Got caught e GWR for fare evasion

[ops22]

hello everyone,
hope all are good
Yesterday i was traveling on GWR with ticket under 16-17 reading west to reading thorugh trainline. Upon reaching reading i got flagged and inspector manually checked the ticket. Later on they asked for my info and gave him everything except the DOB which was wrong.He wrote all of it in notebook they usually carry. He also took my sign on blank page. I randomly travel on train (less frequent). Now am in stress about giving the wrong DOB. Although the inspector was good and told me to tell everything and i was so panicked at the moment. Although he told me that he can expect a letter from company may be you have to pay 50£ on above full fare. I was trying to negotiate to pay the penalty fare on spot but unfortunately it was other inspector who flagged me and he told me if he was the first he would have done that but as you was refered by one of colleaugue i can't do this. in end he gave me excess ticket to leave the station and didn't charged me for that. I am really nervous because of my stupidit and learnt the lesson hard way
Any help/ expert opinion in regard to what happen next and what i should do.would be appreciated from expertise in these matters.

 

[High Dyke]

Welcome to the forum. The train operator will write to you in due course about this event. Do make sure you respond to any requests they make.

For further assistance on here, can you confirm:

• Are you entitled to hold the railcard used?
• Had the railcard used expired?

 

[FenMan]

Welcome to the forum. The train operator will write to you in due course about this event. Do make sure you respond to any requests they make.

For further assistance on here, can you confirm:

• Are you entitled to hold the railcard used?
• Had the railcard used expired?

Also, given it's only a 20 minute walk from Reading West to Reading and you give your location as "London" what was your actual journey?

Did you buy the Reading West - Reading ticket online?

Lastly, how old are you?

To be clear, GWR will be asking themselves these questions too.

 

[ops22]

basically am based in wokingham. I used the original Journey from Theale to Reading so to save few quid i did this stupid mistake now regretting

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Feb 2026 ==

I bought ticket through trainline and it has similar 3 history of such ticket

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Feb 2026 ==

Welcome to the forum. The train operator will write to you in due course about this event. Do make sure you respond to any requests they make.

For further assistance on here, can you confirm:

• Are you entitled to hold the railcard used?
• Had the railcard used expired?

Thanks for response. I used to have the railcard 26-30 which was long expired. Majority of my journey are on those card during validity. After that only random less frequent travel. TBH avoided the fare by using 16-17 railcard. Most history on trainline is Reading west to Reading.
now my concern is given the anxiety stress am going through what will be the maximum or worst happen in this scenerio.

 

[z444z]

Welcome to the forum. The train operator will write to you in due course about this event. Do make sure you respond to any requests they make.

I would advise the OP seeks further advice here on how to respond before doing so.

 

[WesternLancer]

now my concern is given the anxiety stress am going through what will be the maximum or worst happen in this scenerio.

Basically re paying all the fares they can find that match this pattern of evasion at the full Anytime single fare. If you ask them nicely to allow that in due course. Which they likely will.
Basically any evidence of short faring like this and anything you’ve bought with a 16-17 railcard will be visible to them for any on line purchases.

They might even ask you to prove you had other railcards in the past too so find evidence of legit railcards you once had if you can.

If you are not prepared to pay that they will take you to court. So court fine as punishment and criminal record as you will be found guilty.

It could be some weeks or months before you hear from them, usually by hard copy letter at the address you gave. When you receive that head back here for advice on how to respond. It’s vital you reply or it just goes to court automatically.

From now on buy legitimate tickets every time and consider buying a network railcard to use. Those will be things you can point to having done to show you have changed your ways, which is a key way to help convince them not to prosecute you.

Read the GWR revenue protection policy pdf booklet on their website so you understand what they do.

 

[z444z]

GWR will write to you at some point. It is likely to be months. When they do, come back here and we will help you understand and respond to it.

GWR will settle out of court. You’ve been caught by one of the nicer train operators who have a policy of avoiding court where possible. It might be helpful for you to read their revenue protection policy which is available online.

You should expect them to look at your ticket purchasing history and charge you for all suspicious journeys, plus a roughly £150 admin fee.

Nothing to do now but wait, and ensure you purchase the correct ticket every time.

 

[ops22]

Thanks so much for this. Will they check all my online account like Trainline/splitmyfare ? as i have history of using legitimate tickets on splitmyfare using the valid railcard. Will they consider the good history in past or gave the penalty fare notice in letter to pay the penalty plus anytime full fare !

 

[jfollows]

They can check past online ticket purchase history, yes.

 

[z444z]

Thanks so much for this. Will they check all my online account like Trainline/splitmyfare ?

They could check all of them but usually we only see them check the account that bought the ticket the person was caught with.

as i have history of using legitimate tickets on splitmyfare using the valid railcard. Will they consider the good history in past

No, they don’t care that you’ve sometimes paid the right fare, they’re still going to charge you for the times you didn’t

 

[WesternLancer]

Thanks so much for this. Will they check all my online account like Trainline/splitmyfare ? as i have history of using legitimate tickets on splitmyfare using the valid railcard. Will they consider the good history in past or gave the penalty fare notice in letter to pay the penalty plus anytime full fare !

You won’t be receiving a penalty fare (the £100 you see on posters at stations). These are not issued for what they see as deliberate evasion.

 

[z444z]

These are not issued for what they see as deliberate evasion.

And in any case can only be issued at the time, not retrospectively.

 

[ops22]

Ticket inspector told me that a letter will be sent to your address.. then you can pay 50+ anytime full fare within 14 days to dispose off the matter. Rest i don't know what will be in the letter as they have all my detail right except wrong Date of birth. worrying is that would that cause any problem for me !

 

[z444z]

Ticket inspector told me that a letter will be sent to your address.. then you can pay 50+ anytime full fare within 14 days to dispose off the matter.

Ticket inspectors don’t necessarily always give the correct info about what happens next. I don’t believe we have seen GWR charge a £50 admin fee but I could be wrong.

Rest i don't know what will be in the letter as they have all my detail right except wrong Date of birth. worrying is that would that cause any problem for me !

I don’t think the incorrect date of birth will cause any issues.

 

[jfollows]

Ticket inspector told me that a letter will be sent to your address.. then you can pay 50+ anytime full fare within 14 days to dispose off the matter. Rest i don't know what will be in the letter as they have all my detail right except wrong Date of birth. worrying is that would that cause any problem for me !

Unfortunately untrue.
You will get a letter but it will be to the effect that you will be reported for prosecution unless you reply, and we can advise on the best response if you come back here when you do.
£50 + fare only applies to a Penalty Fare, which you weren’t given and can only be issued at the time of the alleged offence.

 

[ops22]

Unfortunately untrue.
You will get a letter but it will be to the effect that you will be reported for prosecution unless you reply, and we can advise on the best response if you come back here when you do.
£50 + fare only applies to a Penalty Fare, which you weren’t given and can only be issued at the time of the alleged offence.

Thanks. but at then end he took the my signature on blank page and also gave me excess ticket to leave the station which has wrong journey detail. it's also worrying me

 

[z444z]

Thanks. but at then end he took the my signature on blank page and also gave me excess ticket to leave the station which has wrong journey detail. it's also worrying me

What do you mean wrong journey detail? What did it say and what journey did you actually make?

You don’t need to be worrying. GWR will settle with you.

 

[ops22]

Thanks. but at then end he took the my signature on blank page and also gave me excess ticket to leave the station which has wrong journey detail. it's also worrying me

Instead giving me the ticket Theale reading he issued reading ... theale..

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Feb 2026 ==

What do you mean wrong journey detail? What did it say and what journey did you actually make?

You don’t need to be worrying. GWR will settle with you.

i made the journey from theale to reading but i bought 16-17 railcard fare ticket for reading west to reading.

 

[z444z]

You’re going to be absolutely fine. Have you read GWR’s revenue protection policy?

 

[ops22]

You’re going to be absolutely fine. Have you read GWR’s revenue protection policy?

yes i have read it.. worrying is that they will send the matter to prosecution. Is that possible without informing me or they will sent a letter to me awaiting a respond from me

 

[AlterEgo]

yes i have read it.. worrying is that they will send the matter to prosecution. Is that possible without informing me or they will sent a letter to me awaiting a respond from me

Did you read all of it? it is very clear:

We’ll do our best to settle out of court.

Prosecution can have serious consequences on your personal and professional life. So, if you don’t pay your fare, we will do everything we can to avoid taking you to court. We’ll probably send you an offer to settle out of court – usually asking you to pay an amount to cover your fare and our costs.

See page 11: https://www.gwr.com/-/media/gwr-sc-...WR-Revenue-Protection-Policy-January-2023.pdf

 

[z444z]

yes i have read it.. worrying is that they will send the matter to prosecution.

No, in fact it says the opposite

Is that possible without informing me or they will sent a letter to me awaiting a respond from me

They will write to you.

 

[ops22]

No, in fact it says the opposite

They will write to you.

Thanks for clarification. I would like to know what type of letter I can expect under these circumstances.

 

[jfollows]

Thanks for clarification. I would like to know what type of letter I can expect under these circumstances.

We’d all like to know what’s going to happen in the future.
I suggest you wait and see, and come back here for advice when you do.
We can’t promise anything, and you’ve been given our best guesses.

 

[AlterEgo]

Thanks for clarification. I would like to know what type of letter I can expect under these circumstances.

It's in the policy! Please read it.

We’ll probably send you an offer to settle out of court – usually asking you to pay an amount to cover your fare and our costs.

 

[z444z]

Caught with an invalid railcard, what next?

This letter just came through, I can pay the fee on 16th no worries! When it comes to the other journeys I’ve travelled with my expired railcard, like I explained out of 5 of them, 2 were travelled, the other 3 just never used plans changed! I have proof I took other travelling plans. Should I...

www.railforums.co.uk

See post #31 of this thread for what the letter is likely to look like.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thanks for clarification. I would like to know what type of letter I can expect under these circumstances.

Look at some other threads involving GWR

 

[ops22]

Hi everyone,
I hope everyone is doing well. I still didn't got any letter from GWR about fare evasion or anything else. Am still worried about it.. How may i know or check this

 

[Haywain]

Hi everyone,
I hope everyone is doing well. I still didn't got any letter from GWR about fare evasion or anything else. Am still worried about it.. How may i know or check this

They have still got almost three months before they are out of time to prosecute you, so you will just have to sit tight and wait. GWR appear to have a significant backlog as well, so could even contact you at the last minute. It's impossible to tell.

 

[ops22]

so long do it take to send a letter and what's the max deadline they have to do so.. Because i gave my details in Earlier feb... so ithere any specific timelines they need to send the letter !