SWR travel irregularity report

marktwain_ · 10 Aug 2026

Hello there,

After not taking the train for a while I was caught today daughnuting from Waterloo to Ash Vale. I know what I did is wrong, I do it as I find the fares stupidly expensive. Yes I know they go up because of people like me but not only.
I was given a travel irregularity report and I gave the officer my bank card for name.
The officer typed my first name wrong, ( by a letter) will that affect anything (maybe get me off the hook)?
They have the correct address but I am about to move out in a couple of weeks.

Is the best case to email them and explain I will be leaving the country or not say anything they got my name wrong?

Ahh advice would be welcomed.

Thanks.

RailUK Forums

Fawkes Cat · 10 Aug 2026

marktwain_ said:
Hello there,

After not taking the train for a while I was caught today daughnuting from Waterloo to Ash Vale. I know what I did is wrong, I do it as I find the fares stupidly expensive. Yes I know they go up because of people like me but not only.
I was given a travel irregularity report and I gave the officer my bank card for name.
The officer typed my first name wrong, ( by a letter) will that affect anything (maybe get me off the hook)?
They have the correct address but I am about to move out in a couple of weeks.

Is the best case to email them and explain I will be leaving the country or not say anything they got my name wrong?

Ahh advice would be welcomed.

Thanks.

Welcome to the forum.

A small mistake in the spelling of your name won't get you off the hook: my understanding is that in English law your name is just a useful way of identifying you rather than something that has to be precisely right. But if you are leaving the country shortly, it might be worth telling the railway: give them your new address (if you know it) and you almost certainly have (or can set up) an email address that will reach you wherever you are in the world.

marktwain_ · 10 Aug 2026

Fawkes Cat said:
Welcome to the forum.

A small mistake in the spelling of your name won't get you off the hook: my understanding is that in English law your name is just a useful way of identifying you rather than something that has to be precisely right. But if you are leaving the country shortly, it might be worth telling the railway: give them your new address (if you know it) and you almost certainly have (or can set up) an email address that will reach you wherever you are in the world.

I’m leaving the country to an Asian country. Shall I still give them my address there?
I have someone staying in my home the next four weeks, shall I wait that time?
My thinking is they might not send any letters? Or will they definitely chase this up?

Fawkes Cat · 10 Aug 2026

marktwain_ said:
I’m leaving the country to an Asian country. Shall I still give them my address there?
I have someone staying in my home the next four weeks, shall I wait that time?
My thinking is they might not send any letters? Or will they definitely chase this up?

Will you be returning to your UK address after your time abroad?

marktwain_ · 10 Aug 2026

Also are there any examples of letters being sent out?
Thanks

Fawkes Cat · 10 Aug 2026

marktwain_ said:
Also are there any examples of letters being sent out?
Thanks

If you search the forum for 'SWR' then you may find threads where people show the sort of letters that SWR send out.

marktwain_ · 10 Aug 2026

No I will not

Fawkes Cat said:
Will you be returning to your UK address after your time abroa?

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marktwain_ said:
No I will not

I just don’t want a criminal record

Fawkes Cat · 10 Aug 2026

marktwain_ said:
No I will not

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Aug 2026 ==

I just don’t want a criminal record

In that case, you have an interest in doing everything you can to stay in touch, in the hope that SWR will let you settle out of court. So write to them to give your new address (wherever in the world that happens to be) and email details: if you are returning to the UK (even if that's to a different address from your current one) let them know your new UK address.

marktwain_ · 10 Aug 2026

Fawkes Cat said:
In that case, you have an interest in doing everything you can to stay in touch, in the hope that SWR will let you settle out of court. So write to them to give your new address (wherever in the world that happens to be) and email details: if you are returning to the UK (even if that's to a different address from your current one) let them know your new UK address.

I read somewhere else to not contact them unless they do as then you’re just admitting to fault.

Fawkes Cat · 10 Aug 2026

marktwain_ said:
I read somewhere else to not contact them unless they do as then you’re just admitting to fault.

It depends on your priorities. As you say

marktwain_ said:
I just don’t want a criminal record

then in my view the best way forward is to engage and settle out of court.

In case it's not clear, if you settle out of court then you don't get a criminal record!

(Edited to add) And if you don't engage with the process, our experience is that most railway companies move straight to prosecution: if, despite their efforts to get in touch, you don't find out about being taken to court then you will end up being convicted and punished with a fine in your absence. And that, if course, means that you end up with a criminal record - which is what you say you want to avoid.

Hence my advice to keep in touch with them.

pdq · 10 Aug 2026

marktwain_ said:
I read somewhere else to not contact them unless they do as then you’re just admitting to fault.

That's only where you haven't been physically stopped and the company is contacting you preemptively, purely through a data trawl of online purchases. In any case, contacting them to advise of contact details is not admitting to anything.

marktwain_ · 10 Aug 2026

pdq said:
That's only where you haven't been physically stopped and the company is contacting you preemptively, purely through a data trawl of online purchases. Contacting them to advise of contact details is not admitting to anything.

Okay thank you for the advice. I will contact them.

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Fawkes Cat said:
It depends on your priorities. As you say

then in my view the best way forward is to engage and settle out of court.

In case it's not clear, if you settle out of court then you don't get a criminal record!

(Edited to add) And if you don't engage with the process, our experience is that most railway companies move straight to prosecution: if, despite their efforts to get in touch, you don't find out about being taken to court then you will end up being convicted and punished with a fine in your absence. And that, if course, means that you end up with a criminal record - which is what you say you want to avoid.

Hence my advice to keep in touch with them.

Thanks Fawkes cat.
That is very helpful.
I will contact them to avoid a criminal case. Will report back!

WesternLancer · 10 Aug 2026

marktwain_ said:
Okay thank you for the advice. I will contact them.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Aug 2026 ==

Thanks Fawkes cat.
That is very helpful.
I will contact them to avoid a criminal case. Will report back!

To advise them you are moving address I would send them the most basic info about it at this stage - I suggest using this template.

I would not send this yet - but send it eg 2 weeks before you move address / move abroad

If you were given a Travel Irregularity Report (TIR) with a ref number it is almost certain you would be contacted in due course anyway, they won't just forget about it - tho it could easily be at least 4 to 8 weeks before they might contact you in the ordinary course of events (see other SWR threads where you will get an idea of the timelines)

If SWR the contact details you need are:

SWR

e-mail

prosecutions@swrailway.com

Post:

Prosecutions Department
South Western Railway Ltd
FREEPOST

Suggested draft letter / e-mail:

Date:

Dear Sir/ Madam

Reference number (insert this from TIR receipt slip you have)

I was stopped on x date at y location and questioned about the validity of my rail ticket.
I was advised I will be contacted in due course.

Please note that on x date I will be moving overseas so this is to inform you of my new contact details

My current address is (the address given when questioned):

My new address as of x date is:

My e-mail address is:

Please can any letters be sent to me by e-mail as I will no longer be in the UK, so that I can respond to them promptly.

Should you need my new postal address it will be: [insert a postal address that you can receive post at abroad]

Yours faithfully

marktwain_ · 10 Aug 2026

WesternLancer said:
To advise them you are moving address I would send them the most basic info about it at this stage - I suggest using this template.

I would not send this yet - but send it eg 2 weeks before you move address / move abroad

If you were given a Travel Irregularity Report (TIR) with a ref number it is almost certain you would be contacted in due course anyway, they won't just forget about it - tho it could easily be at least 4 to 8 weeks before they might contact you in the ordinary course of events (see other SWR threads where you will get an idea of the timelines)

If SWR the contact details you need are:

SWR

e-mail

prosecutions@swrailway.com

Post:

Prosecutions Department
South Western Railway Ltd
FREEPOST

Suggested draft letter / e-mail:

Date:

Dear Sir/ Madam

Reference number (insert this from TIR receipt slip you have)

I was stopped on x date at y location and questioned about the validity of my rail ticket.
I was advised I will be contacted in due course.

Please note that on x date I will be moving overseas so this is to inform you of my new contact details

My current address is (the address given when questioned):

My new address as of x date is:

My e-mail address is:

Please can any letters be sent to me by e-mail as I will no longer be in the UK, so that I can respond to them promptly.

Should you need my new postal address it will be: [insert a postal address that you can receive post at abroad]

Yours faithfully

I was thinking the the same. I was going to way until my friend moves out of my address as they can easily open my post and send me pictures. I also looked at other peoples letters and I can see they offer the option to email them details instead of posting them details.

Would it be worth sending them my new address even though it would all be in Chinese characters? Would they even bother looking at it.

Thank you so much for taking the time to responding and providing a great email draft!

Much appreciated!

Tetchytyke · 10 Aug 2026

marktwain_ said:
I’m leaving the country to an Asian country. Shall I still give them my address there?

Yes.

marktwain_ said:
My thinking is they might not send any letters? Or will they definitely chase this up?

If they know you're in a foreign jurisdiction they may not take things further. Or they may write to you to ask you to repay the fares you defrauded them out of.

If they don't know you've left then it is likely they'll prosecute you just as they prosecute everyone else who ignores their letters.

Even if you're not in the UK anymore, that's something that you'd probably prefer to avoid. It can, sometimes, cause you issues should you return to the UK- speak to an immigration lawyer if this concerns you.

marktwain_ · 10 Aug 2026

Tetchytyke said:
Yes.

If they know you're in a foreign jurisdiction they may not take things further. Or they may write to you to ask you to repay the fares you defrauded them out of.

If they don't know you've left then it is likely they'll prosecute you just as they prosecute everyone else who ignores their letters.

Even if you're not in the UK anymore, that's something that you'd probably prefer to avoid. It can, sometimes, cause you issues should you return to the UK- speak to an immigration lawyer if this concerns you.

Understood. I will email them appropriately once I lose access to all paper mail at home.

WesternLancer · 10 Aug 2026

marktwain_ said:
I was thinking the the same. I was going to way until my friend moves out of my address as they can easily open my post and send me pictures. I also looked at other peoples letters and I can see they offer the option to email them details instead of posting them details.

Well - its probably better not to have to rely on your friend but if you feel you can rely on them then that is OK - but these letters do not seem to go out very quickly so your friend could have moved (and if they did send something after you had moved, but your friend is still there, and your friend picks it up well that's ok anyway)

marktwain_ said:
Would it be worth sending them my new address even though it would all be in Chinese characters? Would they even bother looking at it.

It's actually in your interests to do this - in my opinion they are less likely to instigate court action against you if they know it's more complicated to take someone to court who has left the UK, for a matter like this

There must be a way to express a postal address in English characters (I would think - but apols if I am wrong about that) if so use that - if not use Chinese characters. It then becomes the railways company's problem and increases the probability that they just e-mail you instead in my opinion - which is what you want them to do anyway (keep an eye on spam of course)

marktwain_ said:
Thank you so much for taking the time to responding and providing a great email draft!

Much appreciated!

You are very welcome

marktwain_ · 10 Aug 2026

Th

WesternLancer said:
Well - its probably better not to have to rely on your friend but if you feel you can rely on them then that is OK - but these letters do not seem to go out very quickly so your friend could have moved (and if they did send something after you had moved, but your friend is still there, and your friend picks it up well that's ok anyway)

It's actually in your interests to do this - in my opinion they are less likely to instigate court action against you if they know it's more complicated to take someone to court who has left the UK, for a matter like this

There must be a way to express a postal address in English characters (I would think - but apols if I am wrong about that) if so use that - if not use Chinese characters. It then becomes the railways company's problem and increases the probability that they just e-mail you instead in my opinion - which is what you want them to do anyway (keep an eye on spam of course)

You are very welcome

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Thank you!
I shall report back.

SuspectUsual · 11 Aug 2026

marktwain_ said:
Understood. I will email them appropriately once I lose access to all paper mail at home.

I would email and write, as per the example quoted above, and do it now. You cannot assume they will deal with your change of address immediately. We know it takes weeks and weeks for them to deal with TIRs so why would a random letter be any different?

If you wait till you lose access to your UK address there is a big risk that SWR then take a few weeks to process your change of address and in the meantime someone else there writes to that address and the letter will be ignored, setting you on the pathway to potential prosecution

marktwain_ · 11 Aug 2026

SuspectUsual said:
I would email and write, as per the example quoted above, and do it now. You cannot assume they will deal with your change of address immediately. We know it takes weeks and weeks for them to deal with TIRs so why would a random letter be any different?

If you wait till you lose access to your UK address there is a big risk that SWR then take a few weeks to process your change of address and in the meantime someone else there writes to that address and the letter will be ignored, setting you on the pathway to potential prosecution

Funny you say this. I was thinking the exact same thing and couldn’t sleep. I emailed them first thing this morning!
Thanks.

WesternLancer · 11 Aug 2026

marktwain_ said:
Funny you say this. I was thinking the exact same thing and couldn’t sleep. I emailed them first thing this morning!
Thanks.

I think that was probably the sensible thing to do - keep copies of everything - both what you send them and any replies / auto replies you get back. If you hear nothing before you leave UK - a week or two before - consider printing off the e-mail you send and posting it to their address (Freepost one as above)

marktwain_ · 11 Aug 2026

WesternLancer said:
I think that was probably the sensible thing to do - keep copies of everything - both what you send them and any replies / auto replies you get back. If you hear nothing before you leave UK - a week or two before - consider printing off the e-mail you send and posting it to their address (Freepost one as above)

Thank you, I will do this too

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Aug 2026 ==

A little update from me…
So far so good.
Thank you for your help thus far telling me to email asap. Much appreciated.
Will keep updating.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Aug 2026 ==

marktwain_ said:
Thank you, I will do this too

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Aug 2026 ==

A little update from me…
So far so good.
Thank you for your help thus far telling me to email asap. Much appreciated.
Will keep updating.

I responded thanking them

WesternLancer · 12 Aug 2026

marktwain_ said:
Thank you, I will do this too

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Aug 2026 ==

A little update from me…
So far so good.
Thank you for your help thus far telling me to email asap. Much appreciated.
Will keep updating.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Aug 2026 ==

I responded thanking them

Exactly the outcome you need at thus point - could be some weeks before they get to you - keep a copy of that message safe (in case they fail to do what they say, but I think that is unlikely)
Head back here for next step when you eventually here from them whether you are still in UK or abroad.

marktwain_ · 12 Aug 2026

WesternLancer said:
Exactly the outcome you need at thus point - could be some weeks before they get to you - keep a copy of that message safe (in case they fail to do what they say, but I think that is unlikely)
Head back here for next step when you eventually here from them whether you are still in UK or abroad.

Thank you Western Lancer. You are being very nice considering you probably can’t stand people that do what I did.

Needless to say, I will never be doughnutting again.

WesternLancer · 12 Aug 2026

marktwain_ said:
Thank you Western Lancer. You are being very nice considering you probably can’t stand people that do what I did.

Needless to say, I will never be doughnutting again.

well, I just think it's a stupid thing to do - eventually people get caught and will be asked to pay what they originally should have done - which I think is a good thing.

SWR travel irregularity report

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