Caught using incorrect railcard at Reading

[yaya89]

Hi all,

I’m looking for some advice and a bit of realistic expectation-setting about a mistake I’ve made.

I was stopped at Reading station 20 Feb by a GWR revenue protection officer as I had a weekly season ticket for my commute (Reading ↔ Hayes & Harlington on the Elizabeth line), bought with a Jobcentre Plus railcard discount that I am not actually entitled to use. The officer challenged my ticket and asked to see the railcard but I could not produce a valid one. He read me a caution and wrote my details in his notebook. I gave my real name, but in a panic I gave an old address (the address is true just I don’t live in there anymore. He also took a photo of a company shuttle that just has my name printed on it (no DOB, no address).He told me I would “receive a letter to prove you have this railcard”. A few hours later, once I’d calmed down, I emailed the GWR revenue/prosecutions team to provide my correct current address and contact details. Since I didn’t get a ref no so I’m not sure how easy they could locate my case

So my concerns are:

Although I was caught by a GWR Officer, but I’m actually take the Elizabeth service. Will GWR forward my case to TFL?


Will I receive a letter first to provide the railcard, only after they found I couldn’t give then they will offer a settlement, or I will receive the settlement offer directly. What if they still send to my old address so I couldn’t get the letter?


Is there anything further I should do now, or is it best just to wait for contact from GWR?

This is the first week I use the wrong rail card to get the paper week ticket and I know I was so stupid to do all of these. Much appreciated for any advice.

 

[jfollows]

Your first priority is to ensure the address is corrected. If not, you could miss out on important letters to the effect that the first you knew might be when they take you to court, or when you are convicted in your absence because of it.

 

[yaya89]

Your first priority is to ensure the address is corrected. If not, you could miss out on important letters to the effect that the first you knew might be when they take you to court, or when you are convicted in your absence because of it.

Yes I’ve already sent the correct address to the revenue team provided my name and the station. But without a ref no as I don’t have one

 

[SuspectUsual]

Yes I’ve already sent the correct address to the revenue team provided my name and the station. But without a ref no as I don’t have one

Presumably you gave them every other bit of helpful info you could? Address given, correct address, date/time/location stopped, rough details of why you were stopped?

 

[yaya89]

Presumably you gave them every other bit of helpful info you could? Address given, correct address, date/time/location stopped, rough details of why you were stopped?

yes I provide all of these details I could give

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Feb 2026 ==

Although I was caught by a GWR Officer, but I’m actually take the Elizabeth service. Will GWR forward my case to TFL?

And this is my most concern as I know they have different treatment

 

[WesternLancer]

yes I provide all of these details I could give

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Feb 2026 ==


And this is my most concern as I know they have different treatment

It will be dealt with by the company that ‘caught you’ according to thier policies.
You say this was GWR. If so that’s to your advantage as they are usually prepared to settle out of court.

If it was TfL thier default position is to prosecute.

It may take some weeks or even months for GWR to write to you.

Download and read GWR revenue protection policy pdf from their website to help you know what to expect. Or ask for one at at GWR station ticket office. It’s a small booklet. Might even be on racks to take away a copy of.

As said the key to resolving this without court action is to actually receive their letter. So hopefully your efforts to correct the address will work.

Head back here for more advice when you hear from them but ask any other questions you want now if you want more information.

 

[jfollows]

https://www.gwr.com/help-and-support/penalties-and-enforcements may be helpful

 

[WesternLancer]

And this from that helpful page

https://www.gwr.com/-/media/gwr-sc-website/files/revenue-protection-policy/GWR-Revenue-Protection-Policy-January-2023-v2.pdf

 

[yaya89]

It will be dealt with by the company that ‘caught you’ according to thier policies.
You say this was GWR. If so that’s to your advantage as they are usually prepared to settle out of court.

If it was TfL thier default position is to prosecute.

It may take some weeks or even months for GWR to write to you.

Download and read GWR revenue protection policy pdf from their website to help you know what to expect. Or ask for one at at GWR station ticket office. It’s a small booklet. Might even be on racks to take away a copy of.

As said the key to resolving this without court action is to actually receive their letter. So hopefully your efforts to correct the address will work.

Head back here for more advice when you hear from them but ask any other questions you want now if you want more information.

thanks so much for your help. I will wait for their email for now and hopefully I could receive the letter and make the payment

 

[z444z]

I emailed the GWR revenue/prosecutions team to provide my correct current address and contact details. Since I didn’t get a ref no so I’m not sure how easy they could locate my case

Have you received a response confirming they have updated your address?

Although I was caught by a GWR Officer, but I’m actually take the Elizabeth service. Will GWR forward my case to TFL?

No, GWR will be handling the case, luckily for you!

Will I receive a letter first to provide the railcard, only after they found I couldn’t give then they will offer a settlement, or I will receive the settlement offer directly.

Not entirely sure but the outcome should be the same either way. When they do write to you, come back here for help with how to respond!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

This is the first week I use the wrong rail card to get the paper week ticket and I know I was so stupid to do all of these. Much appreciated for any advice.

Have you used the inappropriately discounted Season Ticket on any other previous occasion(s), prior to when you got stopped?

 

[yaya89]

Have you used the inappropriately discounted Season Ticket on any other previous occasion(s), prior to when you got stopped?

yes I did for the previous three days, will that my case more complex? I would like to pay whatever amount of money on my letter only I could receive the letter. Thanks so much for your reply

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Feb 2026 ==

Have you received a response confirming they have updated your address?

Thanks for your help. I haven’t received yet as all of these happened on Friday night. Should I call the GWR to make the correction?

 

[z444z]

yes I did for the previous three days, will that my case more complex? I would like to pay whatever amount of money on my letter only I could receive the letter. Thanks so much for your reply

Is this the first time you’ve ever applied the discount to a season ticket?

I haven’t received yet as all of these happened on Friday night. Should I call the GWR to make the correction?

No, give it at least until mid-week before considering other options. Calling GWR wouldn’t be a good idea as you’re unlikely to get through to anyone who knows how to do what you need done.

 

[yaya89]

Is this the first time you’ve ever applied the discount to a season ticket?

No this is the second week. I used to buy the proper open return tickets with right railcard. Only did this stupid thing after start a new role two weeks before. The officer kept my paper ticket. Will GWR go through all my purchasing history in TrainPal and issue the penalty for full price of all the journeys during these two weeks plus admin fee? Thanks for your help!

 

[z444z]

No this is the second week. I used to buy the proper open return tickets with right railcard. Only did this stupid thing after start a new role two weeks before. The officer kept my paper ticket. Will GWR go through all my purchasing history in TrainPal and issue the penalty for full price of all the journeys during these two weeks plus admin fee? Thanks for your help!

So you’ve bought two incorrectly discounted weekly season tickets, and before that they’ll find nothing, correct?

 

[yaya89]

So you’ve bought two incorrectly discounted weekly season tickets, and before that they’ll find nothing, correct?

yes

 

[z444z]

I’m honestly unsure what they’ll charge you. It might be the cost of two undiscounted weekly season tickets, or the Anytime fares for the journeys you’ve actually made. Does anyone know what’s likely to be charged in this case?

 

[yaya89]

I’m honestly unsure what they’ll charge you. It might be the cost of two undiscounted weekly season tickets, or the Anytime fares for the journeys you’ve actually made. Does anyone know what’s likely to be charged in this case?

I won’t bother the amount of money cause I did the wrong thing and I am willing to pay the fine. I’m just worried about whether I could receive the letter. By any chance GWR will send the settlement offer via email?

 

[tram21]

I’m honestly unsure what they’ll charge you. It might be the cost of two undiscounted weekly season tickets, or the Anytime fares for the journeys you’ve actually made. Does anyone know what’s likely to be charged in this case?

Anytime fares I would imagine

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Anytime fares I would imagine

If so, it's £20.90 for an undiscounted Anytime Day Single, for each and every one way journey made between Reading and Hayes & Harlington. So, twice £20.90 for a return. No allowance made for whatever was spent for the inappropriately discounted season ticket(s). And likely a (low) three figure admin fee added on top.

 

[z444z]

If so, it's £20.90 for an undiscounted Anytime Day Single, for each and every one way journey made between Reading and Hayes & Harlington. So, twice £20.90 for a return. No allowance made for whatever was spent for the inappropriately discounted season ticket(s). And likely a (low) three figure admin fee added on top.

To be a bit more specific, the admin fee is very likely to be between £100 and £200.

 

[WesternLancer]

thanks so much for your help. I will wait for their email for now and hopefully I could receive the letter and make the payment

They won’t just write to you asking g for some money to resolve this I suspect. More typical is for them to write asking for your version of events and you’ll need to offer to pay them what you owe. I suspect.

 

[yaya89]

I’ve received the reply for my address correction email, should I take any further step for now? When will be proper time to send another email to check if they’ve sent an offer? Thanks very much for any advice!

 

[WesternLancer]

I’ve received the reply for my address correction email, should I take any further step for now? When will be proper time to send another email to check if they’ve sent an offer? Thanks very much for any advice!

Unfortunately this means if anything you contacted them too soon as the report of the incident was presumably not entered on their systems.

I suspect it’s not in your interest to contact them again for 6 or 7 months now. But if you are keen to ensure they have your correct contact details you could perhaps check that again in maybe about 4 weeks.

 

[MotCO]

Unfortunately this means if anything you contacted them too soon as the report of the incident was presumably not entered on their systems.

I suspect it’s not in your interest to contact them again for 6 or 7 months now. But if you are keen to ensure they have your correct contact details you could perhaps check that again in maybe about 4 weeks.

I'm not sure I would leave it so long - the 6 / 7 months timescale is because the TOC have to raise a prosecution within 6 months of the offence. There is then the danger that a prosecution could be raised without your knowledge if the papers are sent to the wrong address, and that would leave you in a worse position. I personally would resend your 'wrong address' email in 3 - 4 weeks, in the hope that the incident has been posted onto their system by then, and they can match the details.

I also don't know how the TOC would assess how many times the OP had used the season ticket. Just because you have a season ticket doesn't mean to say you used it every day - you could have used it once, twice, or even twenty times, so, unless the OP tells them how many times he used it, how does the TOC work out what the settlement fee (if offered) would be?

 

[WesternLancer]

I'm not sure I would leave it so long - the 6 / 7 months timescale is because the TOC have to raise a prosecution within 6 months of the offence. There is then the danger that a prosecution could be raised without your knowledge if the papers are sent to the wrong address, and that would leave you in a worse position. I personally would resend your 'wrong address' email in 3 - 4 weeks, in the hope that the incident has been posted onto their system by then, and they can match the details.

I also don't know how the TOC would assess how many times the OP had used the season ticket. Just because you have a season ticket doesn't mean to say you used it every day - you could have used it once, twice, or even twenty times, so, unless the OP tells them how many times he used it, how does the TOC work out what the settlement fee (if offered) would be?

This is good advice.

Re season use they might well ask the op to evidence they did not use it eg 5 days a week. It’s a Settlement offer at the end of the day. If you don’t want to accept it you can discuss it in court….

 

[z444z]

I personally would resend your 'wrong address' email in 3 - 4 weeks, in the hope that the incident has been posted onto their system by then, and they can match the details.

Agreed. It’s absolutely crucial that correspondence is received.

I also don't know how the TOC would assess how many times the OP had used the season ticket. Just because you have a season ticket doesn't mean to say you used it every day - you could have used it once, twice, or even twenty times, so, unless the OP tells them how many times he used it, how does the TOC work out what the settlement fee (if offered) would be?

This is what I’m unsure of but unless anyone here actually knows I think the OP just needs to wait and see.

 

[yaya89]

Thanks for all your kind help. I will write back in 4 weeks, hopefully I could pay the money and get this issue over.

 

[Haywain]

I also don't know how the TOC would assess how many times the OP had used the season ticket. Just because you have a season ticket doesn't mean to say you used it every day - you could have used it once, twice, or even twenty times, so, unless the OP tells them how many times he used it, how does the TOC work out what the settlement fee (if offered) would be?

I think it is a safe bet that they will assume that it has been used for 5 days of the week. That is typical use of a season ticket.