Caught out in a lie

[TOADSTOOL1976]

Hi everyone,

Late September i got caught without a ticket at St Pancras by Southeasten ticket officers. I told the ticket officer that i had joined the train at Stratford and wanted to tap out. I was cautioned and caught out in my lie as there had been ticket officers also posted at Stratford on that morning too.

I have since received a letter from the prosecutions team requesting me to confirm my details inc my NI number. This is not the first time i have taken a journey from Whitstable and not bought a ticket at the station or on the train and instead used my bank card to tap out. I have returned the form, unfortunately just passed the 21 day deadline though.

What should my best course of action from here be. Should i be consulting one of the solicitor firms that specialise in this area?

Thanks in advance for any advice that can help me out of this jam.

 

[John R]

Please post the letter you have received (with any identifying details hidden, to protect your privacy). That will help the experts here give you the best advice.

Usually it's possible to resolve these issues without the need for a solicitor, although it is likely to cost you, depending on how many journeys you have made. (Typically the train company will ask for the Anytime Single fare for each separate journey they think you have fare dodged, having looked at your account.)

 

[mmelvin17]

Usually it's possible to resolve these issues without the need for a solicitor, although it is likely to cost you, depending on how many journeys you have made. (Typically the train company will ask for the Anytime Single fare for each separate journey they think you have fare dodged, having looked at your account.)

I've got a feeling that they may jump to a prosecution. They won't be able to know how many times OP has done this as there won't be an account as he's used his bank card to tap out. Would think that the best course of action is to tell the entire truth to them in the letter and hope for the best.

 

[TOADSTOOL1976]

Thanks John. I have only recieved one letter from the prosecutions team so far. This was just to establish that i was the person who had been given their details at the station. They also asked for my NI number. I returned this, unfotunately just outside of the 21 day time limit.

 

[AlterEgo]

I've got a feeling that they may jump to a prosecution.

Greater Anglia do not do this; they settle every time.

They won't be able to know how many times OP has done this as there won't be an account as he's used his bank card to tap out.

This isn't relevant to GA's decision-making.

Would think that the best course of action is to tell the entire truth to them in the letter and hope for the best.

No, they should limit their explanation to discussing the time they were stopped only, if that is all they are asked about.

 

[TOADSTOOL1976]

Thanks for

Greater Anglia do not do this; they settle every time.


This isn't relevant to GA's decision-making.


No, they should limit their explanation to discussing the time they were stopped only, if that is all they are asked about.

Thanks for replying. It's actually with SouthEastern. Would you have any idea on how would they might try and calculate how many fairs they think i might have avoided. Looking at my bank statements it's quite hard to work out exactly when i bought a ticket and when i tapped out without purchasing a ticket.

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I've got a feeling that they may jump to a prosecution. They won't be able to know how many times OP has done this as there won't be an account as he's used his bank card to tap out. Would think that the best course of action is to tell the entire truth to them in the letter and hope for the best.

Yes that's exactly my thought too. Just be transparent. Only trouble is im struggling to work out which journeys i need to call out by looking through my bank statement. How do Southeastern work this out?

 

[John R]

I would have thought that Southeastern would easily be able to get information as to how many times a particular bank card tapped out at St Pancras immediately incurring a maximum charge as there was no corresponding tap in. Though if it is more than a few I would be surprised if the card wasn’t blocked after a while.

 

[island]

Though if it is more than a few I would be surprised if the card wasn’t blocked after a while.

Cards are not blocked after a certain number of incomplete journeys. Only multiple failed revenue inspections will do this.

 

[AlterEgo]

I would have thought that Southeastern would easily be able to get information as to how many times a particular bank card tapped out at St Pancras immediately incurring a maximum charge as there was no corresponding tap in. Though if it is more than a few I would be surprised if the card wasn’t blocked after a while.

We’ve never seen a train company do this before.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Nov 2024 ==

Thanks for

Thanks for replying. It's actually with SouthEastern. Would you have any idea on how would they might try and calculate how many fairs they think i might have avoided.

It’s probable they won’t do this at all and will only ask you about the time you were stopped. If they do, don’t incriminate yourself further.

 

[TOADSTOOL1976]

We’ve never seen a train company do this before.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Nov 2024 ==


It’s probable they won’t do this at all and will only ask you about the time you were stopped. If they do, don’t incriminate yourself further.

Thanks again for your reply. I was worried that as it had gone straight to the 'Prosecutions Team' and not just a straightforward PCN that they suspected more fares avoided.

I'm motivated to settle out of court as i really dont want to get a criminal record. Guess i just need to wait on the next letter now.