Caught using photocard with altered date

[Infoseekerr]

I was caught using a jobcentre travelcard which expired in December 2013. A friend of a friend changed the date to June 2014 so I could buy a 3 month ticket at half price, to help me out. I'd started a new job after long period of unemployment and couldn't afford the train fare, had to be in the job a while to save up until I could afford a full price ticket. I know it's no excuse, but there you go. The job was a 6 month contract (with the prospect of being unemployed again afterwards) so I didn't qualify for the 1 year ticket loan from my new employer. I was caught, my details taken down, with my ticket and altered photocard confiscated, was told Southeastern will get in touch with me.

How long am I likely to wait for them to contact me; and

What is the likely outcome? Is there a possibility they will accept a settlement? The ticket was discounted by £850.

Ironically, my job has now been extended till the end of next March - so I'm now able to pay the full price - but if I'm prosecuted I'll lose the job after all that.

 

[bb21]

I wonder whether your "friend" would be willing to make a contribution towards any financial loss you have incurred compared to buying your ticket legitimately. :roll:

Likely outcome? Prosecution of course. There are very few clearer Section 5 offences I have seen before.

Possibility of a settlement? Of course. SouthEastern settled with someone who had defrauded them for years for a five-figure sum only recently. In your case, if one is offered, expect to pay at least £850, since that is how much you have conned them out of.

 

[Haywain]

There is always a possibility of a settlement being accepted, but in your case it would be a hefty amount even if the opportunity was offered. There is the potential for you to be prosecuted for fraud which is a more serious offence than those for fare evasion, so your job prospects might well be damaged.

Bear in mind that the settlement mentioned above by bb21 was significantly more than the legitimate train fares would have cost.

 

[455driver]

Why did you have to buy a ticket valid for three months?
You could have bought weekly or monthly tickets instead to spead the costs!

 

[MyFriendMary]

JCPlus discounted tickets also don't seem to work on barriers. At least I'm yet to see one that did

 

[Infoseekerr]

On Satuday I received a letter from Southeastern stating 'the matter has been provisionally authorized for prosecution', inviting me to respond with my comments within 7 days, or the matter will be progressed without further notification.

Should I offer to make a 'settlement payment' with my comments at this stage. Or should I instruct a solicitor to do so on my behalf.

Or should I make the offer, if it's refused and goes to prosecution - would it be too late for me to then involve a solicitor?

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Should I offer to make a 'settlement payment' with my comments at this stage. Or should I instruct a solicitor to do so on my behalf.

Or should I make the offer, if it's refused and goes to prosecution - would it be too late for me to then involve a solicitor?

If you are minded to make an offer of a payment towards the Company's losses and its administrative costs, then you should say so, along with your evidence by way of an explanation of events, as requested.

It is never 'too ;ate' to instruct a solicitir, but you should expect to be criticised for leaving it late, and thereby reducing their options, increasing your costs, and tipping the probalilities in favour of the Company.

I can't advise you what course will give you the best outcome, because only you (and perhaps the Company) know the extent of your offence(s), and only the Company (and your legal rep.) know the quality of the evidence against you.

 

[yorkie]

If anyone wishes to debate the matter of Should jobseekers get discounts for leisure travel? please use the separate thread.

This thread is specifically for Infoseekerr's issue. Please note the guidelines at Please read before posting in Disputes & Prosecutions applies to all threads in the Disputes section. Thanks for your understanding.