Expired rail card

[appp21288]

I traveled with an expired rail card (just over 2 months expired), as I had been out of the country for a few months and had forgotten to check the railcard was in date upon arriving back in the UK. This was my first trip on a railcard when back in the country. I have been sent a letter of intention to prosecute and asked to reply with a statement. Just wondering if there is any advice on what might happen after I send a statement back as per the story above.

 

[John R]

Can you give more details as to the journey undertaken and who stopped you, as this may affect the advice given (some train operating companies are more likely to offer an out of court settlement than others).

If you haven't already I would suggest you renew your railcard, as it is regarded as helpful to demonstrate that you have addressed the deficiency that caused the problem.

 

[Haywain]

You might want to change your location on your profile to something a bit more vague than your postcode which would make it fairly easy for the train company to identify you.

 

[appp21288]

Can you give more details as to the journey undertaken and who stopped you, as this may affect the advice given (some train operating companies are more likely to offer an out of court settlement than others).

If you haven't already I would suggest you renew your railcard, as it is regarded as helpful to demonstrate that you have addressed the deficiency that caused the problem.

It was a Revenue Protection Inspector (as per the letter) on a Thameslink journey. Railcard was renewed immediately as they were taking my details. Would it help to include the old railcard expiry date and that I renewed it immediately in my statement?

 

[Haywain]

Would it help to include the old railcard expiry date and that I renewed it immediately in my statement?

It would help to be clear that you renewed it immediately, but the old expiry date is not going to be helpful.

 

[fandroid]

It would help to be clear that you renewed it immediately, but the old expiry date is not going to be helpful.

Providing old expiry date could be helpful if you had been out of the country when it expired and/or definitely didn't use it to buy any tickets after that date except the one you were checked on. Train companies do look at online purchasing history, and it would useful to head them off before they start adding together everything you have ever bought with a Railcard discount.

If you had bought other discounted tickets after the expiry date, then it might not be such a good idea to remind them.

When and where were you checked? Was it on a train, before you boarded a train, or after you'd got off a train?

 

[Haywain]

Providing old expiry date could be helpful if you had been out of the country when it expired and/or definitely didn't use it to buy any tickets after that date except the one you were checked on. Train companies do look at online purchasing history, and it would useful to head them off before they start adding together everything you have ever bought with a Railcard discount.

Whereas if you don't tell them you don't have to justify anything or have them make assumptions about what usage there might have been.

 

[MotCO]

and that I renewed it immediately in my statement?

Provided it doesn't sound as though you renewed it as soon as you saw the inspectors (i.e. you knew it was out of date)

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

Thameslink are one of the more pragmatic companies at dealing with this sort of thing. I expect you've been sent their standard initial letter but can you upload a copy of it in this thread (with personal details redacted) so we can be certain.

If you have been sent their initial letter then I suggest you reply with a short, concise letter mentioning the following points:

- That you are sorry for what has happened
- What you have learned from the incident
- That you are keen to settle the matter without the need for court action
- Offer to pay the outstanding fare and the train company's administrative costs in dealing with the matter

Govia Thameslink Railway normally offer an out of court settlement to people who engage with the process, and who haven't come to their attention before. This generally costs around £150 plus the outstanding fare. There's no guarantee of this and they could decide to send the case to the Magistrates Court if they want to. An out of court settlement might appear to be a fine, but it isn't (only a court can impose a fine as a punishment following a conviction) and you won't have a criminal record as a result of accepting one.

Feel free to post a copy of your draft reply in this thread and forum members will be happy to proof read it for you.