GTR stop for altered ticket & short-faring – Likelihood of Settlement

[Gigot]

Hi everyone,
I was recently stopped by a GTR revenue inspector on the Thameslink line for using an altered electronic ticket. My details and ID were taken, and I received a receipt slip.

Across two main routes over the last 3 years my history consists of roughly:

• 10 altered tickets and 30 short-fare journeys (all in last year)
• 40 genuine, fully paid journeys

I have a completely clean record with no prior convictions or cautions.
I take full responsibility, have no intention of disputing the facts, and want to pay back all.

I have read extensively about the procedure, understand the 21-day timeline once the Notice of Intention to Prosecute arrives, and know not to contact them beforehand.
But given the specific mix of ~10 altered tickets alongside short-faring and a clean record, what is the realistic likelihood of GTR agreeing to an out-of-court administrative settlement rather than taking this to the Magistrates' Court?


Thanks in advance for your insights.

 

[SECR 65]

Welcome to the forum,

Firstly how long ago were you stopped? I presume well within the past six months?

Hi everyone,
I was recently stopped by a GTR revenue inspector on the Thameslink line for using an altered electronic ticket. My details and ID were taken, and I received a receipt slip.

I imagine you now appreciate how serious this is. In your case not simply fare evasion, but effectively fraud. Hopefully, you will not be charged with the latter but instead be dealt with for fare evasion.

Across two main routes over the last 3 years my history consists of roughly:

• 10 altered tickets and 30 short-fare journeys (all in last year)
• 40 genuine, fully paid journeys

Be prepared to explain and evidence these journeys with valid tickets, as they may initially suspect them to be illegitimate. You should be able to, with the proof of e.g. workplace addresses, designate to them which journeys were and were not with a valid ticket.
Until recently, we didn't usually see GTR review ticket purchase history. However, latterly, they have been seen to in a number of cases, so you should be prepared to pay the anytime single fare for every journey undertaken without a valid ticket, plus an admin fee, which in this case could be up to around £250.

I have a completely clean record with no prior convictions or cautions.

I understand what you mean by this statement, although I beg to differ I'm afraid, given the fourty instances of fare evasion you mention above.

I take full responsibility, have no intention of disputing the facts, and want to pay back all.

This is a good approach, as, as you have probably established from other threads, cooperating with GTR is a good way to increase your chances of a settlement.

I have read extensively about the procedure, understand the 21-day timeline once the Notice of Intention to Prosecute arrives, and know not to contact them beforehand.
But given the specific mix of ~10 altered tickets alongside short-faring and a clean record, what is the realistic likelihood of GTR agreeing to an out-of-court administrative settlement rather than taking this to the Magistrates' Court?

My personal view would be that hopefully GTR would agree to settle. However, none of us can be sure. They are likely to take some convincing in this particularly serious case of altered tickets.

Thanks in advance for your insights.

You are welcome. Let us know if you have any further questions.

 

[tatitiliti]

Hi everyone,
I was recently stopped by a GTR revenue inspector on the Thameslink line for using an altered electronic ticket. My details and ID were taken, and I received a receipt slip.

Across two main routes over the last 3 years my history consists of roughly:

• 10 altered tickets and 30 short-fare journeys (all in last year)
• 40 genuine, fully paid journeys

I have a completely clean record with no prior convictions or cautions.
I take full responsibility, have no intention of disputing the facts, and want to pay back all.

I have read extensively about the procedure, understand the 21-day timeline once the Notice of Intention to Prosecute arrives, and know not to contact them beforehand.
But given the specific mix of ~10 altered tickets alongside short-faring and a clean record, what is the realistic likelihood of GTR agreeing to an out-of-court administrative settlement rather than taking this to the Magistrates' Court?


Thanks in advance for your insights.

Did you admit to it on the spot while the RPO’s bodycam was on, and did he take a photo of the altered ticket?

You’ll have to wait and see exactly what they accuse you of when they write to you.

 

[Gigot]

Firstly how long ago were you stopped? I presume well within the past six months?

Yes, last week precisely

Be prepared to explain and evidence these journeys with valid tickets, as they may initially suspect them to be illegitimate. You should be able to, with the proof of e.g. workplace addresses, designate to them which journeys were and were not with a valid ticket.

It shouldn't be an issue I have evidence of most of tickets, valid or not valid

I understand what you mean by this statement, although I beg to differ I'm afraid, given the fourty instances of fare evasion you mention above.

Yes probably I didn't express properly, but I don't want at all to minimize what I did, I fell really an idiot. I just meant that from a purely case perspective this will result as first time violating rules and from what I heard this should help my case

My personal view would be that hopefully GTR would agree to settle. However, none of us can be sure. They are likely to take some convincing in this particularly serious case of altered tickets.

Do you have any idea what could help on my side? Besides obviously cooperate as much as possible.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Aug 2026 ==

Did you admit to it on the spot while the RPO’s bodycam was on, and did he take a photo of the altered ticket?

You’ll have to wait and see exactly what they accuse you of when they write to you.

He took a picture of the ticket yes. No I didn't admit nothing of what I said here, most of questions I replied as I don't know or something similar. Don't know if this can help or not

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Aug 2026 ==

Also thank to both of you for your answer, I really appreciate it

 

[Haywain]

what is the realistic likelihood of GTR agreeing to an out-of-court administrative settlement rather than taking this to the Magistrates' Court?

About 95% likely, if not higher.

 

[tatitiliti]

Yes, last week precisely

It shouldn't be an issue I have evidence of most of tickets, valid or not valid

Yes probably I didn't express properly, but I don't want at all to minimize what I did, I fell really an idiot. I just meant that from a purely case perspective this will result as first time violating rules and from what I heard this should help my case

Do you have any idea what could help on my side? Besides obviously cooperate as much as possible.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Aug 2026 ==


He took a picture of the ticket yes. No I didn't admit nothing of what I said here, most of questions I replied as I don't know or something similar. Don't know if this can help or not

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Aug 2026 ==

Also thank to both of you for your answer, I really appreciate it

Yeah if he took a picture then you don’t have plausible deniability on your side unfortunately.

Best bet is to fess up and try to settle - but don’t admit to any other journeys unless you’re specifically asked.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2026 ==

About 95% likely, if not higher.

I’d stretch to about 99% knowing GTR

 

[SussexMan]

Yes probably I didn't express properly, but I don't want at all to minimize what I did, I fell really an idiot. I just meant that from a purely case perspective this will result as first time violating rules and from what I heard this should help my case

Invariably they will settle out of court - but it may help in any communication that you accept the seriousness. You violated the rules on one occasion and then you violated the rules another 39 times. That is serial offending, not a one off offence.

 

[Gigot]

Invariably they will settle out of court - but it may help in any communication that you accept the seriousness. You violated the rules on one occasion and then you violated the rules another 39 times. That is serial offending, not a one off offence.

Absolutely I will. What I meant is just that is the first time that GTR or any other entity is dealing with a case involving myself, not that I violated only once rules. I completely understand the seriousness of the situation unfortunately

 

[WesternLancer]

The standard advice but suspect OP has already seen it as they have done some homework before posting



Firstly, you committed a criminal offence by travelling with an invalid ticket and railway companies are entitled to prosecute you in the Magistrates Court if they want to. The good news is they will normally offer an out of court settlement to people who co-operate with them and who haven't come to their attention before.


Next, what happens is the railway company will write to you. The letter will go to the address that you gave them / on any of your ID they checked so you need to be able to access hard copy post at that address as they often send things that way (but also check e-mail and spam). It is extremely important that you reply, and you'll only have a limited time to do so (often 14 days from the date on their communication).

When you receive the letter post a redacted copy of it in this thread, 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:

- 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.