Added non existent rail card got caught + gave fake details

[sillyboy]

Hi,

I’m looking for advice regarding a rail fare issue and what is likely to happen next.

I was stopped by revenue protection while travelling and was found to have used a railcard that I did not actually have. I also gave incorrect personal details at the time when questioned.

The train operating company (CrossCountry) later contacted me via email. It appears they obtained my contact details through Trainline. However, I had not used that email address for a long time and missed the emails, so I did not respond before the settlement deadline.

The email included a settlement offer of around £289 and stated that a fraud investigation had been carried out. I have not yet received any postal letters.
I am currently working part-time and would struggle to pay the full amount in one payment, so I am also wondering whether payment plans are ever accepted at this stage or whether they are likely to reconsider settlement.

I would also appreciate any insight into how likely cases like this are to progress to criminal proceedings and whether operators are typically able to trace a current address if incorrect details were given at the time.





Could anyone with experience advise how serious this stage is and what the most likely next steps are? I have stupidly missed both emails of contact and missed the deadline. Any advice on next steps is appreciated. I guess I’ve learnt my lesson from this foolish mistake.





Thanks.

 

[Swedenorer]

On what date were you stopped and where? This is important.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Hello @sillyboy - please read the advice in this linked sticky. Please then add all those details into your opening post.

Please read before posting in Disputes & Prosecutions

Guidance for those asking for advice: Please bear in mind the following, when asking for advice in this section: We need to know all relevant facts in order to assist you, including, for example: The stations* where you actually started & finished your journey The stations* where you changed...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[WesternLancer]

Hi,

I’m looking for advice regarding a rail fare issue and what is likely to happen next.

I was stopped by revenue protection while travelling and was found to have used a railcard that I did not actually have. I also gave incorrect personal details at the time when questioned.

The train operating company (CrossCountry) later contacted me via email. It appears they obtained my contact details through Trainline. However, I had not used that email address for a long time and missed the emails, so I did not respond before the settlement deadline.

The email included a settlement offer of around £289 and stated that a fraud investigation had been carried out. I have not yet received any postal letters.
I am currently working part-time and would struggle to pay the full amount in one payment, so I am also wondering whether payment plans are ever accepted at this stage or whether they are likely to reconsider settlement.

I would also appreciate any insight into how likely cases like this are to progress to criminal proceedings and whether operators are typically able to trace a current address if incorrect details were given at the time.





Could anyone with experience advise how serious this stage is and what the most likely next steps are? I have stupidly missed both emails of contact and missed the deadline. Any advice on next steps is appreciated. I guess I’ve learnt my lesson from this foolish mistake.





Thanks.

16-17 Saver railcard or Jobseekers Railcard discount by any chance?

In short yes they can track you down (your correct postal address will be linked to the payment card for the tickets i would think)

Yes they will prosecute you.
They will escalate it to prosecution automatically if you do not engage with them. Standard practice for this. Depending on how long ago you missed / ignored their email this process might have already commenced.
Court bailiffs even more geared up to finding you at your address and obtaining money owed by the court if escalated to court. We see this happen fairly regularly on here.

If it goes or has gone to court.
You would get a court fine higher than the sum they are now asking for plus a criminal record from the court. But you can pay a court fine in instalments.

They, cross country or their enforcement contractor ITAL don’t usually accept payment by instalments for these settlement offers. But you could ask.

The best way to prevent this escalating in a way that will cost you more and create more hassle is to see if you can pay this to them promptly and hope court action hasn’t already commenced.

I’m sorry that none of this is going to be what you want to hear.

Giving false details to rail staff is a separate offence but we rarely see them prosecute for that.

To give more specific advice it would be helpful to see a timeline for this ie. When was the journey? when did they send you this e mail, dates of any subsequent e mails.

Also would be helpful to see exact wording of what they have sent you (but remove all personal details before posting it inc ref numbers to protect your confidentiality).

 

[sillyboy]

Hi,

I’m looking for advice regarding a rail fare issue and what is likely to happen next.

I was stopped by revenue protection while travelling and was found to have used a railcard that I did not actually have. I also gave incorrect personal details at the time when questioned.

The train operating company (CrossCountry) later contacted me via email. It appears they obtained my contact details through Trainline. However, I had not used that email address for a long time and missed the emails, so I did not respond before the settlement deadline.

The email included a settlement offer of around £289 and stated that a fraud investigation had been carried out. I have not yet received any postal letters.
I am currently working part-time and would struggle to pay the full amount in one payment, so I am also wondering whether payment plans are ever accepted at this stage or whether they are likely to reconsider settlement.

I would also appreciate any insight into how likely cases like this are to progress to criminal proceedings and whether operators are typically able to trace a current address if incorrect details were given at the time.





Could anyone with experience advise how serious this stage is and what the most likely next steps are? I have stupidly missed both emails of contact and missed the deadline. Any advice on next steps is appreciated. I guess I’ve learnt my lesson from this foolish mistake.





Thanks.

The journey was keighley to Birmingham with a change at Leeds. The provider was cross country and this happened on the 09/03/26.
I received first email on the 11/05 then second final on 20/05 with 7 days to respond.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jun 2026 ==

On what date were you stopped and where? This is important.

The journey was keighley to Birmingham with a change at Leeds. The provider was cross country and this happened on the 09/03/26.
I received first email on the 11/05 then second final on 20/05 with 7 days to respond.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jun 2026 ==

16-17 Saver railcard or Jobseekers Railcard discount by any chance?

In short yes they can track you down (your correct postal address will be linked to the payment card for the tickets i would think)

Yes they will prosecute you.
They will escalate it to prosecution automatically if you do not engage with them. Standard practice for this. Depending on how long ago you missed / ignored their email this process might have already commenced.
Court bailiffs even more geared up to finding you at your address and obtaining money owed by the court if escalated to court. We see this happen fairly regularly on here.

If it goes or has gone to court.
You would get a court fine higher than the sum they are now asking for plus a criminal record from the court. But you can pay a court fine in instalments.

They, cross country or their enforcement contractor ITAL don’t usually accept payment by instalments for these settlement offers. But you could ask.

The best way to prevent this escalating in a way that will cost you more and create more hassle is to see if you can pay this to them promptly and hope court action hasn’t already commenced.

I’m sorry that none of this is going to be what you want to hear.

Giving false details to rail staff is a separate offence but we rarely see them prosecute for that.

To give more specific advice it would be helpful to see a timeline for this ie. When was the journey? when did they send you this e mail, dates of any subsequent e mails.

Also would be helpful to see exact wording of what they have sent you (but remove all personal details before posting it inc ref numbers to protect your confidentiality).

We are writing to inform you that we have not received any payment or response in relation to the matter on 09/03/2026, where you were questioned by a member of the Revenue Protection Team employed by CrossCountry Trains, in relation to a contravention of the Railway Regulations.

This is a final letter offering the settlement of the fares avoided of 92.30 plus 175.00 investigation costs incurred, as compensation for the fraudulent activity to clear the debt owed. The full payment must be made within 7 days of the date of this letter. Failure to do so will result in the matter being progressed to legal proceedings and/or reported to the British Transport Police.

Our investigations have identified a number of journey(s) where the full fare was not paid. The fares avoided have been calculated as the applicable Anytime Day Single for each date of travel. Where a return ticket was purchased, the fares avoided have been calculated as two Anytime Day Singles.

As a result, the total balance due is as follows:

• £92.30 – fares avoided
• £175.00 – Investigation and administrative costs
• Total due: £267.30

To avoid legal proceedings, payment of the above balance is required within 7 days of the date of this letter. Payment must be made via BACS/CHAPS using the reference XXXXXX to the bank details provided below.










Failure to make full payment, or to respond with mitigating circumstances by the deadline, will result in this matter being progressed to legal proceedings and/or reported to the British Transport Police. Fare evasion may be prosecuted under the provisions of the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 and the Railway Byelaws made pursuant to the Transport Act 2000. In cases of ticket fraud, prosecution may also proceed under the Fraud Act 2006.

 

[WesternLancer]

The journey was keighley to Birmingham with a change at Leeds. The provider was cross country and this happened on the 09/03/26.
I received first email on the 11/05 then second final on 20/05 with 7 days to respond.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jun 2026 ==


The journey was keighley to Birmingham with a change at Leeds. The provider was cross country and this happened on the 09/03/26.
I received first email on the 11/05 then second final on 20/05 with 7 days to respond.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jun 2026 ==


We are writing to inform you that we have not received any payment or response in relation to the matter on 09/03/2026, where you were questioned by a member of the Revenue Protection Team employed by CrossCountry Trains, in relation to a contravention of the Railway Regulations.

This is a final letter offering the settlement of the fares avoided of 92.30 plus 175.00 investigation costs incurred, as compensation for the fraudulent activity to clear the debt owed. The full payment must be made within 7 days of the date of this letter. Failure to do so will result in the matter being progressed to legal proceedings and/or reported to the British Transport Police.

Our investigations have identified a number of journey(s) where the full fare was not paid. The fares avoided have been calculated as the applicable Anytime Day Single for each date of travel. Where a return ticket was purchased, the fares avoided have been calculated as two Anytime Day Singles.

As a result, the total balance due is as follows:

• £92.30 – fares avoided
• £175.00 – Investigation and administrative costs
• Total due: £267.30

To avoid legal proceedings, payment of the above balance is required within 7 days of the date of this letter. Payment must be made via BACS/CHAPS using the reference XXXXXX to the bank details provided below.










Failure to make full payment, or to respond with mitigating circumstances by the deadline, will result in this matter being progressed to legal proceedings and/or reported to the British Transport Police. Fare evasion may be prosecuted under the provisions of the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 and the Railway Byelaws made pursuant to the Transport Act 2000. In cases of ticket fraud, prosecution may also proceed under the Fraud Act 2006.

Thanks - my advice stands then as this was less than 6 months ago (which is the time limit within which they can bring a criminal court prosecution)

Others may differ but I think you should pay this money to prevent problems for you further on.

Other wise they will escalate to court you will be prosecuted, found guilty and receive a court fine and a criminal record. bailiffs will eventually find you

See this recent thread for the outcome of court action with the uploaded letter in post 13 - where the letters did not go to the person involved (as they had moved) - they now have a criminal conviction and a court debt to their name

Using wrong railcard

Hi I apologies for the long post. I have used wrong railcard while traveling instead of network railcard i used 26 to 30. i couldnt show my card while checking out at b station. as i changed phone etc... i was getting late as well for the office. I have 2 address i had give the one where...

www.railforums.co.uk

If you can't afford to pay it by all means ask about instalments - they will likely say no because Cross Country's contractor ITAL who have probably written to you are not very flexible from what we see here - so also see if you can ask trusted family or friends for a loan

If you were deliberately evading some would say you are lucky to be able to pay this to resolve it, rather than be prosecuted for the misdemeanour.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

I received first email on the 11/05 then second final on 20/05 with 7 days to respond.

Although technically you are out of time, you have nothing to lose by trying to make a late payment. If you're lucky, it will head the problem off: if you're unlucky then you are no worse off than if you continue to ignore the demand.

 

[WesternLancer]

Although technically you are out of time, you have nothing to lose by trying to make a late payment. If you're lucky, it will head the problem off: if you're unlucky then you are no worse off than if you continue to ignore the demand.

Well put - and I guess if the payment won't work then the OP needs to urgently contact them to ask them to re-instate the ability to pay (in my view) because if the payment ability has been closed it is a sure sign I would think that they are escalating this to the next stage - which is likely to be court action for the travel with invalid ticket (so criminal prosecution. Not civil debt for the fare)