Being stopped without a ticket for the second time. please help

[beebee]

I was caught without a ticket the first time (27th Feb) unintentionally then got a letter off them to respond back, so i did. A week later i recieved a letter to just pay an £84.40 fine...

17th April I was caught unintentionally again i was just in autopilot rushing to work... now im really scared whats going to happen... please can someone shed some light as i dont want to go to court. my carelessness has brought me here and im really worried.

EDIT* the station which i caught it from both times had no ticket office or machines no one came round

 

[W230]

I was caught without a ticket the first time (27th Feb) unintentionally then got a letter off them to respond back, so i did. A week later i recieved a letter to just pay an £84.40 fine...

I don't think anyone gets caught intentionally.

Not much you can do but await the letter from the TOC. I would imagine that a court appearance is likely though. Sometimes reference can be made to earlier offences of a similar nature when at trial, though I doubt that would be the case here if you settled the matter out of court last time.

EDIT* the station which i caught it from both times had no ticket office or machines no one came round

If you are sure this is the case then there is nothing to worry about. Did you pay the full fare when stopped or do you still owe them it? What station is this? I'm assuming then that you got caught at the end of your journey without a ticket then and that maybe there was a revenue block on? I'm going to guess it's Northern...

The answer might be to get a season ticket if you're always in a hurry.

 

[beebee]

Im really hoping i can just settle it out of court...

I still owe them the fare i offered to pay on the spot but they refused. they stopped me as i went my usual way to work... im really scared.. i hope its just a big fine?

yeah its northern... i caught it from euxton balshaw lane to preston

 

[bb21]

In that case you are looking at a larger amount to settle or a much greater possibility of being prosecuted.
Which way did you leave at Preston and whereabouts were you caught?

 

[beebee]

I was leaving the station then got stopped. i admit i was wrong, and shouldve purchased a ticket but because i was in a rush and had a lot of things on my mind. i panicked. then got my details taken... i wasnt looking at dodging fare especially when it had just recently happened...

i was stopped over the bridge towards the exit.

but stupid me went under the subway to get to main bit of station then over the bridge... then got stopped. i didnt try to avoid fare if i did i wouldve carried on through the subway and out...

 

[Gathursty]

In that case you are looking at a larger amount to settle or a much greater possibility of being prosecuted.
Which way did you leave at Preston and whereabouts were you caught?

I'm trying to think how far £4.40 would go on a Northern service from Preston. It won't be Wigan definitely.

 

[island]

Did you make any attempt to find or pay the guard on your train, or pay at the booking office when leaving Preston station?

 

[Paule23]

I was leaving the station then got stopped... i wasnt looking at dodging fare especially when it had just recently happened.....

Why were you leaving the station if you weren't intending on dodging the fare? Can you honestly say you were intending to pay this fare prior to leaving the station if you hadn't been stopped?

 

[ian959]

i wasnt looking at dodging fare especially when it had just recently happened...

And yet you did not make a beeline for the ticket office? The intent shown by your actions is indicative of trying to avoid the fare and given that you have recently been caught for the same thing it makes it look like you are a serial offender. You would be very lucky if you cop just the £80 fixed penalty and the unpaid fare this time round.

If you travel this route to work regularly why on earth don't you have a season ticket?