Penalty fare cancellation how do I avoid court?

[oniman]

Got sent this recently any advice?

I really don’t want to go to court and I get paid at the end of the month any advice?

 

[CyrusWuff]

You had 21 days from the day after the PF was issued to submit a first appeal (i.e. until 26th December.)

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but if you'd posted here during that 21 day period we may have been able to find something that would get the PF cancelled. Sadly that ship has long since sailed.

 

[oniman]

can I pay a settlement fee at this point I would appreciate if anyone was knowledgeable about what to do at this stage

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Got sent this recently any advice?

I really don’t want to go to court and I get paid at the end of the month any advice?

Welcome to the forum

You might want to take the current picture down (hit 'edit': you might have to click on the dots at the bottom of the post to find it) as we can see your name where the letter says 'Dear Mr'.


To summarise the letter:
- it's from Southeastern
- penalty fare issued 5/12/25
- 'As no payment has been received in relation to the notice, we have taken the decision to cancel that penalty fare notice, and consider other legal options, which may include criminal prosecution.'



We don't see this very often, but I would suggest that if you write a really grovelling letter saying that you are very sorry, and offering to immediately pay the full amount of the penalty fare (so £100 plus the fare) they might give you an opportunity to pay - which you will have to do. Don't go to a loan shark, but otherwise see if you can borrow from friends, family, the bank or your credit card.


The alternative is the railway taking you to court. If that happens, you will get a fine, plus court and prosecution costs, plus the fare, which will almost certainly be more than the penalty fare.

 

[oniman]

You had 21 days from the day after the PF was issued to submit a first appeal (i.e. until 26th December.)

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but if you'd posted here during that 21 day period we may have been able to find something that would get the PF cancelled. Sadly that ship has long since sailed.

So I can’t pay a settlement fee?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Mar 2026 ==

Welcome to the forum

You might want to take the current picture down (hit 'edit': you might have to click on the dots at the bottom of the post to find it) as we can see your name where the letter says 'Dear Mr'.


To summarise the letter:
- it's from Southeastern
- penalty fare issued 5/12/25
- 'As no payment has been received in relation to the notice, we have taken the decision to cancel that penalty fare notice, and consider other legal options, which may include criminal prosecution.'



We don't see this very often, but I would suggest that if you write a really grovelling letter saying that you are very sorry, and offering to immediately pay the full amount of the penalty fare (so £100 plus the fare) they might give you an opportunity to pay - which you will have to do. Don't go to a loan shark, but otherwise see if you can borrow from friends, family, the bank or your credit card.


The alternative is the railway taking you to court. If that happens, you will get a fine, plus court and prosecution costs, plus the fare, which will almost certainly be more than the penalty fare.

Yeah I sent a letter I just want to resolve it out of court and I replied straight away so I hope it can be resolved

If it’s cancelled is there any hope for me?

 

[methecooldude]

So I can’t pay a settlement fee?

The settlement fee was the amount of the penalty fare which you chose to not appeal (which would have stopped the clock) or ignore. This is no longer available. You’ll now have to wait for further contact from Southeastern in regarding this

 

[oniman]

So I just have to wait to see on whether they decide to take me to court or not

The settlement fee was the amount of the penalty fare which you chose to not appeal (which would have stopped the clock) or ignore. This is no longer available. You’ll now have to wait for further contact from Southeastern in regarding this

 

[Royston Vasey]

So I can’t pay a settlement fee?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Mar 2026 ==


Yeah I sent a letter I just want to resolve it out of court and I replied straight away so I hope it can be resolved

If it’s cancelled is there any hope for me?

I'd be reassured by the wording "if you elect to proceed to court".

It doesn't actually say what "legal options" they are considering at this point and you'll have to wait and come back when they respond. Their preference is almost always to get engagement, a fat cheque and not have to take legal action.

 

[oniman]

I'd be reassured by the wording "if you elect to proceed to court".

It doesn't actually say what "legal options" they are considering at this point and you'll have to wait and come back when they respond. Their preference is almost always to get engagement, a fat cheque and not have to take legal action.

The fine was initially around 110, what do you think it will amount to?

 

[Royston Vasey]

The fine was initially around 110, what do you think it will amount to?

As said we don't see this set of circumstances often, where a simple PF is ignored before a vague threat of prosecution is then received and engaged with.

At a guess, the outstanding fare plus a low 3 figure administration fee if you're lucky, if it follows the usual formula for an out of court settlement after a report for prosecution (i.e without the slight complication of it being after an ignored PF). More than the PF, but unlikely to be too much more.

This may be contingent though, on there being no obvious history of fare evasion in your purchase history with retailers (they will almost certainly look into this and can access, e.g. Trainline data based on your details).

 

[Sun Chariot]

Helllo @oniman

Your Post 1 attached image still clearly shows your name at the start of the letter - so you are not anonymous to anyone on this thread. I suggest you mask your name with a phone's editing app, then re-attach image onto post 1.

The letter states journey between Abbey Wood and Chatham:

1) did you have any ticket at all? If yes, then:
a) what ticket-type and for which start and end stations?
b) was it a digital ticket, or a paper ticket?

2) is this the first time you have travelled without valid ticket for full journey? If you have done this previously, how many trips overall and when was the first occasion of you doing that?

 

[oniman]

I’ve done it

Helllo @oniman

Your Post 1 attached image still clearly shows your name at the start of the letter - so you are not anonymous to anyone on this thread. I suggest you mask your name with a phone's editing app, then re-attach image onto post 1.

The letter states journey between Abbey Wood and Chatham:

1) did you have any ticket at all? If yes, then:
a) what ticket-type and for which start and end stations?
b) was it a digital ticket, or a paper ticket?

2) is this the first time you have travelled without valid ticket for full journey? If you have done this previously, how many trips overall and when was the first occasion of you doing that?

I’ve done it a few times but none of my details on Trainline are attached to this address

 

[Sun Chariot]

I’ve done it a few times but none of my details on Trainline are attached to this address

Does your Trainline account have your bank account, or your debit/credit paynent card associated/saved on it?
Does your bank account, or payment card, have your current address?

Your name still at start of letter - just below DO NOT IGNORE THIS LETTER

 

[oniman]

no it doesnt have any of my bank details saved on it. My bank account has my current address

i removed it thanks, i was on mobile so it wouldnt let me

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Mar 2026 ==

the only card details are my sisters but thats all

 

[z444z]

Yeah I sent a letter I just want to resolve it out of court and I replied straight away so I hope it can be resolved

What did you say in this letter?