Fare evasion

[Mike123]

Hi,

I travelled into Birmingham Snow Hill yesterday morning arriving at around 8.15 on a London Midland train.

The station I left from had a technical fault and as such was unable to sell tickets. I actually approached the ticket machine here and entered my card but was unable to buy the ticket because of this fault. A hand-wrtitten white-board outside the station advised travellers to buy tickets on the train.

I got on the train.

As it was rush hour, predictably, it was rammed and no conductor came round.

When I reached Snow Hill I went to leave the station, I noticed tickets were being checked and then doubled back to go up the escalators to purchase a ticket. At this point a fare evasion officer popped out from behind a sign and questioned my lack of ticket etc.

I was spoken to under caution and was told the rail company would be in touch. No penalty fare was offered at any time.

What do you make of that? I work shifts and travel sporadically on the train and very rarely buy a season ticket, so purchase individual tickets on the days I travel.

Am I going to end up with a criminal record over this? I would be absolutely gutted if that's the case - it's safe to say this is really stressing me out.

I returned to the station this morning and got a stamped note to say tickets were unavailable to purchase yesterday - unfortunately the hand-written white board advising ticket purchase on the train had been wiped.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[455driver]

When I reached Snow Hill I went to leave the station, I noticed tickets were being checked and then doubled back to go up the escalators to purchase a ticket. At this point a fare evasion officer popped out from behind a sign and questioned my lack of ticket etc.

Why did you need to double back to buy a ticket, you were aware of the need to purchase one on arrival at Snow Hill?

 

[Mike123]

I don't know. I didn't know where I could buy a ticket on arrival. I know now that there's a booth at the top of the escalators. Was just instinct I suppose as I didn't have a ticket.

 

[sonic2009]

Which station did you travel from?

 

[Mike123]

Kiddy

 

[Squaddie]

When I reached Snow Hill I went to leave the station, I noticed tickets were being checked and then doubled back to go up the escalators to purchase a ticket. At this point a fare evasion officer popped out from behind a sign and questioned my lack of ticket etc.

I was spoken to under caution and was told the rail company would be in touch. No penalty fare was offered at any time.

Penalty fares are intended for honest mistakes: by your own admission, you were intending to leave the station without paying the fare due, and doubled back towards the ticket office only when it became apparent that you were going to get caught.

I returned to the station this morning and got a stamped note to say tickets were unavailable to purchase yesterday...

That's probably no longer relevant, as your behaviour upon arrival at Snow Hill demonstrated clear intent to avoid payment even though there was an opportunity to buy a ticket there.

All you can do is wait to see whether a letter arrives from London Midland.

 

[sonic2009]

From what you have told us, I only can think that you went from Platform 3 to the Metro platforms and tried to leave via the escalator which at the top is unbarried.

Upon realising you return to Platform 3 and went up the escalator to where the ticket barriers are.

Or did you leave via the new entrance towards the rear of Platform 3?

 

[Mike123]

From what you have told us, I only can think that you went from Platform 3 to the Metro platforms and tried to leave via the escalator which at the top is unbarried.

Upon realising you return to Platform 3 and went up the escalator to where the ticket barriers are.

Yea. Went that way towards metro then turned back.

Five year criminal record. Life screwed.

 

[sonic2009]

I wouldn't say that.

Have you been penalty fared before by London Midland?

You cannot do anything until the letter arrives asking for your side of the story.

Members on here will offer you the best advice to the best of there knowledge.

 

[Greenback]

Yea. Went that way towards metro then turned back.

Five year criminal record. Life screwed.

Not neccesarily, you may be able to negotiate an out of court settlement.

Depending on what you said to the officer when quesyioned you may even be able to get the matter dropped when you are asked for your version of events.

No one can say what the outcome will be yet. There are a lot of variables involved!

 

[Mike123]

Not neccesarily, you may be able to negotiate an out of court settlement.

Depending on what you said to the officer when quesyioned you may even be able to get the matter dropped when you are asked for your version of events.

No one can say what the outcome will be yet. There are a lot of variables involved!

Thanks. I'm extremely stressed out about this

Not sure I did myself a massive amount of favours during the chat (wasn't rude but didn't give much of an explanation) but just have to wait and see I guess.

The line of questioning was very aggressive, not something I'm used to tbh.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I wouldn't say that.

Have you been penalty fared before by London Midland?

You cannot do anything until the letter arrives asking for your side of the story.

Members on here will offer you the best advice to the best of there knowledge.

No never penalty fared before by any train operator and no trouble with police ever.

 

[Greenback]

Not sure I did myself a massive amount of favours during the chat (wasn't rude but didn't give much of an explanation) but just have to wait and see I guess.

The line of questioning was very aggressive, not something I'm used to tbh

Many passengers find the questioning aggressive when they are not used to it. It is robust, it's an attempt to find out what happened and sort the innocent mistakes out from the serious fare evaders quickly, and with a minimum of fuss.

One of the things they want to establish is if you intended not to pay, so if you admitted that you were going that way deliberately to avoid ticket checks, that won't look good.

Regardless of what happened on the day, they will be in touch with you, probably with an opportunity to give your side of the story. We will be able to give you advice when you receive that correspondence.

 

[Mike123]

I have today received a letter of intention to prosecute from London Midland's revenue protection service.

I have drafted a letter of apology for my actions and intend to return it to them with copies of recent bank statements which show I always purchase a ticket at the station on the days I travel and also a stamp and dated note from the train station on the day I travelled which explains that tickets were unavailable on the day from that station.

In the letter I am offering to pay a settlement out of court and also explain I have no history of wrongdoing with train operators or the police.

Is there anything that I shouldn't include from the above?

The letter they have sent is very short and just asks me to send them back the slip of paper at the bottom once completed with my details. They ask me for my side of events to be put on the reverse of this. Will I be okay to staple my letter to the back - there's not much space for me to explain otherwise.

Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Yes, you can staple your reply to the letter - the technicality of how you present your reply is not critical.

There is something else you might want to mention in your letter, but its not for me to put words into your mouth.
It would be that if this experience has taught you anything which will affect your behaviour when travelling by rail in the future, then perhaps you would want the Company to know about that?

 

[Mike123]

Thanks for your reply Dave. I have of course made it clear that I will never do this again.

If this goes to court it will have a huge impact on my current employment - is it worth mentioning that in the letter?

 

[island]

Thanks for your reply Dave. I have of course made it clear that I will never do this again.

If this goes to court it will have a huge impact on my current employment - is it worth mentioning that in the letter?

I personally would leave it out, as the TOCs already know the impact of a criminal record. But it is not necessarily as grave as you think. For one thing, your employer may never get to know about it.