Delay Repay Fraud Confession - Help!

[foolishmin]

Hi everyone,



I didn’t do it for financial gain. I have been through some of the extremely life-changing events that make me feel really anxious and depressed. That has also resulted in some strange behaviours like such as this which I find truly disgusting but I still keep doing as when the claim came through, I feel something nice or happy happened for me that day.

I have been doing it for a couple of years with a couple of claiming accounts. I know it is wrong but didn’t realise it is actually a very serious criminal offence until I found out a few days ago. What scare me the most is the money has been accumulated over the years that can added up. How far ago they can trace for the claims?

Like some other OP, I am really terrified. I have never felt so scared in my life. I feel my life is falling apart. I haven’t been able to sleep and always feel a weight on my mind. I have not got caught yet but could I confess? Or wait for when they reach out to me? I cannot live my life like this and want a way out now. I really sorry for what I have done and am willing to return all the money they have paid out.

Please help me. In the case like this, do I also need to speak to a solicitor?

 

[AlterEgo]

Hi everyone,

My case is a bit different here. I have been collecting train tickets that have been scattered to claim delay repay for trains I didn’t take.

I didn’t do it for financial gain. I have been through some of the extremely life-changing events that make me feel really anxious and depressed. That has also resulted in some strange behaviours like such as this which I find truly disgusting but I still keep doing as when the claim came through, I feel something nice or happy happened for me that day.

I have been doing it for a couple of years with a couple of claiming accounts. I know it is wrong but didn’t realise it is actually a very serious criminal offence until I found out a few days ago. What scare me the most is the money has been accumulated over the years that can added up. How far ago they can trace for the claims?

Like some other OP, I am really terrified. I have never felt so scared in my life. I feel my life is falling apart. I haven’t been able to sleep and always feel a weight on my mind. I have not got caught yet but could I confess? Or wait for when they reach out to me? I cannot live my life like this and want a way out now. I really sorry for what I have done and am willing to return all the money they have paid out.

Please help me. In the case like this, do I also need to speak to a solicitor?

Have you been caught doing this? This is fraud.

If you have not been caught, you must stop right away - you are committing a serious crime. And you must not talk about what you have done.

 

[John R]

Even if you stop now, it’s not guaranteeed that you will not be contacted in future, as investigators look for and work their way through suspicious Delay Repay accounts. But I concur with @AlterEgo that you must stop now, and then hope that there isn’t a metaphorical knock on the door in the future.

 

[foolishmin]

Yes I have stopped completely since I found out it is a very serious crime that I have not realised. I want to repent and return all the money. I don’t want to go to the jail or ruin my life completely

 

[deltic]

If you havent already done so I would seek immediate medical assistance. How much money are we talking about and is it from different train companies?

 

[AlterEgo]

Yes I have stopped completely since I found out it is a very serious crime that I have not realised. I want to repent and return all the money. I don’t want to go to the jail or ruin my life completely

You should not do anything of the sort, as doing so would be an admission of a crime.

Instead, it may be better to ring fence any funds you fraudulently claimed in case they ask for them back, in a separate savings pot.

As for your compulsion to commit this sort of fraud - and perhaps to deal with your guilt - perhaps you should consider some form of therapy? Fortunately you have realised this not a good way to behave, and now you can take steps to be a better person by stopping this sort of behaviour.

 

[foolishmin]

thank you for you kind words. I feel my life is over now…

 

[randyrippley]

1) Have you actually been contacted by a rail company or any of it's agents regarding this? Have you received a letter or e-mail about if from anyone? If you did, how have you responded so far?

2) Your life is not over. Nothing may come of this if the rail companies know nothing about it. Or if they do discover it, it's just a dispute over money. Do not get stressed over it, it will be resolvable

 

[ainsworth74]

thank you for you kind words. I feel my life is over now…

It certainly isn't! You've realised that you've made a mistake and are taking steps to try and get things under control. I would echo the advice given so far, particularly about seeking some mental health support, it seems like it would be important both in regards getting the issues that put you in the position under control but also now to deal with the after effects that the guilt and shame is clearly having on your wellbeing.

But, I must emphasise, in no way is your life over. You've done something which is, being blunt, quite foolish, but it is recoverable. You will look back in years to come and think "how could I ever have been so stupid" but you will be able to get on with your life.

 

[Titfield]

If you need to speak to somebody then call the Samaritans - Call 116 123 from any phone. The call is free of charge.

They will not judge you nor tell you what to do but will listen to you.

 

[gray1404]

Do not make any more claims and do not confess anything as you will just bring trouble on yourself.

Keep all the money you have acquired separate. I would also not claim for genuine delays or refund any tickets just to stay of the train companies radar now. I would NOT even donate it to charity as then you won't have it to repay if needed.

 

[foolishmin]

Thank you everyone.

I am really remorseful, and do not intent to keeping those my in my bank.

I cannot donate it as they will ask them back.

In the case of them reaching out, what is the best course of action?
I try to work out how much but the website only goes back to claims up to a year ish. I don’t keep all the old claim emails. Could I ask them to work out instead?I don't spend much on things so the claims can be returned upon requests. Happy to return claims that are genuine just to avoid all the hassles…

 

[antharro]

IF (and it is an if) they reach out, post the letter they send you here, with your personal details and any reference numbers redacted, and we'll be able to advise further. The advice you'll receive will depend on what they put in the letter, so it's not something we can say for certain now. You could look through this subforum and see how other people's cases have been dealt with in the past, to get a general idea.

That aside, I completely agree with the advice already given; stop claiming (which you already have), ringfence the money, and that's it. Don't confess, don't get in touch with the train companies. Move on with your life and consider this part of a bad chapter.

 

[gray1404]

Additionally make sure that all your tickets for any travel you make on the train are totally in order. So there are no issues when your ticket is checked.

I personally would not make any purchases online moving forward (use a ticket machine or booking office) but that is a bit over the top maybe. You basically do not want to come on their radar for anything whatsoever.

 

[foolishmin]

Additionally make sure that all your tickets for any travel you make on the train are totally in order. So there are no issues when your ticket

Do you mean the future tickets?

Thank you everyone for still being kind to me. I hope I can still live a normal life and appreciate the beauty of the world. It is such a bad feeling to feel ashamed and guilty.

 

[randyrippley]

The key thing here is do not approach the rail companies over this unless they contact you first.
And if they do contact you, come back here and ask for further advice before replying to them.

 

[gray1404]

Do you mean the future tickets?

Thank you everyone for still being kind to me. I hope I can still live a normal life and appreciate the beauty of the world. It is such a bad feeling to feel ashamed and guilty.

Yes, future tickets for any future journeys you make.

 

[foolishmin]

Thank you for your advice