Correct Route, wrong date

[Hadders]

I agree it’s not a good idea to involve an MP at this stage. I doubt they would take on the case anyway as I don’t think they will want to get involved in an active investigation.

It’s only been a couple of months, these cases often take longer than that.

 

[jamesrrrrrr]

I wouldn’t do that at this stage.

Is there any reason why you want them to hurry along with this? Or is it just you don’t want it hanging over you?

Yeah effectively I'd like to get this sorted. Without doxxing myself I am set to start a graduate role in a moderately regulated industry. So even though I haven't currently heard anything bad from either the employer (they asked for clarification i explained the situation and i havent heard from them in a month about it) or the railway, my start date is close enough where it falls before 6 months after the incident where I theoretically would be fine.

So there's a smallish risk that the company could raise some issues regarding that e.g. try to delay start date or straight up rescind the offer, or for some reason chiltern decide to prosecute where I would be forced to declare it (very very bad). I will probably leave the MP thing unless one of those two actually happen. Fingers crossed they either forget or deal with it quickly lol.

 

[jamesrrrrrr]

Hey all. As of today I have recieved no correspondence from chiltern railways. Meaning that i believe they are out of time to lay any papers to the court (unless they literally have just done so). I was wondering what were the chances of civil court action in this matter?

Also I thought i might provide an update regarding the employment matter. I was asked for more details upon declaring, where I sent the relevant actor a copy of the email sent to chiltern. No further communication has happened and I have started the job as normal. I thought this could help inform those struggling with this aspect- in the sense that just declaring the existence of the investigation to a fairly regulated employer (less so than an accountant or lawyer, but more than most jobs) didnt have any adverse effects.

Thanks for everyone's help and advice.

 

[WesternLancer]

Hey all. As of today I have recieved no correspondence from chiltern railways. Meaning that i believe they are out of time to lay any papers to the court (unless they literally have just done so). I was wondering what were the chances of civil court action in this matter?

Also I thought i might provide an update regarding the employment matter. I was asked for more details upon declaring, where I sent the relevant actor a copy of the email sent to chiltern. No further communication has happened and I have started the job as normal. I thought this could help inform those struggling with this aspect- in the sense that just declaring the existence of the investigation to a fairly regulated employer (less so than an accountant or lawyer, but more than most jobs) didnt have any adverse effects.

Thanks for everyone's help and advice.

You might need a few weeks over the six months to be sure given time needed for court to send out paperwork etc. but I hope you are correct.

 

[jamesrrrrrr]

You might need a few weeks over the six months to be sure given time needed for court to send out paperwork etc. but I hope you are correct.

Thanks, generally how long would this take regarding a submission of court papers- assuming they did it right at the last moment?

 

[WesternLancer]

Thanks, generally how long would this take regarding a submission of court papers- assuming they did it right at the last moment?

I don’t really know. Depends on how fast court admin is. Maybe a couple of weeks or so after the six months before you can assume you’re in the clear.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Sep 2025 ==

Is this Chiltern? They do seem to have form on here for taking things to the wire sometimes

 

[jamesrrrrrr]

I don’t really know. Depends on how fast court admin is. Maybe a couple of weeks or so after the six months before you can assume you’re in the clear.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Sep 2025 ==

Is this Chiltern? They do seem to have form on here for taking things to the wire sometimes

Hi yes this is Chiltern. Been over a week since the 6month mark so either now or never if they wanted some money.

 

[MotCO]

Your 'offence' really is at the very low end of offences. Maybe they have had more serious cases to be investigated, and yours may be at the bottom of the pile, so it may have missed the 6 month deadline.

 

[yorkie]

Your 'offence' really is at the very low end of offences. Maybe they have had more serious cases to be investigated, and yours may be at the bottom of the pile, so it may have missed the 6 month deadline.

Some train companies have a huge backlog at the moment (for reasons discussed on another thread), and I'm pretty sure that includes Chiltern.

 

[jamesrrrrrr]

Your 'offence' really is at the very low end of offences. Maybe they have had more serious cases to be investigated, and yours may be at the bottom of the pile, so it may have missed the 6

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Sep 2025 ==

Fingers crossed (didnt even put a message in this thread for awhile incase they looked on this forum)

 

[scrapy]

I agree it’s not a good idea to involve an MP at this stage. I doubt they would take on the case anyway as I don’t think they will want to get involved in an active investigation.

It’s only been a couple of months, these cases often take longer than that.

Agreed, MPs will not get involved. They do not get involved in criminal matters. By the letter of the law (and this will feel harsh) you have committed a criminal offence (not knowingly) by travelling without a valid ticket. Whilst I'm fairly sure an out of court settlement will be offered in this case, the train company is fully entitled to prosecute you under railway bylaws.

Once this is concluded your MP may look at petitioning to get the law changed but I feel this is unlikely. It is also extremely unlikely to be done retrospectively, so the bylaws that applied at the time of your offence would still stand, even if changed in the future.

 

[jamesrrrrrr]

Agreed, MPs will not get involved. They do not get involved in criminal matters. By the letter of the law (and this will feel harsh) you have committed a criminal offence (not knowingly) by travelling without a valid ticket. Whilst I'm fairly sure an out of court settlement will be offered in this case, the train company is fully entitled to prosecute you under railway bylaws.

Once this is concluded your MP may look at petitioning to get the law changed but I feel this is unlikely. It is also extremely unlikely to be done retrospectively, so the bylaws that applied at the time of your offence would still stand, even if changed in the future.

Yeah won't bother now as still no contact from chiltern.

 

[jamesrrrrrr]

Hi, still no contact just to update. My only worry is if a settlement offer was posted but did not reach me for whatever reason and a court case has gone through without me knowing. Is there a way of finding out or is it best to leave it?

 

[30907]

Hi, still no contact just to update. My only worry is if a settlement offer was posted but did not reach me for whatever reason and a court case has gone through without me knowing. Is there a way of finding out or is it best to leave it?

Leave it.
If by some chance you have been found guilty, HM courts seem to be very good at finding people, and when that happens you will quickly be able to resolve things by means of what's called a Statutory Declaration - but cross that bridge if you come to it.

 

[WesternLancer]

Leave it.
If by some chance you have been found guilty, HM courts seem to be very good at finding people, and when that happens you will quickly be able to resolve things by means of what's called a Statutory Declaration - but cross that bridge if you come to it.

Also I would think a few bits of post from different source ie both railway and court would have had to go missing for it to get to this.
I suppose that’s possible if the wrong address was recorded.

 

[island]

Also I would think a few bits of post from different source ie both railway and court would have had to go missing for it to get to this.
I suppose that’s possible if the wrong address was recorded.

Indeed. It's possible the OP has been convicted of an offence, but unlikely.

 

[ainsworth74]

I am reliably informed that Chiltern have a large backlog at the moment so I wouldn't worry too much at the lack of contact.