No valid railcard

Vid · 25 May 2026

Thank you for reading my post. I booked two tickets from Stoke-on-Trent to Birmingham New Street and the trip.com app automatically applied two together railcard I used long ago. This was on my exes account and we aren't together.

However when I logged in on my app, it automatically enrolled the two together railcard and I didn't realise and bought tickets.

I travelled on cross country train.

At the onward journey, the inspector asked for the railcard and I didn't have one. He took my details and my son's details who was travelling with me and said they will write to us.
I was horrified and embarrassed as its my first time of encountering this.
I bought a two together railcard before the return journey.

I was reading some threads and it sounds so terrible that I may have to pay upto £1000?
I have no history of any wrong doing in the past. And I cant see any other previous bookings with a railcard applied.

Can someone advise when they will write to us and how much I will have to pay? Im already going through a domestic violence case and divorce and this is adding quite a lot of stress.

Thank you for your help

RailUK Forums

Mcr Warrior · 25 May 2026

@Vid. Welcome to the forum. An undiscounted Anytime Day Single from Stoke-on-Trent to Birmingham Stns is £28.70. But likely you'll get hit for a three figure admin fee added on top. If this is a one-off incident, can't see it costing much more than that to resolve. Good luck in sorting. Others on here may further advise.

Vid · 25 May 2026

Thank you for your help.
How much is admin fee usually?
Will they consider the fact that the app automatically applied it? And also my personal situation?

Mcr Warrior · 25 May 2026

Vid said:
Thank you for your help.
How much is admin fee usually?

Low three figures is possible. And they may pursue your son separately, which could double the expense. How old is he, BTW?

Will they consider the fact that the app automatically applied it?

Not really. Ultimately, you travelled using an inappropriately discounted ticket.

And also my personal situation?

Sorry, no. Unlikely to make any difference.

Vid · 25 May 2026

Thank you. My son is 18yrs old .studying Alevel s. Will be also be charged the same?

Mcr Warrior · 25 May 2026

Vid said:
Thank you. My son is 18yrs old .studying Alevel s. Will be also be charged the same?

It's a possibility. By all means come back on here if/when you do hear from XC. Hopefully it will be XC themselves and not ITAL, their outsourced revenue protection contractors who don't have the best of reputations on here for being easy/cheap to deal with.

WesternLancer · 25 May 2026

Vid said:
Thank you for reading my post. I booked two tickets from Stoke-on-Trent to Birmingham New Street and the trip.com app automatically applied two together railcard I used long ago. This was on my exes account and we aren't together.

However when I logged in on my app, it automatically enrolled the two together railcard and I didn't realise and bought tickets.

I travelled on cross country train.

At the onward journey, the inspector asked for the railcard and I didn't have one. He took my details and my son's details who was travelling with me and said they will write to us.
I was horrified and embarrassed as its my first time of encountering this.
I bought a two together railcard before the return journey.

I was reading some threads and it sounds so terrible that I may have to pay upto £1000?
I have no history of any wrong doing in the past. And I cant see any other previous bookings with a railcard applied.

Can someone advise when they will write to us and how much I will have to pay? Im already going through a domestic violence case and divorce and this is adding quite a lot of stress.

Thank you for your help

£1k is the maximum fine a court can impose for this offence. But the court sentencing formula means aiui you’d need a v high income to end up with that high a fine.

But ….
your objective is to prevent this going to court at all, by seeking an out of court settlement involving payment of the correct fares plus their admin fee.

Search the forum for other examples involving cross country trains and their less than ideal contractor ITAL

We can help you navigate through all this.

It could be some weeks before you hear from them. They may write or e mail so watch out for spam as well as post.

Did they take an address that you can be reliably contacted at over next 6 months or so?
Responding to them appropriately is vital to avoid this just automatically escalating to court action unfortunately.

It’s vital you do not miss or ignore their communication which will likely be quite threading in tone.

Ask any questions that occur to you.

Keep full proof of the railcard you did buy and when you bought it along with the time if your return journey. This will help prevent them try to charge you for new tickets for the return travel at least, which they may otherwise try to do.

Vid · 25 May 2026

Thank you so much guys.You all really make a difference..I will keep you posted.

Vid · 6 Jun 2026

Good morning everyone.
My son who's 18 has received this letter. Could someone advise how we should reply?
I bought a railcard on the return journey. Just dont know what's the best way to reply.
Any help is much appreciated.
Thank you

SECR 65 · 6 Jun 2026

If you did not have a valid railcard, then I suppose your only option is really to admit that you didn't have one, apologise, and say you purchased a railcard ahead of the return jouney, with the railcard number enclosed. You will then need to apologise generally and acknowledge that you understand the severity of your actions. To close express a desire to settle the matter without court proceedings, and offer to pay the outstanding fare and any administrative fees they have incurred.

I understand from other forum members that ITAL, an external revenue protection / prosecution company, which Cross Country are contracting to deal with your case, are not easy to settle with, and charge high settlement prices after a number of back and forth letters. But I don't see what else you can do other than get the ball rolling with an appology.

AlterEgo · 6 Jun 2026

They have asked for a copy of his railcard and nothing else. So just send it as requested. Don't say anything else.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2026 ==

SECR 65 said:
If you did not have a valid railcard, then I suppose your only option is really to admit that you didn't have one, apologise, and say you purchased a railcard ahead of the return jouney, with the railcard number enclosed. You will then need to apologise generally and acknowledge that you understand the severity of your actions. To close express a desire to settle the matter without court proceedings, and offer to pay the outstanding fare and any administrative fees they have incurred.

I understand from other forum members that ITAL, an external revenue protection / prosecution company, which Cross Country are contracting to deal with your case, are not easy to settle with, and charge high settlement prices after a number of back and forth letters. But I don't see what else you can do other than get the ball rolling with an appology.

ITAL haven't clocked the railcard issue yet. Do not apologise for anything at this stage. Just do the one thing they ask in the letter.

Vid · 6 Jun 2026

Its a digital card. My issue was my original card was with my ex husband who moved out and was under bail conditions, so I could not get it from him. However I found out later it had expired few days ago too.

Are they able to see what time we bought it? Is it time sensitive as I bought it on the same day?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2026 ==

Also thank you both for your valuable response

AlterEgo · 6 Jun 2026

Vid said:
Are they able to see what time we bought it?

Maybe. But you're not to know that. They asked to see the railcard, just show it.

Vid · 6 Jun 2026

AlterEgo said:
Maybe. But you're not to know that. They asked to see the railcard, just show it.

Ok.thank you

WesternLancer · 6 Jun 2026

AlterEgo said:
Maybe. But you're not to know that. They asked to see the railcard, just show it.

I agree with this advice at this stage.

Op should keep the covering message / letter polite but formal.

Post wording here before sending so we can check it, ideally.

Then depending on what ital/ cross country then say head back here on how to deal with that.

Vid · 22 Jun 2026

Hi All
Thank you. So my son sent the railcard as requested. Waiting to hear back. They said, they will investigate and let us know.

Me and my son were on the journey.
However, I received no letter so far. They did take my details on the train.We both were on the journey and only he got the letter. Its almost 4 weeks. Im going away for 4 weeks next week and worried it will come in that time and I won't be back in time to reply . What should I do? Shall I ring them ?

Vid · 25 Jul 2026

**UPDATE**
Hi all
We both received fine of 139 each and I wrote to them as I had some really exceptional circumstances going on in my personal life. Gave evidence for everything and they discounted both fine to £39 each which I paid. I really had a good experience from them and am grateful for the discount.

You guys helped a lot when I had no one to turn to about this and I thank each one of you from the bottom of my heart.
You make a huge difference and I wish you all the best!.
Thank you.

Haywain · 25 Jul 2026

Vid said:
I really had a good experience from them

It's not often people say that about CrossCountry, in any circumstances!

Mcr Warrior · 25 Jul 2026

Vid said:
We both received fine of 139 each and I wrote to them as I had some really exceptional circumstances going on in my personal life. Gave evidence for everything and they discounted both fine to £39 each which I paid.

@Vid. Result! Was that £39.10 per person (= Anytime Return fare between Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham Stns) and no admin fee?

Vid · 25 Jul 2026

Mcr Warrior said:
@Vid. Result! Was that £39.10 per person (= Anytime Return fare between Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham Stns) and no admin fee?

Yes.no admin fee.
They discounted 200 in total for me and my son

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

Mcr Warrior said:
@Vid. Result! Was that £39.10 per person (= Anytime Return fare between Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham Stns) and no admin fee?

I really cant complain after I made a mistake and them being compassionate and discounting 200 pounds in total.

soccermad · 25 Jul 2026

Great result but very unusual and unexpected, well done and thanks for reporting back the outcome

WesternLancer · 26 Jul 2026

Vid said:
**UPDATE**
Hi all
We both received fine of 139 each and I wrote to them as I had some really exceptional circumstances going on in my personal life. Gave evidence for everything and they discounted both fine to £39 each which I paid. I really had a good experience from them and am grateful for the discount.

You guys helped a lot when I had no one to turn to about this and I thank each one of you from the bottom of my heart.
You make a huge difference and I wish you all the best!.
Thank you.

Very valuable update. Thanks. So good things can happen!

No valid railcard

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