Awaiting Caution Letter

[mejmas2]

Hello all, today 07/05/2025, I unfortunately, for the first time, purchased a ticket from Bromley South to London Victoria, which was not my origin destination, for context, my original train had been delayed by almost an hour, so I was already stressed out that I was late to work, I fell asleep on the train itself and when I was woken by someone, I remembered I hadn't purchased a ticket yet. I bought one for the closest station and when trying to scan was pulled to the side to be informed that Bromley South station had no trains running from it, so my ticket was invalid. I didn't want to create a fuss as I already knew I had made a mistake of avoiding a certain fair.

When questioned about my name and address, in panic that I would be receiving some sort of criminal record or offense, i'm not really sure how it all works, I gave fake details, I saw that the woman was checking her system and saw a list of names pop up. Realising that I wouldn't be able to get away with it, I stopped her and told her the truth.

She then proceeded to ask the interview question, and I was co-operative.

My question for all is a more general one about the cost of settling out of court? I have seen a few different figures around?

If they check my purchase history via the Train Line app, they will see that I have never done this before. I am yet to receive my letter however I do plan to ask if we are able to settle out of court being it my first offense, and just want to be prepared on money that I may have to save.

Thank you in advance for you help. It's really appreciated!

 

[Haywain]

My question for all is a more general one about the cost of settling out of court? I have seen a few different figures around?

That will depend on which train company you are dealing with - Southern will usually have a lower admin fee than Southeastern. Also whether this is really a one off or part of a repeated pattern of fare evasion (noting your comment above). You should think in terms of the full fare for the journey you made plus around £150.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

You've comitted a criminal offence and Southeastern are entitled to send the case to the Magistrates Court of they want to. you've no right to an out of court settlement. That said Southeastern are normaly reasonable to deal with and generally offer out of court settlements to people who co-operate with them, as liong as they haven't come to their attention before.

What happens next is they will write to you asking for your version of events before they decide how to proceed. When this letter arrives post a redacted copy of it in this thread along with your draft reply and forum members will be happy to proof read it for you. If you are offered a settlement expect to have to pay the cost of the fare avoided, with no credit given for the invalid ticket purchased, plus an admin fee typically £150.

One other thing to bear in mind is what will your ticket urchasing history show? Southeastern will search this and if it shows a history of short distance tickets or other irregularities then they will want to factor the cost of these journeys into the settlement fee.

 

[mejmas2]

Welcome to the forum!

You've comitted a criminal offence and Southeastern are entitled to send the case to the Magistrates Court of they want to. you've no right to an out of court settlement. That said Southeastern are normaly reasonable to deal with and generally offer out of court settlements to people who co-operate with them, as liong as they haven't come to their attention before.

What happens next is they will write to you asking for your version of events before they decide how to proceed. When this letter arrives post a redacted copy of it in this thread along with your draft reply and forum members will be happy to proof read it for you. If you are offered a settlement expect to have to pay the cost of the fare avoided, with no credit given for the invalid ticket purchased, plus an admin fee typically £150.

One other thing to bear in mind is what will your ticket urchasing history show? Southeastern will search this and if it shows a history of short distance tickets or other irregularities then they will want to factor the cost of these journeys into the settlement fee.

Hello, thank you!

I completely understand the actions that I have make and know that I am not entitled to the settling out of court however I do just want to be prepared. In terms of my history, I can say with confidence that I haven't done this before.

The only other alternatives I can see is when my partner has driven me partially into the direction of London, which is usually once a month, whilst he was travelling to work at the same time.

Thank you for your time in replying.

 

[John R]

Hello, thank you!

I completely understand the actions that I have make and know that I am not entitled to the settling out of court however I do just want to be prepared. In terms of my history, I can say with confidence that I haven't done this before.

The only other alternatives I can see is when my partner has driven me partially into the direction of London, which is usually once a month, whilst he was travelling to work at the same time.

Thank you for your time in replying.

If those tickets were bought online, and scanned at the departure station there will not be a problem. If however, you boarded at a station without a means to scan the ticket (typically a lack of a gateline or touch reader) then you may have more difficulty convincing the rail company that those tickets were also “short tickets”.