be certain that this will never happen again.


I understand that you may send to me further paperwork with a time-sensitive reply window, I would like to highlight that I will be out of the country from 16 April for 2.5 weeks. I would be grateful if any such correspondence sent during that time could also be sent to me by email so that I may respond in a timely manner.


I would be grateful for the opportunity to pay the outstanding fare and all costs incurred to resolve this matter out of court.


Thank you for your consideration of my letter.


Kind regards,

 

[z444z]

That’s a good start. Insert the MG11 reference at the start, clearly marked like “MG11 REFERENCE:”

I’d suggest some changes to the second paragraph - I’ve reworded some things slightly, and also inserted [ADD APOLOGY] as that’s something that’s missing from your draft.

I had purchased a return ticket with a railcard discount at Victoria station. I believed that I had a valid railcard, though didn’t realise it mattered that it was on a phone I didn’t have with me. Upon checking later that evening I realised that the railcard had expired. I had mistakenly believed that the railcard auto renewed each year. I do not travel often by rail and I realise that my carelessness led me to travel with an invalid ticket. I take full responsibility for this [ADD APOLOGY].

I would suggest deleting “Thank you for your consideration of my letter”, it’s not necessary and the letter looks a little long already.

And a couple changes to the paragraph below too:

I understand that you may send to me further paperwork with a time-sensitive reply window, I would like to highlight that I will be out of the country from 16 April until [INSERT DATE]. I would be grateful if any such correspondence sent during that time could also be sent to me by email so that I may respond in a timely manner, or any deadlines extended to account for the time I will be away. My email address is [INSERT EMAIL]

 

[whr1297]

By the MG11 reference, do you mean the number starting GTREMGXXX? if so, i have that underlined in bold at the top of the letter (didn't copy that into the above).

Do you think this looks ok now?


Dear Prosecutions Team,


I am writing in response to a witness statement I received at Eastbourne railway station on Friday, 30 January.

I had purchased a return rail ticket with a railcard discount at Victoria station. At that point, I did truly believe that I had a valid railcard that was stored on my other phone (which wasn’t with me at the time). Later that evening, upon checking, I realised that the railcard was no longer valid. I had mistakenly believed that the railcard auto renewed each year. I do not travel often by rail and I realise that my carelessness led me to travel with an invalid ticket. I take full responsibility for this and I am truly sorry for my mistake.

I have taken steps to ensure that I now pay the correct rail fare every time. For my return journey to London on 1 February, I purchased a new ticket (attached) and did not use the return portion of the invalid ticket. Upon arriving at home, I also purchased a new railcard (number XXX) so that I can be certain that this will never happen again.

I understand that you may send to me further paperwork with a time-sensitive reply window, I would like to highlight that I will be out of the country from 16 April until 1 May I would be grateful if any such correspondence sent during that time could also be sent to me by email so that I may respond in a timely manner. My email address is XXX

I would be grateful for the opportunity to pay the outstanding fare and all costs incurred to resolve this matter out of court.

Kind regards,

 

[z444z]

Yes that looks good!

I’d give it at least until tomorrow afternoon/evening before you submit, in case anyone else has any feedback.

A little side note - if the return portion of the ticket you got stopped with is still in date, and you now hold the railcard that the ticket is discounted by, you can use it. Your use of the ticket was invalid because you didn’t have the railcard but the ticket itself isn’t invalid if you now do have the railcard.

 

[WesternLancer]

By the MG11 reference, do you mean the number starting GTREMGXXX? if so, i have that underlined in bold at the top of the letter (didn't copy that into the above).

Do you think this looks ok now?


Dear Prosecutions Team,


I am writing in response to a witness statement I received at Eastbourne railway station on Friday, 30 January.

I had purchased a return rail ticket with a railcard discount at Victoria station. At that point, I did truly believe that I had a valid railcard that was stored on my other phone (which wasn’t with me at the time). Later that evening, upon checking, I realised that the railcard was no longer valid. I had mistakenly believed that the railcard auto renewed each year. I do not travel often by rail and I realise that my carelessness led me to travel with an invalid ticket. I take full responsibility for this and I am truly sorry for my mistake.

I have taken steps to ensure that I now pay the correct rail fare every time. For my return journey to London on 1 February, I purchased a new ticket (attached) and did not use the return portion of the invalid ticket. Upon arriving at home, I also purchased a new railcard (number XXX) so that I can be certain that this will never happen again.

I understand that you may send to me further paperwork with a time-sensitive reply window, I would like to highlight that I will be out of the country from 16 April until 1 May I would be grateful if any such correspondence sent during that time could also be sent to me by email so that I may respond in a timely manner. My email address is XXX

I would be grateful for the opportunity to pay the outstanding fare and all costs incurred to resolve this matter out of court.

Kind regards,

Actually I think the problem is this would be ok if it was a standard mitigation letter but it can’t be that at this stage because it’s in lieu of not being able to upload a valid railcard so it needs to be a simpler apology about not being able to do that as requested with something tagged on about being abroad and a request to e mail.

Might need to be a bit different.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Feb 2026 ==

By the MG11 reference, do you mean the number starting GTREMGXXX? if so, i have that underlined in bold at the top of the letter (didn't copy that into the above).

Do you think this looks ok now?


Dear Prosecutions Team,


I am writing in response to a witness statement I received at Eastbourne railway station on Friday, 30 January.

I had purchased a return rail ticket with a railcard discount at Victoria station. At that point, I did truly believe that I had a valid railcard that was stored on my other phone (which wasn’t with me at the time). Later that evening, upon checking, I realised that the railcard was no longer valid. I had mistakenly believed that the railcard auto renewed each year. I do not travel often by rail and I realise that my carelessness led me to travel with an invalid ticket. I take full responsibility for this and I am truly sorry for my mistake.

I have taken steps to ensure that I now pay the correct rail fare every time. For my return journey to London on 1 February, I purchased a new ticket (attached) and did not use the return portion of the invalid ticket. Upon arriving at home, I also purchased a new railcard (number XXX) so that I can be certain that this will never happen again.

I understand that you may send to me further paperwork with a time-sensitive reply window, I would like to highlight that I will be out of the country from 16 April until 1 May I would be grateful if any such correspondence sent during that time could also be sent to me by email so that I may respond in a timely manner. My email address is XXX

I would be grateful for the opportunity to pay the outstanding fare and all costs incurred to resolve this matter out of court.

Kind regards,

So I would perhaps suggest a different initial communication that you can upload instead of uploading the Railcard.

For example (and amend as you desire) as below. Of course you must send what you are happy with.

In addition to uploading this it may also be worth printing a copy off - adding your postal address, handwriting on the top 'As uploaded via your website' and posting a copy to the GTR / Southern Railway Prosecutions Team in hard copy (use tracked 48 postage from a local post office) - the postal address is:

Prosecutions Department, Govia Thameslink Railway, Eastside Offices, Kings Cross Railway Station, London N1C 4AX.


--------------------------------------------------

Dear Prosecutions Team

Reference Number: xxxxx

On xxxx date at Eastbourne station I was asked to show my train tickets and Railcard. I was unable to show my Railcard as it was saved on a different phone that I did not have with me. I was advised to upload my Railcard to this site within 14 days.

When I came to do this I discovered that my Railcard had in fact expired, without me noticing. I am therefore unable to upload the Railcard as requested.

I am truly sorry about this, and about not realising it had expired before my date of travel. I take full responsibility for my mistake.

I have since renewed my Railcard (new Railcard serial number xxxxxxx) to ensure this does not happen again.

Please be assured I had no intention to avoid paying the correct fare.

I would be grateful if I can now resolve the matter of the travel on x date by paying any fare and associated costs that I owe for the journey between London Victoria and Eastbourne that day.

I understand that you may need to send to me further paperwork with a time-sensitive reply window. I will be out of the country from 16 April until 1 May so I would be grateful if any correspondence sent during that time could also be sent to me by email, if possible, so that I may respond promptly. My email address is XXX.

Yours faithfully

 

[whr1297]

Thasnk so much for your help here. That makes sense. I'll get that sent by recorded delivery tomorrow and upload on the railcard link.
Very much appreciated.
Fingers crossed and will update here when i hear back...

 

[WesternLancer]

Thasnk so much for your help here. That makes sense. I'll get that sent by recorded delivery tomorrow and upload on the railcard link.
Very much appreciated.
Fingers crossed and will update here when i hear back...

Post office might encourage you to use the more expensive‘gauranteed deliver’ but I doubt that’s necessary.

Tracking is all you need to be able to prove it was delivered should that ever be required.

 

[whr1297]

Update.... i posted the letter last Saturday - was delivered to the prosecutions office on Monday. Today i received a letter offering me an out of court settlement of £98.70... which i have just paid. I am very surprised how quick this was... and grateful for the advice to proactively reach out to them as this is now resolved and i can sleep without worry!
Thank you everyone for your advice - i genuinely really appreciate it.
Wishing you all the very best.

 

[fandroid]

Thank you for letting us know. That's a good outcome.

 

[WesternLancer]

Update.... i posted the letter last Saturday - was delivered to the prosecutions office on Monday. Today i received a letter offering me an out of court settlement of £98.70... which i have just paid. I am very surprised how quick this was... and grateful for the advice to proactively reach out to them as this is now resolved and i can sleep without worry!
Thank you everyone for your advice - i genuinely really appreciate it.
Wishing you all the very best.

Good news.
Keep proof of your payment and copies of all the paperwork and keep that long term. At least a year. In the unlikely event you may need it in future.