Admin charges? (Friend failed to buy a ticket at origin)

[island]

Another issue raised is that were there no revenue protection present at LMS anybody in the same situation would not have had to buy a ticket.

This seems to me to be the basis of the argument, and is wrong. Of course they would have had to buy a ticket. Buying a ticket (before travel where possible) is not something you only do because the nasty man on the train comes around or because you get stuck behind some horrid barriers. It is the law.

You also keep referring to a £20 "slap on the wrist". Penalties for non-payment are meant to be a deterrent, not a "slap on the wrist".

 

[Tetchytyke]

You also keep referring to a £20 "slap on the wrist". Penalties for non-payment are meant to be a deterrent, not a "slap on the wrist".

Indeed, and sharing that view with RPIs or the TOC will just make things worse. It implies your friend considered the pros and cons of purchasing a ticket, and decided that he'd take the risk of having to fork out £20 every so often.

Not everybody knows the rules, and as many have said time and time again they can be very confusing to interpret. I've spoken to a TOC and they were unsure if administrative fees could be applied- what does that say?

A TOC is perfectly at liberty to charge whatever it wants as an alternative to sending the matter to court. SouthEastern, as we all know, recently charged someone £43,000 as an alternative to court action.

If your friend doesn't like the deal on the table, he's perfectly able to reject it and take the matter to court. He will lose in court, and it will cost him more money in the long term, but that's his choice.

 

[34D]

Letter clearly states on behalf of CR, not XC. Would I be correct in saying they owe CR nothing or is it the fact they exited via CR's property means it is CR's responsibility?

In terms of a civil alleged debt, then you are probably right that you your friend owes Chiltern nothing.

In terms of the magistrates court, anyone, including Chiltern Railways, my mother-in-law, or uncle Tom Cobleigh can bring a private prosecution for an alleged criminal matter.