Fare evasion help!!!!!

[6Gman]

No this is the correct story , sorry I was trying to piece it together by taking everyone’s advice . But it still never made sense to me
I never have my location on
What would you suggest I do now with this story?
Which is in fact correct as it totally makes sense

You left Oxford Road at "three thirty", travelled to Bank Quay, walked to Central, caught a train to Piccadilly and got stopped at 1627 . . . ?

"Totally makes sense" ?

I'm afraid not. Oxford Road-Bank Quay-Central-Piccadilly in an hour?

Seems unlikely.

I'm afraid this is turning into one of those Radio 4 sketch shows where the story keeps changing, and makes less sense each time.

 

[Helloxdakaja]

I looked at how long it takes to get to Manchester oxford road to Warrington bank quay and it says half an hour?
So if I got the train from oxford road around 3:00/3:30 Arrived in Warrington at 4 or just before 4 then got the train to picadilly??
I’m panicking I know that’s what happend it’s just my timings aren’t right .
I know everyone’s gonna say they don’t believe my story but say you did. Have I done anything wrong? In order to be prosecuted?

 

[6Gman]

Let me suggest something which makes (slightly) more sense.

You were meant to catch the 1500 Oxford Road - Victoria, from Platform 2.
You arrived a few minutes early and instead caught the 1456 departure, also from Platform 2.
That got you into Bank Quay around 1524 which would give you 20 minutes to get to Central to catch your train to Piccadilly, arriving at 1611.

20 minutes is manageable.

That makes sense.

 

[Helloxdakaja]

Omg I think your right
And I’m going to insist they check CCTV too to prove this! Thanks

 

[John R]

I'm not sure it helps your case to delete your first post. All I've seen is that you change your story to match whatever is put to you that might possibly work. Good luck, but I'm out too.

 

[6Gman]

I looked at how long it takes to get to Manchester oxford road to Warrington bank quay and it says half an hour?
So if I got the train from oxford road around 3:00/3:30 Arrived in Warrington at 4 or just before 4 then got the train to picadilly??
I’m panicking I know that’s what happend it’s just my timings aren’t right .
I know everyone’s gonna say they don’t believe my story but say you did. Have I done anything wrong? In order to be prosecuted?

I have already indicated a timeline which "works" and how you could have ended up on the wrong train. I'll have a think of a reasonable reply you could send.

Have you done anything wrong? Yes, you travelled without a valid ticket. It also looks as though they are taking a dim view of your behaviour when you were stopped.

 

[MotCO]

I think it is fair to say that this is a confusing thread. Two further parts of the story which may be useful to detail to try to pull it all together are:

1. When you got to Warrington, most people would panic and not know who to do next. They may try to find out the time of the next train etc. How long did it take you to assess the situation, and remember to use your phone apps to help you? Once you were given a suggestion, how long before you decided to take its advice and walk to the other station? I would think that some people would find it strange for an app to tell them to leave the station and walk to another one; they may want to speak to someone else at the station to confirm what to do, or use a help-point. This is useful in trying to put the timeline together.
2. I'm not sure how to say this, and I don't want to offend you, but do you have any mental illness such as autism? This may help explain why you were confused and were unwilling to find someone to talk to help you. If this is the case, and it has already been medically confirmed, then you may want to include this in your statement. Edit: it may also help explain why you thought you had to buy a second ticket - most people, I think, would try to explain their predicament to a member of staff and hope to get on the right train without having to fork out more money. If you find it difficult to talk to people, then buying a second ticket starts to make sense.

 

[Helloxdakaja]

Could you please help me with a reply

 

[6Gman]

I'm not sure it helps your case to delete your first post. All I've seen is that you change your story to match whatever is put to you that might possibly work. Good luck, but I'm out too.

Being generous, there may just be utter confusion on the part of the OP.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Aug 2020 ==

Omg I think your right
And I’m going to insist they check CCTV too to prove this! Thanks

I'm not sure you're in a strong position to "insist" that they do things. The excursion via Warrington isn't the key issue here.

 

[Helloxdakaja]

What do you think the key issue is

 

[6Gman]

What do you think the key issue is

Two really.

You were travelling without a valid ticket.

The allegation of abusive behaviour.

 

[30907]

If you bought tickets with an app., you will still be able to access them and attach a screenshot to your letter in support of your story
One from Oxford Rd to Victoria - time of issue ??
One from Oxford Rd to Piccadilly - time of issue around 16.20.

And then you will need to explain why you didn't get off at Oxford Rd on your return but decided to go to Piccadilly to go to Victoria.

 

[6Gman]

A draft suggestion for a reply (you will need to check details):

Dear xxxx

Reference: xxxxx

On Friday 14th August I was stopped by one of your staff at Manchester Piccadilly and would like to explain the sequence of events which led to this incident.

At approximately 1440 I purchased an Oxford Road - Manchester Victoria ticket intending to catch the 1500 departure. I was a few minutes early for the train and in error boarded the preceding 1456 train (both use Platform 2) and found myself on a train to Warrington! On arrival there I checked the xxx app which advised me that the next service to return me to Manchester would be the 15xx from Warrington Central, which I was able to catch.

[You then need to explain why you didn't alight at Oxford Road] I realised that the ticket I held would not be valid to Piccadilly so I purchased a further ticket to cover the Oxford Road to Piccadilly journey.

There was no intention on my part to evade the appropriate fare. I had purchased a ticket for the journey I had intended to make and purchased a further ticket for the Piccadilly leg.

On the matter of my being abusive to your staff member [again you will need to think what you wish to say but it will probably be wise to apologise for any offence you may have given].

I hope this explanation will persuade you that there was no intent to evade any fare due and I would hope that this matter can be settled by payment of any outstanding fare due and a contribution to your costs in investigating this matter.

Sincerely,

xxxxxx

 

[Helloxdakaja]

Thank you for your kindness I can’t believe how lovely people are . im going to use that and send it off tomorow .
Can trains check if I’ve posted on a forum like this?

 

[madjack]

At approximately 1440 I purchased an Oxford Road - Manchester Victoria ticket intending to catch the 1500 departure.

If someone was at Oxford Road at 1440 and intending to go to Victoria, would it not be faster and more convenient for them to bus/tram/walk rather than wait 20 minutes?

 

[Helloxdakaja]

I’m not from Manchester it seemed like the easiest thing to do for me! No I did not wanna walk. I didn’t even realise how close all the stations are to each other

 

[6Gman]

If someone was at Oxford Road at 1440 and intending to go to Victoria, would it not be faster and more convenient for them to bus/tram/walk rather than wait 20 minutes?

Depends how well you know the area. I'd probably use the Free Bus, if it still runs, but others wouldn't.

(And I was just using 1440 as an example)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Aug 2020 ==

Thank you for your kindness I can’t believe how lovely people are . im going to use that and send it off tomorow .
Can trains check if I’ve posted on a forum like this?

Some rail companies do monitor these sites. Just a risk you have to take. If your version of events is correct you've nothing to fear.

 

[35B]

Thank you for your kindness I can’t believe how lovely people are . im going to use that and send it off tomorow .
Can trains check if I’ve posted on a forum like this?

Yes.

 

[WesternLancer]

I’m not from Manchester it seemed like the easiest thing to do for me! No I did not wanna walk. I didn’t even realise how close all the stations are to each other

Yes, you need to use the clear and helpful reply 6Gman has drafted, inserting some of the material in your original draft that relates to and apologises for your actions and the potential impact on your future area of work choice etc as the legal advisor you consulted suggested. You then need to send it off and wait to see how they respond, whether they believe you or not.

You can share their response to that on this forum for further advice at that stage.

 

[some bloke]

Be sure you only make statements that you know are true, rather than because they seem to make a plausible story.

Instead of making definite statements about times you aren't sure of, you could say what you know to be true, such as if it applies,

"Given that the interview was noted as at 16.27, it seems I would have been on the xx.xx from ... to... .... and the xx.xx from... to..."

 

[madjack]

Depends how well you know the area. I'd probably use the Free Bus, if it still runs, but others wouldn't.

(And I was just using 1440 as an example)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Aug 2020 ==

Just wonder whether it's unusual enough a rail journey to arouse ɡreater suspicion in itself or could be associated with short-farinɡ - and whether there's any point addressing that risk in the draft.

 

[6Gman]

Just wonder whether it's unusual enough a rail journey to arouse ɡreater suspicion in itself or could be associated with short-farinɡ - and whether there's any point addressing that risk in the draft.

I don't imagine many Oxford Road to Victoria tickets are sold (though I have bought one myself!) so if the OP has a particular reason for buying such an unusual ticket it might be worth saying so.

 

[Llanigraham]

I looked at how long it takes to get to Manchester oxford road to Warrington bank quay and it says half an hour?
So if I got the train from oxford road around 3:00/3:30 Arrived in Warrington at 4 or just before 4 then got the train to picadilly??
I’m panicking I know that’s what happend it’s just my timings aren’t right .
I know everyone’s gonna say they don’t believe my story but say you did. Have I done anything wrong? In order to be prosecuted?

If nothing else, yes, you have admitted you were abusive to a member of the railway staff.

And EVERY station you went through has large notices stating the name of that station, plus as far as I know each train you were on has a roiling display in each carriage showing the route they are on and the next station.

As others have said, there are far too many inconsistencies here.

 

[WesternLancer]

I don't imagine many Oxford Road to Victoria tickets are sold (though I have bought one myself!) so if the OP has a particular reason for buying such an unusual ticket it might be worth saying so.

I did Man Vic to Man Picc by train earlier this year (inefficient use of time I discovered!) on a Northern Rover ticket in my case, as I had no access to a map at the time. I suspect you can just follow tram lines, but I think the weather was also dodgy so that would have put me off the walk.

 

[Llanigraham]

If someone was at Oxford Road at 1440 and intending to go to Victoria, would it not be faster and more convenient for them to bus/tram/walk rather than wait 20 minutes?

According to Google maps it is a 12 minute walk.

 

[6Gman]

I did Man Vic to Man Picc by train earlier this year (inefficient use of time I discovered!) on a Northern Rover ticket in my case, as I had no access to a map at the time. I suspect you can just follow tram lines, but I think the weather was also dodgy so that would have put me off the walk.

As part of a longer journey it can make some sense. As a single journey it is ... unusual.

 

[WesternLancer]

I don't imagine many Oxford Road to Victoria tickets are sold (though I have bought one myself!) so if the OP has a particular reason for buying such an unusual ticket it might be worth saying so.

as a student isn't it possible that you could be heading for university areas / access at Oxford Road area, but need to get to Victoria for certain destinations in eg west yorks for example. A new student to the area would not likely know much about how to navigate around a city new to them (for example).

 

[John R]

as a student isn't it possible that you could be heading for university areas / access at Oxford Road area, but need to get to Victoria for certain destinations in eg west yorks for example. A new student to the area would not likely know much about how to navigate around a city new to them (for example).

Maybe, but hard to believe given in this instance the OP, student or otherwise, was savvy enough to work out in the blink of an eye using apps how to get from one station in Warrington to another (and in doing so make a longer walk than the one from Victoria to Oxford Road it would seem).

 

[WesternLancer]

Maybe, but hard to believe given in this instance the OP, student or otherwise, was savvy enough to work out in the blink of an eye using apps how to get from one station in Warrington to another (and in doing so make a longer walk than the one from Victoria to Oxford Road it would seem).

well, potentially yes, and this is what the OP needs to convince the prosecutions team over, which I think is indeed a long shot given the inconsistencies, lack of knowledge of what they seemed to do themselves, confusion and related matters. I'm not saying OP is dishonest but they have an uphill task ahead of them.

 

[yorkie]

As this is so difficult to follow, and the information provided has changed, I don't think there is any benefit to keeping this thread open

@Helloxdakaja you are advised to seek advice from a solicitor

Once you have an update on the case, please get in touch so we can consider reopening the thread for an update to be posted.