Please help: used child Oyster card to get through barriers

[masaaasa]

Hi I still haven’t received my letter. What could be the possible reasons for this I am so anxious.

 

[WesternLancer]

Hi I still haven’t received my letter. What could be the possible reasons for this I am so anxious.

Was it Thameslink / GTR staff who stopped you or TfL staff - do you know?

@Mattplans posted on another thread a useful analysis of how long it was typically taking to hear from GTR about cases after people have been stopped - they may be able to give a view.

That suggested that if it was GTR it may take between 3 and a half to 4 and half months to get contacted by them about the incident after you were stopped.

I think if it was TfL it would be quicker however.

 

[MotCO]

@MotCO posted on another thread a useful analysis of how long it was typically taking to hear from GTR about cases after people have been stopped - they may be able to give a view.

If it was me, I certainly don't recall doing it

 

[WesternLancer]

If it was me, I certainly don't recall doing it

oops - I'd better check! Thanks for flagging my error.

My apologies to @Mattplans who provided this material - as per post #10 and #15 on this thread which may be of help to @masaaasa to read through

No railcard - witness statement receipt

Hi all I am wondering if someone could help. On Thursday I was travelling from Lancing to Blackfriars and had accidentally purchased a ticket with 26-30 railcard applied. For context, my 16-25 railcard expired at the beginning of October and I have not purchased any tickets with a railcard...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[z444z]

Hi I still haven’t received my letter. What could be the possible reasons for this I am so anxious.

I think it’ll be very soon. I would suggest you continue waiting until mid April, at which point I’d recommend contacting them to ask if there’s any update on your case and maybe pre-emptively making clear your desire to settle.

 

[WesternLancer]

I think it’ll be very soon. I would suggest you continue waiting until mid April, at which point I’d recommend contacting them to ask if your response was received.

Are we saying that the OP was stopped, has had a letter from the railway, has replied to that letter, but not been told outcome.

Or

OP has been stopped, and still waiting to hear anything at all from the railway. ?

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Are we saying that the OP was stopped, has had a letter from the railway, has replied to that letter, but not been told outcome.

Or

OP has been stopped, and still waiting to hear anything at all from the railway. ?

A number of threads have been consolidated together, but on my understanding of looking through what's now in this thread, the OP has yet to hear at all from the railway.

 

[z444z]

Sorry you’re right, I believe the OP has not had any correspondence yet - my advice would remain the same but I’ve edited the post, thanks both

 

[masaaasa]

Sorry you’re right, I believe the OP has not had any correspondence yet - my advice would remain the same but I’ve edited the post, thanks both

I got the letter can someone help me write it up and do I have to type it or can I write it w a pen

 

[z444z]

Glad to hear it’s finally arrived! Are you able to have a look at similar threads on the forum and follow the general advice given to write a draft, then post it here for us to give feedback on?

You basically need to properly apologise, promise not to do it again, and ask to settle out of court, offering to pay the fare owed and administrative costs.

It’s best to type and print it so it’s easier to read - you can staple it into the space provided if you like, or just write “see attached” in the space provided and add your response as a separate sheet.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

It’s best to type and print it so it’s easier to read - you can staple it into the space provided if you like, or just write “see attached” in the space provided and add your response as a separate sheet.

At the risk of micromanaging, I wouldn't recommend stapling an extra piece of paper into the space for a reply. If railways are anything like the organisation I work for, correspondence may be scanned so that they are read off computer screens. If they are scanned, and if that scanning is automatic, I can imagine staples round an attached piece of paper jamming the scanning machine - and the response getting lost.

Our general advice of
- type (more accurately, word-process) your response on a separate piece of paper. Put your name, address and case reference on that piece of paper in case it gets separated
- on the form, write 'please see attached' in the response box
- send both the form and your extra piece of paper to the address. It's a good idea to send it from a post office and ask for the letter to be trackedso that you can know that it has got there
- keep a copy of what you sent

Seems to work, and I'd suggest sticking with that.

 

[WesternLancer]

I got the letter can someone help me write it up and do I have to type it or can I write it w a pen

In terms of you drafting up your reply now you have had the letter the general advice often given on the forum may be of help in terms of what to include in your reply.

See the bit I have out in bold.

Keep it polite and respectful, not too lengthy, but ensure you write a bit that covers the points in bold below.

When you have drafted something up post it here before you send it and people will help get it as good as it can be.



-----------------------------------
When you receive the letter (which you now have received) post a redacted copy of it in this thread (as you have done), along with your draft reply and forum members will proof read it for you.

You'll find lots of example letters you can use in this section of the forum but the reply basically needs to mention:

- your case reference number - and your name and address
- That you are sorry for what has happened
- What you have learned from the incident and will not do this again
- That you are keen to settle the matter without the need for court action
- Offer to pay the outstanding fare and the railway company’s administrative costs in dealing with the matter

The railway will probably offer you an out of court settlement. Expect to have to pay the cost of the fare for the journey you made at the full Anytime rate with no credit given for the invalid ticket you purchased. In addition they will charge an admin fee, typically £150. They will also audit your online ticket purchase history and if this shows you've purchased other tickets that were not valid (eg railcard discounted tickets when you did not have a valid railcard, or tickets for only part of the journey, or tickets bought after boarding the train you travelled on ) they will probably factor the cost of these journeys into the settlement offer. Depending on how many journeys you've made over the period concerned this could end up being expensive.

Settlements usually have to be paid in full within a few days of them being offered so if money is tight you might want to think about how you will raise the sum required at short notice.

 

[masaaasa]

Hello everyone I have written up mr draft is this good

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Hello everyone I have written up mr draft is this good

It would probably be easier for us to comment if you can cut and paste your text into a post in this thread.

And you probably want to take the picture down anyway - we can see your name at the end of the picture, and you probably don't want to share that with the whole internet.

 

[WesternLancer]

Hello everyone I have written up mr draft is this good

that upload includes your name at the bottom - so it would be good as mentioned to paste a copy of the wording in your draft - without your name on it (which looks pretty good but has some typos to correct) in a post here for checking, and you can take down the uploaded version with your name in it.

 

[z444z]

@masaaasa please do upload the text of your draft letter so we can review it before you send it