Hi,
This is my first post here. I have been unable to find another thread similar to my circumstances, so your thoughts on my situation would be welcome - here goes.
I was going on a works night out and without thinking I bought a return from station A to B. However, coming back I needed to get off at C, which is 2 stops further on than A. I therefore needed to travel further than allowed. I realised this would be a problem; however, if there was a guard on the train I would have explained and asked for a ticket for the extra two stops, but no guard was on.
I knew I had the wrong ticket and when I reached the barriers at C, I immediately spoke to the attendant and stated this. I expected to be either let off or asked to pay a fee/fine (which I would have gladly done), but what actually happened wasn't either, in my mind anyway.
It must be borne in mind that I was not quite 'with it' after the night out, through alcohol and loud music, and was unable to fully comprehend or remember exactly what was being said to me. However, I was not blind drunk or in any way threatening, merely 'tipsy' and polite.
This is what I do remember:
She asked whether I intended to go back to A, but I said no, this is where I needed to be. She took the ticket off me and said something that, having looked in this forum, I now understand was relating to the Revenue Protection department. However, I am certain of these points:
- She did not say anything about paying there and then to settle the matter;
- She did not ask for my name, contact details, or a statement, nor did she provide any paperwork of any kind;
- She didn't make any physical indication that I should report to her colleague who was sat nearby not taking any active part in proceedings, and who may or may not have been aware of this discussion. I don't know if they were there specifically to deal with such things, or just for safety reasons. The attendant must have realised I was struggling to understand as I asked her to repeat things, so I would have expected her to make sure I went to her colleague.
Without any clear direction and believing the encounter over, I left the station, without anyone shouting that I should come back.
My concern now is that I mis-heard what she said and walked off without having given my contact details, if she had in fact said to speak with this colleague of hers. I am sure this would be interpreted as deliberately failing to give my details and, I recognise, is a serious offence but definitely not what I meant to do.
I am totally unfamiliar with the process here. If action was to be taken against me, should I have been asked at the time for my details and for a statement? Or is it possible that they don't need this info and will just trace me through my ticket (paid by credit card) and write to me for a statement? [This seems unlikely as surely they would be better off just asking me for the info right there?] Or, was she letting me off but saying the stuff about Revenue Protection for the benefit of anyone overhearing?
Ultimately, my quandary is this: Do I contact the train company and explain all, potentially opening myself up to prosecution but showing I did not intentionally 'run off', or do I take it as being let off and hope nothing more comes of it?
This is my first post here. I have been unable to find another thread similar to my circumstances, so your thoughts on my situation would be welcome - here goes.
I was going on a works night out and without thinking I bought a return from station A to B. However, coming back I needed to get off at C, which is 2 stops further on than A. I therefore needed to travel further than allowed. I realised this would be a problem; however, if there was a guard on the train I would have explained and asked for a ticket for the extra two stops, but no guard was on.
I knew I had the wrong ticket and when I reached the barriers at C, I immediately spoke to the attendant and stated this. I expected to be either let off or asked to pay a fee/fine (which I would have gladly done), but what actually happened wasn't either, in my mind anyway.
It must be borne in mind that I was not quite 'with it' after the night out, through alcohol and loud music, and was unable to fully comprehend or remember exactly what was being said to me. However, I was not blind drunk or in any way threatening, merely 'tipsy' and polite.
This is what I do remember:
She asked whether I intended to go back to A, but I said no, this is where I needed to be. She took the ticket off me and said something that, having looked in this forum, I now understand was relating to the Revenue Protection department. However, I am certain of these points:
- She did not say anything about paying there and then to settle the matter;
- She did not ask for my name, contact details, or a statement, nor did she provide any paperwork of any kind;
- She didn't make any physical indication that I should report to her colleague who was sat nearby not taking any active part in proceedings, and who may or may not have been aware of this discussion. I don't know if they were there specifically to deal with such things, or just for safety reasons. The attendant must have realised I was struggling to understand as I asked her to repeat things, so I would have expected her to make sure I went to her colleague.
Without any clear direction and believing the encounter over, I left the station, without anyone shouting that I should come back.
My concern now is that I mis-heard what she said and walked off without having given my contact details, if she had in fact said to speak with this colleague of hers. I am sure this would be interpreted as deliberately failing to give my details and, I recognise, is a serious offence but definitely not what I meant to do.
I am totally unfamiliar with the process here. If action was to be taken against me, should I have been asked at the time for my details and for a statement? Or is it possible that they don't need this info and will just trace me through my ticket (paid by credit card) and write to me for a statement? [This seems unlikely as surely they would be better off just asking me for the info right there?] Or, was she letting me off but saying the stuff about Revenue Protection for the benefit of anyone overhearing?
Ultimately, my quandary is this: Do I contact the train company and explain all, potentially opening myself up to prosecution but showing I did not intentionally 'run off', or do I take it as being let off and hope nothing more comes of it?
