GA - caught fare evading!

[shahzar]

Hi everyone,

I was travelling between Harlow town and London Liverpool Street on the greater Anglia service.

I quickly bought a ticket when ticket inspectors came to scan my ticket as I was travelling with a railcard discounted ticket (with no railcard).

I’ve probably made about 10 journeys with the railcard discount.

I didn’t comply initially and refused to give my details so I did get arrested and then de arrested. I gave my details to the train inspectors as I got searched and they found my driving license.

This happened on the 10th of June, what’s next? Appreciate all and any responses, thanks!

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Hi everyone,

I was travelling between Harlow town and London Liverpool Street on the greater Anglia service.

I quickly bought a ticket when ticket inspectors came to scan my ticket as I was travelling with a railcard discounted ticket (with no railcard).

I’ve probably made about 10 journeys with the railcard discount.

I didn’t comply initially and refused to give my details so I did get arrested and then de arrested. I gave my details to the train inspectors as I got searched and they found my driving license.

This happened on the 10th of June, what’s next? Appreciate all and any responses, thanks!

Welcome to the forum.

The most likely next step will be that some time in the next six months the railway will write to you: they will threaten prosecution, but if you engage with the process and make it clear that
- you know you were in the wrong
- you won't do it again, and
- you are prepared to pay the train fares that you dodged, plus an admin fee which could be a couple of hundred pounds

then it's likely that the railway will let you settle out of court.

But you should note that they don't have to let you do that - they could prosecute you and if so I expect they would win. By my count, on the time you were caught, you broke the rules 3 times by
- trying to use a ticket that wasn't valid (the railcard discounted ticket)
- trying to buy a ticket on board for a journey you'd already started when you could have bought it before boarding, and
- refusing to give your name and address.

The fact that the railway had to arrest you may also mean that this matter is now in the hands of the police, who we understand don't consider out of court settlement in the way that the railway companies do.

 

[shahzar]

I got de-arrested and let off by the BTP so confident it is with the greater Anglia (they let me off and gave my driving license to the inspectors).

What would the letter say? Would it outline the offence and what happened on that day or more so we want to prosecute you for xyz send us a statement?

It is an old address - so wondering how they’d get through to me and if they didn’t wouldn’t they drop the case?

 

[agk2126]

It is an old address - so wondering how they’d get through to me and if they didn’t wouldn’t they drop the case?

They (the police or the railway) will not drop a case if you did not give them a valid address. However, with no valid address, you will certainly not be in a position to receive any out of court settlement offers.

I would suggest you contact the GA prosecutions team immediately with an updated address.

 

[shahzar]

They took the address off of my driving license - the BTP are not pursuing it, it is greater Anglia! I will get a postal redirection to ensure I get the letter.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jun 2026 ==

They (the police or the railway) will not drop a case if you did not give them a valid address. However, with no valid address, you will certainly not be in a position to receive any out of court settlement offers.

I would suggest you contact the GA prosecutions team immediately with an updated address.

What I’m wondering is if the letter doesn’t come through and the people living at the address RTS then what? I have since updated my driving license and home address records

 

[Trainman40083]

Sorry. Are you saying the address on your driving licence is wrong? If so, that is a 4th offence. But don't worry. If the train operator cannot contact you, the agents of the Courts will.

 

[shahzar]

No - it was an old address that has been updated and takes weeks to be delivered. No need for hostility! Thanks

 

[Fawkes Cat]

They took the address off of my driving license - the BTP are not pursuing it, it is greater Anglia! I will get a postal redirection to ensure I get the letter.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jun 2026 ==


What I’m wondering is if the letter doesn’t come through and the people living at the address RTS then what? I have since updated my driving license and home address records

Broadly, if you don't respond to the railway's letters, they'll take the matter to court, where you'll be convicted. The punishment will be a fine, and the court will write to the address that they have to try and collect the money.

If you don't get the letter, then ultimately the debt will be put in the hands of debt collectors. They tend to be very good at finding people, even if they don't have current details. And they will charge a substantial excess for the time and effort that they have had to put in to finding you. So once they find you, you will either have to pay a substantially enhanced fine, or take steps to go through a 'Statutory Declaration' process which can give another chance to have the court case heard, only this time with you knowing about it.

Practically speaking, it's very much in your interest to make sure that the railway have your current address. If you look at https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/revenue-protection-prosecutions-policy (which is probably worth you reading anyhow) you will see that it gives a contact email address for them, and I would expect that if you send your new address details there then it will be used to update your records.

 

[shahzar]

Ah I understand - I’ll forsure mail them & set up a postal redirection! Also, the intial letter that i’m assuming will be posted (and not emailed), what does it usually say? Does it outline the incident including details of the day eg what i’ve said and invite me to respond? Or?

I’ll read the forum, thanks for responding!

 

[Fawkes Cat]

the intial letter that i’m assuming will be posted (and not emailed), what does it usually say? Does it outline the incident including details of the day eg what i’ve said and invite me to respond?

Typically, they're much as you have described, although the style varies a bit between railway companies. The important thing is to recognise is that it's your first (and quite likely only) chance to convince the railway not to take you to court. In practice, that means that you need to convincingly make the points I spelt out in post #2 above.

 

[shahzar]

I’ve bought a railcard now and only travel with my railcard so definitely will not be fare evading again. I’ll post the letter and my response here first when they come. Do I need to admit to what I’ve done or more so that I’m very apologetic and remorseful for what I’ve done? How likely is conviction?

 

[WesternLancer]

Ah I understand - I’ll forsure mail them & set up a postal redirection! Also, the intial letter that i’m assuming will be posted (and not emailed), what does it usually say? Does it outline the incident including details of the day eg what i’ve said and invite me to respond? Or?

I’ll read the forum, thanks for responding!

As explained it is vital (if you want to try to avoid this going to court) that you receiewv the communicatiosn front he railway comapnuy communiocations - which may be by poist or e-mail or maybe both - although not the court - they will send cour paperwork hard copy - so as explained it is actually in your interests for the railway company to have correct contact info for you for at leat th enext 6 to 7 months


Based on a thread from June 2025
Their address is:

Fraud and Investigations Team
Greater Anglia
Ashbee House
Platform 10
Liverpool Street Railway Station
London
EC2M 7PY

e-mail
Prosecutions@greateranglia.co.uk

if you are contacting them now make sure that they have the correct details (which also sends signal that you are co-operating with them now, when of course until you were arrested you were sending the opposite signal to the staff...._

All you should say in your e mail is something along the lines of this, amend as necessary - don't get into the detail now about what actually happened and why
------

Dear Sir/ Madam

I was stopped on x date at y location and questioned about the validity of my rail ticket.

I was given this ref number xxxxx (assuming you were - delete if not)

Unfortunately I did not give correct personal details and I would like to apologise for this.

Please note my correct name and address is …..
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx


My e-mail address is: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx

Yours faithfully

 

[shahzar]

Was i supposed to be given a reference number? If so, why wasn’t I? When stopped I only gave my address not email, does that mean I’m likely to receive a letter?

 

[AlterEgo]

Was i supposed to be given a reference number?

No, but they may give you one when they write to you.

If so, why wasn’t I? When stopped I only gave my address not email, does that mean I’m likely to receive a letter?

They will write to you, so you need to be sure to receive the letter.

 

[WesternLancer]

Was i supposed to be given a reference number? If so, why wasn’t I? When stopped I only gave my address not email, does that mean I’m likely to receive a letter?

Not necessarily - some train company issue ref numbers to people when they stop them - some don't (the draft I posted is a standard form of words used to suggest to people who come on here having given false details etc and then thought better of it, on how to help get them unstuck)
Given you were un cooperative to the extent that they got someone to arrest you - this is rare by the way - they may not have been that bothered with giving ref numbers out if they don't normally give them on Greater Anglia

I would suggest by gibing your address it's likely that you will indeed be sent a hard coot letter - but they can track e-mail addresses too - if they can match anything on any ticket you had (eg a qr code) back to you / your on line booking (with any retailer) / your bank card records etc
Digital finger prints are all over this stuff - so they may use that instead or too

Its not the usual practice (so it's unlikely in my view) but you should be aware they are under no obligation to write to you at all about this - they could just send it to court and all you will get is a hard copy court summons in the post for the offence you committed. They already have the evidence they need to secure a conviction, I would assume

 

[jumble]

Hi everyone,

I was travelling between Harlow town and London Liverpool Street on the greater Anglia service.

I quickly bought a ticket when ticket inspectors came to scan my ticket as I was travelling with a railcard discounted ticket (with no railcard).

I’ve probably made about 10 journeys with the railcard discount.

I didn’t comply initially and refused to give my details so I did get arrested and then de arrested. I gave my details to the train inspectors as I got searched and they found my driving license.

This happened on the 10th of June, what’s next? Appreciate all and any responses, thanks!

Just to satisfy my curiosity
Did BTP ask for your details with the threat of arrest if you didn't comply or did they arrest you as soon as they were involved without warning?
( I am guessing the former)

 

[delboy53]

Hi everyone,

I was travelling between Harlow town and London Liverpool Street on the greater Anglia service.

I quickly bought a ticket when ticket inspectors came to scan my ticket as I was travelling with a railcard discounted ticket (with no railcard).

I’ve probably made about 10 journeys with the railcard discount.

I didn’t comply initially and refused to give my details so I did get arrested and then de arrested. I gave my details to the train inspectors as I got searched and they found my driving license.

This happened on the 10th of June, what’s next? Appreciate all and any responses, thanks!

Every case is different, but you travel on the same line as me. If you have given them an email address, they are likely to email you confirming the date you were stopped and if they have investigated your previous journeys, may offer you a settlement, which (correct me if I'm wrong) could be the full fare x 10. Greater Anglia are using ITAL to collect money.

 

[saismee]

I was under the impression that having an incorrect address on your drivers license is an offence as well, but nobody seems to have mentioned it. Could someone confirm?

 

[Bertone]

I was under the impression that having an incorrect address on your drivers license is an offence as well, but nobody seems to have mentioned it. Could someone confirm?

Yes, it is an offence with a possible fine of up to £1000!

DVLA should be advised as soon as possible of change.

 

[SECR 65]

Am I right Greater Anglia use ITAL?

ITAL are an external revenue investigation / prosecution company which some Train Operating Companies use - pretty sure Greater Anglia is one of them. They have a reputation for being hard to and expensive to settle out of court with. That said, hopefully you can still get a settlement.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Yes, it is an offence with a possible fine of up to £1000!

DVLA should be advised as soon as possible of change.

Post 7: OP already did that and is awaiting updated driving licence from DVLA.

 

[Titfield]

Post 7: OP already did that and is awaiting updated driving licence from DVLA.

I updated my address recently and the new licence was back inside 5 working days.

 

[Bertone]

Post 7: OP already did that and is awaiting updated driving licence from DVLA.

Yes noted but was just responding to post 18.

 

[saismee]

Post 7: OP already did that and is awaiting updated driving licence from DVLA.

I am clearly blind and missed more than one post mentioning that!