UserF
New Member
Hi everyone,
First of all, goes without saying that I deeply regret my actions and know what I've done is wrong. However, I'm after advice on what to do next.
Story is as follows:
Yesterday there were revenue protection officers at Birmingham Snow Hill Station who caught me short faring. I was using a Tyseley to Birmingham ticket rather than an Olton to Birmingham ticket. They caught me because they were doing an operation whereby they were giving everyone who boarded from Tyseley a special yellow ticket in person. I obviously didn't have that ticket.
The officer (who seemed more senior than others there) pulled me over and explained this, and asked roughly where I lived, to which they concluded Olton was my closest station. I said that I was staying at my girlfriends house near Tyseley which is why I had a Tyseley ticket.
The officer than referred me to another one who basically asked the same questions, and I gave the same answer. He then started to type up a penalty fare notice on his tablet, but then stopped because the senior officer came over again, scanned my ticket again, and said he was going to refer it to the fraud team. They then let me go. Note: I did not provide them with any personal details (name, address etc). They did not say what the next steps would be (if any).
Further potentially important information is that I was previously stopped a few months ago again using a Tyseley ticket, but this time with a railcard applied using a ticket that was off peak. I received a penalty fare of £50 for this - the issue here was the fact I had a railcard, not the fact I was short faring. I tried disputing this but the appeal was rejected an I paid the £50.
I have been shortfaring for approximately 3 years, commuting on average twice a week. Therefore the amount I've 'not paid' is significant. I've done a rough estimate looking at my past 2 years worth of transactions on trainline, and applying the current return fare from Olton (£6.60) to any return journey I have made, and calculating the difference between what I actually paid. This comes out to around £550. Note I stopped at 2 years because the website doesn't list transactions prior to this, however I think the app does go back further.
I would like advice on what to do next? I am very much considering emailing the digital fraud team and admitting to what I have done. My logic is that they may be more sympathetic in terms of allowing me to settle out of court rather than taking full legal action. Given how long I've been doing it for, I'm scared they will be less willing to settle out of court.
I am concious I haven't given them any of my personal details, but I'd expect they'd be able to get everything they need from the scan of my ticket. I am very keen to avoid court proceedings because it would affect my job. I'd much rather pay an out of court settlement.
Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
First of all, goes without saying that I deeply regret my actions and know what I've done is wrong. However, I'm after advice on what to do next.
Story is as follows:
Yesterday there were revenue protection officers at Birmingham Snow Hill Station who caught me short faring. I was using a Tyseley to Birmingham ticket rather than an Olton to Birmingham ticket. They caught me because they were doing an operation whereby they were giving everyone who boarded from Tyseley a special yellow ticket in person. I obviously didn't have that ticket.
The officer (who seemed more senior than others there) pulled me over and explained this, and asked roughly where I lived, to which they concluded Olton was my closest station. I said that I was staying at my girlfriends house near Tyseley which is why I had a Tyseley ticket.
The officer than referred me to another one who basically asked the same questions, and I gave the same answer. He then started to type up a penalty fare notice on his tablet, but then stopped because the senior officer came over again, scanned my ticket again, and said he was going to refer it to the fraud team. They then let me go. Note: I did not provide them with any personal details (name, address etc). They did not say what the next steps would be (if any).
Further potentially important information is that I was previously stopped a few months ago again using a Tyseley ticket, but this time with a railcard applied using a ticket that was off peak. I received a penalty fare of £50 for this - the issue here was the fact I had a railcard, not the fact I was short faring. I tried disputing this but the appeal was rejected an I paid the £50.
I have been shortfaring for approximately 3 years, commuting on average twice a week. Therefore the amount I've 'not paid' is significant. I've done a rough estimate looking at my past 2 years worth of transactions on trainline, and applying the current return fare from Olton (£6.60) to any return journey I have made, and calculating the difference between what I actually paid. This comes out to around £550. Note I stopped at 2 years because the website doesn't list transactions prior to this, however I think the app does go back further.
I would like advice on what to do next? I am very much considering emailing the digital fraud team and admitting to what I have done. My logic is that they may be more sympathetic in terms of allowing me to settle out of court rather than taking full legal action. Given how long I've been doing it for, I'm scared they will be less willing to settle out of court.
I am concious I haven't given them any of my personal details, but I'd expect they'd be able to get everything they need from the scan of my ticket. I am very keen to avoid court proceedings because it would affect my job. I'd much rather pay an out of court settlement.
Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
