Thameslink fare evasion self-report (England

[Alicja1]

Hi all!

Basically over a year ago I tried to do the doughnutting method, but got caught the same day. I pretended my phone died and quickly bought a ticket later on and sent it over through email as advised by the inspector. Couple months later they sent me a ticket for up to £1000 and a possible court meeting, but they left a section to write a letter explaining my side. I decided to make up a story about how I forgot to buy the ticket or something like that. I got an out-of-court settlement for £70 and paid it.
After this I never did that again, but I basically I always bought myself return tickets and they were always either on-peak or super-off peak Basically if my uni lecture was at 9 am I had no choice but to buy a peak ticket, but if it was at 1pm or something I always bought off-peak regardless of the time I was coming back. This was 1) because the station I was coming back from never checked tickets (you always had to as for them to open the barriers for you), and 2) because I was never 100% sure what time I’d be back anyway.
Regardless, after a while I realised that I need to specify the time I wanna return with because it puts the price up £5.

I want to self-report both of these things, 1) the fact that I lied in the first scenario and 2) that I bought super off-peak tickets when I should’ve bought just off-peak. Btw I have no idea how often I did this because my schedule was all over the place.

Without going into the reasons about why I want to self-report, what can I expect from this. How much can I expect the fine to be. More importantly what are my chances of being able to settle out of court. The last thing I want to get is a criminal record, but I would like to pay back what I owe.

 

[AlterEgo]

You can expect a very confused person on the end of the email. Let sleeping dogs lie. Just buy the correct tickets in future.

 

[30907]

First, I am glad your conscience is active

Second, GTR offered you their normal out-of-court settlement which you have paid.
As far as they are concerned, the matter is closed, and I don't think confessing to them will be helpful to them or you.

If you believe you have benefitted financially (to a significant degree), you could send a cheque anonymously to GTR. Alternatively, you could make a donation to an appropriate charity.

If your conscience is still unsettled, I suggest talking (formally or otherwise) to a priest/pastor/minister (if your background is Christian) or the equivalent.

 

[Egg Centric]

you could send a cheque anonymously to GTR

Please don't do this, it will just cause a bunch of confusion. What is an anonymous cheque? Also how many students have chequebooks

Since GTR are now state owned, if you *really* wanted to do this then the treasury accepts voluntary contributions. I would suggest practically any charity in preference though.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I would consider making a donation to a charity of the sum you saved, and don't do it again. You appear to have learned your lesson so I don't see any benefit in getting yourself a record.

 

[SaltAndVinegar]

In the nicest possible way... this sounds like a terrible idea, although well intentioned.

If someone paying attention catches on to what you're saying, you've handed them a confession on a silver platter.

If you're feeling guilty about defrauding the railway of funds, you could consider donating to the RBF or Samaritans, or any charity that you are fond of.

 

[johnny_t]

The other day, I left M&S without paying at one of the self-checkouts (my contact less asked me to put a PIN in and I didn't notice). I went in to pay the next day but as someone doing this was so unusual, it cause them quite some hassle. I also got to see how many people walk off without paying every day, which was an eye opener.

Anyway, as others have said, rather than trying to pay Thameslink what you owe, do something else with it that brings the overall moral ledger back to zero.

 

[Hadders]

Just to remind everyone that someone travelling with a ticket that is correctly dated but restricted for use at a range of times other than the service on which you are travelling (eg using an Off Peak ticket at a time when off peak travel is not allowed) you will be charged the difference between the fare that you have paid and the lowest price Ticket that is valid for the train you are using.

 

[Richardr]

Please don't do this, it will just cause a bunch of confusion. What is an anonymous cheque? Also how many students have chequebooks

What's more, in the unlikely event of having a cheque book it will have a name and bank account details on it, and needs signing.

 

[Haywain]

Just to remind everyone that someone travelling with a ticket that is correctly dated but restricted for use at a range of times other than the service on which you are travelling (eg using an Off Peak ticket at a time when off peak travel is not allowed) you will be charged the difference between the fare that you have paid and the lowest price Ticket that is valid for the train you are using.

Not sure what the relevance of that is to the OP's guilt about doughnutting. Perhaps you posted on the wrong thread?

Apologies, had missed the bit about misuse of Off Peak tickets.

 

[AlterEgo]

Not sure what the relevance of that is to the OP's guilt about doughnutting. Perhaps you posted on the wrong thread?

They are also apparently feeling guilty about travelling on time restricted tickets, near the bottom of the post.

 

[WesternLancer]

Not sure what the relevance of that is to the OP's guilt about doughnutting. Perhaps you posted on the wrong thread?

presumably

basically I always bought myself return tickets and they were always either on-peak or super-off peak Basically if my uni lecture was at 9 am I had no choice but to buy a peak ticket, but if it was at 1pm or something I always bought off-peak regardless of the time I was coming back.

I want to self-report both of these things, ..... 2) that I bought super off-peak tickets when I should’ve bought just off-peak.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The other day, I left M&S without paying at one of the self-checkouts (my contact less asked me to put a PIN in and I didn't notice). I went in to pay the next day but as someone doing this was so unusual, it cause them quite some hassle.

Easiest way to do that would probably be to get the items, scan them, pay, then return them to the shelves (having told them that that was what you were going to do first, obviously, as it would look incredibly odd). Did they suggest that? It would also mean their stock control wasn't off.

It's a good case for always getting a receipt. You know if you have a receipt in your hand that you have paid (aside from if you failed to scan something).

 

[Haywain]

They are also apparently feeling guilty about travelling on time restricted tickets, near the bottom of the post.

Ah, missed that.

 

[Starmill]

I would consider making a donation to a charity of the sum you saved, and don't do it again. You appear to have learned your lesson so I don't see any benefit in getting yourself a record.

I was about to suggest this myself but I see the advice has already been well given.

The best thing to do is to be careful in future, and ensure that you have the correct ticket before boarding every time.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Although it’s inappropriate in terms of of underpaying your fares, if you really are intent on making some kind of gesture, perhaps you could send several bags of premium doughnuts to GTR’s headquarters via Uber Eats ?

 

[WesternLancer]

Although it’s inappropriate in terms of of underpaying your fares, if you really are intent on making some kind of gesture, perhaps you could send several bags of premium doughnuts to GTR’s headquarters via Uber Eats ?

- bu it would probably not be a great idea to eat unsolicited food...
might be from a convicted fare dodger with a grudge, and include some unsavoury fillings

 

[duffield]

The other day, I left M&S without paying at one of the self-checkouts (my contact less asked me to put a PIN in and I didn't notice).
...

Getting offtopic but this is one thing that can't happen if you pay by virtual card on your phone.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

- bu it would probably not be a great idea to eat unsolicited food...
might be from a convicted fare dodger with a grudge, and include some unsavoury fillings

I thought my mind worked in strange ways, but that comment proves there are some jammy dodgers

 

[MotCO]

I thought my mind worked in strange ways, but that comment proves there are some jammy dodgers

I thought they were going to buy doughnuts, not jammy dodgers

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Tuesday at 11:59 ==

If you're feeling guilty about defrauding the railway of funds, you could consider donating to the RBF

The RBF is presumably the Railway Benevolent Fund, so would be quite an appropriate charity.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

The RBF is presumably the Railway Benevolent Fund, so would be quite an appropriate charity.

The Railway Benefit Fund, formerly the Railway Benevolent Institution: https://www.railwaybenefitfund.org.uk/, and specifically https://www.railwaybenefitfund.org.uk/about-us/:

The RBF was founded as the Railway Benevolent Institution in 1858 under our first president, George Glyn, 1st Baron Wolverton, during a meeting held by a group of railway clerks in London.
[...]
The charity became officially known as the Railway Benefit Fund in 2006.