Appealing Thameslink Out of Court Settlement- Advice

[Honey26]

I've recently received an out of court settlement (~£60) for a train dispute that took place in February 2025. I received a Notice of Intention to Prosecute letter on 12th May regarding the incident at London St Pancras International Station. Thameslink said that I "entered a train for the purpose of travelling on the railway and that upon inspection, did not produce a valid ticket". This is untrue and below is my response to their letter with my story (removed ticket details):

I am writing in response to the letter dated 12th May 2025, and I wish to provide a clear and accurate account of events relating to the journey in question on 12th February 2025.

At 07:48 GMT on 12th February 2025, I purchased an Anytime Return ticket from Slade Green to Cambridge via the Trainline app (Transaction ID: XXXXXX). Upon arriving at Slade Green station with the intention to print the ticket, I was informed by station staff that there was no internet service available, and that I should print the ticket at my destination station.

For context, I regularly commute along this route—Slade Green to Cambridge—approximately three times per week and have done so consistently for over two years.

My usual journey involves the following route:

• Slade Green to Abbey Wood
• Elizabeth line from Abbey Wood to Farringdon
• Thameslink service from Farringdon to St Pancras International
• A short walk from St Pancras to King’s Cross, where I board my final train to Cambridge

On 12th February 2025, in anticipation of not being able to print my main return ticket at Slade Green, I intended to do so upon arrival at King’s Cross. To expedite the journey and avoid delays, I purchased a separate e-ticket for the Farringdon to St Pancras leg of the journey via the Trainline app at 08:02 GMT (Transaction ID: XXXXX). This e-ticket was valid and presented at the gate when requested.

Upon arrival at St Pancras International at 08:41 GMT, I was approached by an inspector who asked for my details, stating that my ticket required verification. As I did not fully understand the nature of the issue at the time, I provided my details as requested. The inspector advised that my case would be reviewed, and I would be contacted in due course.

Subsequently, upon exiting St Pancras station, I successfully printed the original return ticket purchased at 07:48 GMT. The ticket number is XXXXXX. This confirms that I held a valid ticket for the entirety of my journey.

I have attached evidence of my Farringdon to St Pancras e-ticket and a PDF copy is included. I have also attached a copy of the additional Slade Green to Cambridge ticket and all the receipts (which have the exact time of purchase) for completeness.

I firmly believe I have not committed any offence. I disembarked at Farringdon and held a valid ticket for the next leg to St Pancras. At no point did I intend to travel without a valid ticket, and I took reasonable steps to comply with the conditions of carriage given the technical issues experienced at the origin station.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me should any further clarification or documentation be required.

The only issue I can think of is that I couldn't scan my ticket in from Farringdon as the change from the Elizabeth line doesn't enable me to do so. For context and as mentioned above, I've travelled on this route countless times and have never not paid my (very expensive) ticket fare.

They replied to me today saying that they'd like to settle this out court and I should pay, however I don't believe I've done anything wrong and would like to appeal. What is the best approach to this?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

[SuspectUsual]

Can you show us all the communication you’ve received about this, but cover up any identifying details

 

[Honey26]

Here are the letters in order of pages. The last photo is the most recent one.

Can you show us all the communication you’ve received about this, but cover up any identifying details

Here are the letters in order of pages. The last photo is the most recent one.

 

[enyoueffsea]

What times did the trains you use that day depart?

Is there a reason you take that particular journey? There is a direct train from Slade Green to St Pancras.

I’m assuming they believe you didn’t have a ticket from Slade Green to Farringdon and purchased the eTicket in order to get through the gates at St Pancras. Although if you have shown them the evidence this ticket existed, I’m not sure why they wouldn’t accept that.

What made you purchase that additional and unnecessary ticket if you already held a valid ticket?

 

[Honey26]

What times did the trains you use that day depart?

Is there a reason you take that particular journey? There is a direct train from Slade Green to St Pancras.

I’m assuming they believe you didn’t have a ticket from Slade Green to Farringdon and purchased the eTicket in order to get through the gates at St Pancras. Although if you have shown them the evidence this ticket existed, I’m not sure why they wouldn’t accept that.

What made you purchase that additional and unnecessary ticket if you already held a valid ticket?

I haven't got the exact timings but I can search.

The direct train from Slade Green to St Pancras is ~50min and these trains are infrequent. The route I take from Slade Green- St Pancras is ~40min. There are more frequent trains on this route and every minute counts in the morning on the commute.

I bought the additional ticket because I was unable to print a ticket at Slade Green (due to the internet being down). So I just bought the e ticket to save time, so I could just scan it at the barrier at St Pancras. It cost me extra but I bought it because I didn't want to waste time trying to explain my situation at the gate.

I'm not sure why they haven't accepted the evidence. I sent a copy of my trainline receipts which show all the timings of my ticket purchases- I'm being completely honest.

 

[Haywain]

What made you purchase that additional and unnecessary ticket if you already held a valid ticket?

The OP didn't actually hold the ticket from Slade Green, which had not been collected.

however I don't believe I've done anything wrong and would like to appeal. What is the best approach to this?

It's not clear whether you have done anything wrong or not. The ticket you ordered online should have been collected at Slade Green before boarding any train. As there would be Ticket Vending Machines and a ticket office, it's not clear what the internet has to do with this not being possible. However, if that wasn't possible it is what your letter needs to emphasise - as it stands it is lost amongst all the other irrelevant text.

 

[AlterEgo]

Did the officer who stopped you make any attempt to validate your story? A station being without ticket collection facilities should have been logged.

 

[Honey26]

The OP didn't actually hold the ticket from Slade Green, which had not been collected.

It's not clear whether you have or not. The ticket you ordered online should have been collected at Slade Green before boarding any train. As there would be Ticket Vending Machines and a ticket office, it's not clear what the internet has to do with this not being possible. However, if that wasn't possible it is what your letter needs to emphasise - as it stands it is lost amongst all the other irrelevant text.

The staff member at the ticket office said I'd be unable to print my ticket at the vending machine or at her desk (in the ticket office) because the internet was down. I'm not sure of the technicalities around ticket printing but that was the excuse she gave me. Do you suggest I write back to them emphasising this? Do you think it's worth contacting the colleague at Slade Green to provide evidence on their end?

 

[enyoueffsea]

Others much more experienced and knowledgeable on this may have different views but my view on options:

1. Pay the settlement figure to make any prospect of court action disappear and then submit a complaint with the aim of a refund of this money.

2. Write back to them, emphasising ticket collection facilities were unavailable on the day and reiterating you had purchased a valid ticket prior to travel but were unable to collect it.

3. Don’t pay, don’t respond and see if they progress it to court. If they do, plead not guilty and seek legal representation.

I wouldn’t advise option 3. I would probably take option 2 here.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 May 2025 ==

Just a thought - would the OP be expected to collect the ticket at Abbey Wood (assuming facilities exist there) as the first opportunity to do so rather than waiting to St Pancras? Or would this not apply?

 

[Haywain]

Do you suggest I write back to them emphasising this?

Yes. As it stands your actions suggest you were chancing getting away with short faring with the ticket from Farringdon.

 

[Honey26]

Others much more experienced and knowledgeable on this may have different views but my view on options:

1. Pay the settlement figure to make any prospect of court action disappear and then submit a complaint with the aim of a refund of this money.

2. Write back to them, emphasising ticket collection facilities were unavailable on the day and reiterating you had purchased a valid ticket prior to travel but were unable to collect it.

3. Don’t pay, don’t respond and see if they progress it to court. If they do, plead not guilty and seek legal representation.

I wouldn’t advise option 3. I would probably take option 2 here.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 May 2025 ==

Just a thought - would the OP be expected to collect the ticket at Abbey Wood (assuming facilities exist there) as the first opportunity to do so rather than waiting to St Pancras? Or would this not apply?

Thank you, I'll go with option 2 and emphasise this.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 May 2025 ==

Yes. As it stands your actions suggest you were chancing getting away with short faring with the ticket from Farringdon.

Thank you for explaining. I wish the letters were more detailed so I could've understood the exact offence. I'll draft a response to them.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 May 2025 ==

Did the officer who stopped you make any attempt to validate your story? A station being without ticket collection facilities should have been logged.

No but that's useful to know that these things get logged. Hopefully they still have a record of this issue from Feb.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you, I'll go with option 2 and emphasise this.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 May 2025 ==


Thank you for explaining. I wish the letters were more detailed so I could've understood the exact offence. I'll draft a response to them.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 May 2025 ==


No but that's useful to know that these things get logged. Hopefully they still have a record of this issue from Feb.

If you draft up a response get it checked here before you send it.

What you need to know is that there is no right of appeal to what I suspect is an out of court settlement offer. They could withdraw that offer and prosecute you. I don’t know how likely they are to do that however. Usually GTR are reasonable to deal with so maybe they would not do that at this stage.

I think your focus needs to be no ticket printing facility at station boarding at the time and you followed advice from ticket office staff member on what to do.

 

[Honey26]

If you draft up a response get it checked here before you send it.

What you need to know is that there is no right of appeal to what I suspect is an out of court settlement offer. They could withdraw that offer and prosecute you. I don’t know how likely they are to do that however. Usually GTR are reasonable to deal with so maybe they would not do that at this stage.

I think your focus needs to be no ticket printing facility at station boarding at the time and you followed advice from ticket office staff member on what to do.

That's interesting- have you heard of anyone getting an out of court settlement offer withdrawn?

Here is my draft appeal:

"To Whom It May Concern,

Thank you for your letter regarding the proposed out of court settlement.

I would like to respectfully appeal this outcome on the basis that I held a valid Anytime Return ticket from Slade Green to Cambridge, purchased via the Trainline app at 07:48 GMT on 12th February 2025 (Transaction ID: XXXX).

Upon arrival at Slade Green station to collect the ticket, I was informed by a member of staff that there were technical issues such that ticket collection facilities were unavailable on the day. I was told to collect my ticket at the destination station instead.

I assume such technical issues are routinely logged, and I trust you may be able to verify that there was indeed a technical problem at Slade Green station on that date (12th February 2025).

I did not at any point intend to avoid paying the correct fare, and I took all reasonable steps to comply with the rules, despite the unforeseen technical issue at my departure station.

I would be grateful if this matter could be reviewed again considering the circumstances and evidence already provided. I remain happy to supply any further information required."

 

[WesternLancer]

That's interesting- have you heard of anyone getting an out of court settlement offer withdrawn?

Here is my draft appeal:

"To Whom It May Concern,

Thank you for your letter regarding the proposed out of court settlement.

I would like to respectfully appeal this outcome on the basis that I held a valid Anytime Return ticket from Slade Green to Cambridge, purchased via the Trainline app at 07:48 GMT on 12th February 2025 (Transaction ID: XXXX).

Upon arrival at Slade Green station to collect the ticket, I was informed by a member of staff that there were technical issues such that ticket collection facilities were unavailable on the day. I was told to collect my ticket at the destination station instead.

I assume such technical issues are routinely logged, and I trust you may be able to verify that there was indeed a technical problem at Slade Green station on that date (12th February 2025).

I did not at any point intend to avoid paying the correct fare, and I took all reasonable steps to comply with the rules, despite the unforeseen technical issue at my departure station.

I would be grateful if this matter could be reviewed again considering the circumstances and evidence already provided. I remain happy to supply any further information required."

I’m not sure if we have seen such offers withdrawn. But the usual advice on here is to accept them so it may not apply.

But your case is unusual.

 

[Haywain]

I did not at any point intend to avoid paying the correct fare, and I took all reasonable steps to comply with the rules, despite the unforeseen technical issue at my departure station.

I'd advise adding a bit to this to say that you bought the other ticket to ease your passage through St Pancras but now realise how that looks.

 

[WesternLancer]

That's interesting- have you heard of anyone getting an out of court settlement offer withdrawn?

Here is my draft appeal:

"To Whom It May Concern,

Thank you for your letter regarding the proposed out of court settlement.

I would like to respectfully appeal this outcome on the basis that I held a valid Anytime Return ticket from Slade Green to Cambridge, purchased via the Trainline app at 07:48 GMT on 12th February 2025 (Transaction ID: XXXX).

Upon arrival at Slade Green station to collect the ticket, I was informed by a member of staff that there were technical issues such that ticket collection facilities were unavailable on the day. I was told to collect my ticket at the destination station instead.

I assume such technical issues are routinely logged, and I trust you may be able to verify that there was indeed a technical problem at Slade Green station on that date (12th February 2025).

I did not at any point intend to avoid paying the correct fare, and I took all reasonable steps to comply with the rules, despite the unforeseen technical issue at my departure station.

I would be grateful if this matter could be reviewed again considering the circumstances and evidence already provided. I remain happy to supply any further information required."

Draft looks ok to
Me but I’d wait 24 hours for other experts thoughts.

One comment is I’d not use the word ‘appeal’ because there is no process for that. Maybe word it ‘respectfully ask if you could look at this again’ or some such.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

This is a bit of an unusual situation. Fundamentally, if the ticket collection facilities at Slade Green were not working then there's no problem with boarding the train and collecting the ticket at the earliest opportunity. What complicates this is purchasing the Farringdon to St Pancras ticket to get through the barriers at St Pancras. You'd have been better off explaining what had happened to the barrier staff. Some other general observations:

• Using the Elizabeth Line between Abbey Wood and Farringdon for this journey is absolutely fine, it's faster. You could consider using the Underground between Farringdon and Kings Cross St Pancras, it's more frequent and if you travel in the very rear carriage between Farringdon and Kings Cross St Pancras it's an easier interchange if onward travel is from Kings Cross.
• There is no point in buying tickets between Slade Green and Cambridge in ahead of travel. There are no Advance tickets on this route and so the price you pay on the day is the same as if you purchase in advance. It might be simpler to just purchase from the ticket machine when you get to the station.
• Although you should have been allowed to travel and collect your tickets at the earliest opportunity another option would be to purchase a new ticket and then sort it out later with GTR. Fundamentally you should not need to do this but an unused ticket between Slade Green and Cambridge is refundable although your ticket retailer might try to charge a £10 admin fee, but arguing over a refund fee for a ticket you could not collect would be easier than the situation you're in now.

I agree that in this case it's worth contacting GTR and I think what you've written is ok although I agree with @Haywain that you should provide an explanation for the purchase of the ticket between Farringdon and St Pancras. Did you collect the ticket in the end (I assume you needed it for your onward journey from Kings Cross and the return journey?). If so have you still got it because it would be helpful of you could send a copy of it to GTR as it would show the date, time and where it was printed.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Include a paragraph about why you purchased the ticket from Farringdon and acknowledge how this looks. If your ticket history on the Trainline app supports your story- plenty of tickets from Slade Green to Cambridge and no record of significant use of refunds- you may wish to include screenshots of this too.

Also include copies (not originals) of the tickets you printed off to demonstrate that you held a ticket for the journey.

In future, it is generally a good idea to get the ticket office clerk to endorse something to state that ticket collection was not available. It should be reported but it isn’t always, and there can be issues where the station is operated by a different TOC to the one who stops you on a ticket check.

 

[Honey26]

Welcome to the forum!

This is a bit of an unusual situation. Fundamentally, if the ticket collection facilities at Slade Green were not working then there's no problem with boarding the train and collecting the ticket at the earliest opportunity. What complicates this is purchasing the Farringdon to St Pancras ticket to get through the barriers at St Pancras. You'd have been better off explaining what had happened to the barrier staff. Some other general observations:

• Using the Elizabeth Line between Abbey Wood and Farringdon for this journey is absolutely fine, it's faster. You could consider using the Underground between Farringdon and Kings Cross St Pancras, it's more frequent and if you travel in the very rear carriage between Farringdon and Kings Cross St Pancras it's an easier interchange if onward travel is from Kings Cross.
• There is no point in buying tickets between Slade Green and Cambridge in ahead of travel. There are no Advance tickets on this route and so the price you pay on the day is the same as if you purchase in advance. It might be simpler to just purchase from the ticket machine when you get to the station.
• Although you should have been allowed to travel and collect your tickets at the earliest opportunity another option would be to purchase a new ticket and then sort it out later with GTR. Fundamentally you should not need to do this but an unused ticket between Slade Green and Cambridge is refundable although your ticket retailer might try to charge a £10 admin fee, but arguing over a refund fee for a ticket you could not collect would be easier than the situation you're in now.

I agree that in this case it's worth contacting GTR and I think what you've written is ok although I agree with @Haywain that you should provide an explanation for the purchase of the ticket between Farringdon and St Pancras. Did you collect the ticket in the end (I assume you needed it for your onward journey from Kings Cross and the return journey?). If so have you still got it because it would be helpful of you could send a copy of it to GTR as it would show the date, time and where it was printed.

Thank you for your response and advice. I will definitely take this into account in the future. I have redrafted my response and will share below shortly. With regards to the anytime return ticket, I printed this immediately after speaking with the officer at King's Cross. I attached a copy of this printed ticket, along with my transaction receipt (with timestamps) to the original letter. I will attach it again

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 May 2025 ==

Include a paragraph about why you purchased the ticket from Farringdon and acknowledge how this looks. If your ticket history on the Trainline app supports your story- plenty of tickets from Slade Green to Cambridge and no record of significant use of refunds- you may wish to include screenshots of this too.

Also include copies (not originals) of the tickets you printed off to demonstrate that you held a ticket for the journey.

In future, it is generally a good idea to get the ticket office clerk to endorse something to state that ticket collection was not available. It should be reported but it isn’t always, and there can be issues where the station is operated by a different TOC to the one who stops you on a ticket check.

Thanks- I have taken a screenshot of 3 months worth of this ticket history (Dec-Feb) and will attach it to the letter, along with the copies of all tickets.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 May 2025 ==

Here is an amended draft for all to review when able:
"To Whom It May Concern,

Thank you for your letter regarding the proposed out of court settlement.

I would like to respectfully request a review of this outcome on the basis that I held a valid Anytime Return ticket from Slade Green to Cambridge, purchased via the Trainline app at 07:48 GMT on 12th February 2025 (Transaction ID:xxxx).

Upon arrival at Slade Green station to collect the ticket, I was informed by a member of staff that there were technical issues such that ticket collection facilities were unavailable on the day. I was advised to collect my ticket at the destination station instead.

I purchased an extra ticket for the Farringdon to St Pancras leg of my journey at 08:02 GMT (Transaction ID: xxxx), only to ease my passage through to King’s cross, where I printed my original Anytime Return ticket. I acknowledge that it looks as though I wanted to “short fare” from Farringdon, but this is not the case. I just wanted to save time so purchased an extra e-ticket to where I knew I would have the opportunity to print my original return ticket. I presented this when requested at 08:41 GMT.

I have attached all my receipts to this letter, which corroborate the transaction timestamps mentioned above. I’ve also attached again a copy of my printed ticket from Slade Green to Cambridge (Ticket code: xxxx), and my e-ticket from Farringdon to St Pancras (Ticket code: xxxx).

In addition, I have attached a screenshot of my December 2024- February 2025 ticket history from the Trainline app. This is just to show that I have purchased and collected plenty of tickets from Slade Green to Cambridge and I have no record of significant use of refunds.

I did not at any point intend to avoid paying the correct fare, and I took all reasonable steps to comply with the rules, despite the unforeseen technical issue at my departure station.

I would be grateful if this matter could be reviewed again considering the circumstances and evidence already provided. I remain happy to supply any further information required."

 

[Haywain]

I would like to respectfully request a review of this outcome on the basis that I held a valid Anytime Return ticket from Slade Green to Cambridge,

You have to reword this - you did not hold the ticket, you had purchased it and had been advised by staff at Slade Green that you were unable to collect it there and should collect it at the destination. This may seem like nitpicking, but it is important to give an accurate story.

 

[Honey26]

You have to reword this - you did not hold the ticket, you had purchased it and had been advised by staff at Slade Green that you were unable to collect it there and should collect it at the destination. This may seem like nitpicking, but it is important to give an accurate story.

That makes sense. I've amended the wording and paragraph accordingly:

"To Whom It May Concern,

Thank you for your letter regarding the proposed out of court settlement. I would like to respectfully request a review of this outcome.

This is on the basis that I purchased a valid Anytime Return ticket from Slade Green to Cambridge via the Trainline app at 07:48 GMT on 12th February 2025 (Transaction ID:xxxx). Upon arrival at Slade Green station to collect the ticket, I was informed by a member of staff that there were technical issues such that ticket collection facilities were unavailable on the day. I was advised to collect my ticket at the destination station instead.

I purchased an extra ticket for the Farringdon to St Pancras leg of my journey at 08:02 GMT (Transaction ID: xxxx), only to ease my passage through to King’s cross, where I printed my original Anytime Return ticket. I acknowledge that it looks as though I wanted to “short fare” from Farringdon, but this is not the case. I just wanted to save time so purchased an extra e-ticket to where I knew I would have the opportunity to print my original return ticket. I presented this when requested at 08:41 GMT.

I have attached all my receipts to this letter, which corroborate the transaction timestamps mentioned above. I’ve also attached again a copy of my printed ticket from Slade Green to Cambridge (Ticket code: xxxx), and my e-ticket from Farringdon to St Pancras (Ticket code: xxxx).

In addition, I have attached a screenshot of my December 2024- February 2025 ticket history from the Trainline app. This is just to show that I have purchased and collected plenty of tickets from Slade Green to Cambridge and I have no record of significant use of refunds.

I did not at any point intend to avoid paying the correct fare, and I took all reasonable steps to comply with the rules, despite the unforeseen technical issue at my departure station.

I would be grateful if this matter could be reviewed again considering the circumstances and evidence already provided. I remain happy to supply any further information required."

 

[Haywain]

I was advised by the same member of staff to collect my ticket at the destination station

I would amend slightly, for emphasis.

 

[Honey26]

I would amend slightly, for emphasis.

Thanks for the quick review and reply. I've tweaked this wording.

"To Whom It May Concern,

Thank you for your letter regarding the proposed out of court settlement. I would like to respectfully request a review of this outcome.

This is on the basis that I purchased a valid Anytime Return ticket from Slade Green to Cambridge via the Trainline app at 07:48 GMT on 12th February 2025 (Transaction ID:xxxx). Upon arrival at Slade Green station to collect the ticket, I was informed by a member of staff that there were technical issues such that ticket collection facilities were unavailable on the day. I was advised by the same member of staff to collect my ticket at the destination station instead.

I purchased an extra ticket for the Farringdon to St Pancras leg of my journey at 08:02 GMT (Transaction ID: xxxx), only to ease my passage through to King’s cross, where I printed my original Anytime Return ticket. I acknowledge that it looks as though I wanted to “short fare” from Farringdon, but this is not the case. I just wanted to save time so purchased an extra e-ticket to where I knew I would have the opportunity to print my original return ticket. I presented this when requested at 08:41 GMT.

I have attached all my receipts to this letter, which corroborate the transaction timestamps mentioned above. I’ve also attached again a copy of my printed ticket from Slade Green to Cambridge (Ticket code: xxxx), and my e-ticket from Farringdon to St Pancras (Ticket code: xxxx).

In addition, I have attached a screenshot of my December 2024- February 2025 ticket history from the Trainline app. This is just to show that I have purchased and collected plenty of tickets from Slade Green to Cambridge and I have no record of significant use of refunds.

I did not at any point intend to avoid paying the correct fare, and I took all reasonable steps to comply with the rules, despite the unforeseen technical issue at my departure station.

I would be grateful if this matter could be reviewed again considering the circumstances and evidence already provided. I remain happy to supply any further information required."

 

[Tetchytyke]

I’d remove the words “and no record of significant use of refunds”. That was for your information, I suspect it may muddy the water.

 

[Honey26]

I’d remove the words “and no record of significant use of refunds”. That was for your information, I suspect it may muddy the water.

Thanks, I've removed this wording.

 

[Hadders]

Another minor tweak:

only to ease my passage through to King’s cross

It was to ease your exit at St Pancras rather than Kings Cross. I'd say 'to enable an easier exit at St Pancras'

 

[Honey26]

Another minor tweak:



It was to ease your exit at St Pancras rather than Kings Cross. I'd say 'to enable an easier exit at St Pancras'

Thanks, I've amended!

 

[redreni]

Others much more experienced and knowledgeable on this may have different views but my view on options:

1. Pay the settlement figure to make any prospect of court action disappear and then submit a complaint with the aim of a refund of this money.

2. Write back to them, emphasising ticket collection facilities were unavailable on the day and reiterating you had purchased a valid ticket prior to travel but were unable to collect it.

3. Don’t pay, don’t respond and see if they progress it to court. If they do, plead not guilty and seek legal representation.

I wouldn’t advise option 3. I would probably take option 2 here.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 May 2025 ==

Just a thought - would the OP be expected to collect the ticket at Abbey Wood (assuming facilities exist there) as the first opportunity to do so rather than waiting to St Pancras? Or would this not apply?

Ticket facilities exist at Abbey Wood, but only on the other side of the ticket barriers. Same at Farringdon. The OP's explanation is that he bought the extra ticket to avoid having to talk his way through a ticket barrier, so his behaviour in not trying to collect the ticket at those interchange stations is consistent with that explanation. I think the OP is well advised to point this out to Thameslink and see what happens.

This may turn into a rather expensive lesson: buying a short-distance e-ticket for a journey hardly anyone would make legitimately, then not scanning in at the origin station but scanning out at the destination station, is always going to look to an RPI like short-faring.