Govia Thameslink fare advice

[Jkambang]

Hello I recently got a prosecution ticket from govia Thameslink for paying a railcard ticket even though I didn’t have one and need some advice

 

[startingaparty]

Hello! Please can you provide a photo of the documentation you've received (with personal details blacked out, including any reference numbers) and then we can advise further.

 

[Jkambang]

Hello! Please can you provide a photo of the documentation you've received (with personal details blacked out, including any reference numbers) and then we can advise further.

 

[WesternLancer]

Did you give them correct postal address to contact you? Basically you need to wait for what it says on the slip - ie a letter from them that you must quickly reply to or it will go to court automatically.

Plenty of other threads on here that involve people evading fares by not having a railcard to which they claimed a discount for (either as a deliberate attemot to avoid paying or by mistake) have a read of them to get an idea of what you will need to say in your reply.

In the meantime buy a railcard ASAP as you can then make the point that you have learned a lesson and taken steps to address what you did. This may count in your favour

 

[Jkambang]

Did you give them correct postal address to contact you? Basically you need to wait for what it says on the slip - ie a letter from them that you must quickly reply to or it will go to court automatically.

Plenty of other threads on here that involve people evading fares by not having a railcard to which they claimed a discount for (either as a deliberate attemot to avoid paying or by mistake) have a read of them to get an idea of what you will need to say in your reply.

In the meantime buy a railcard ASAP as you can then make the point that you have learned a lesson and taken steps to address what you did. This may count in your favour

Thank you very much for the advice, I have bought the railcard and am still currently waiting for the letter to arrive (I did give the correct address)

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you very much for the advice, I have bought the railcard and am still currently waiting for the letter to arrive (I did give the correct address)

OK - so when you get the letter you can head back here for advice on reply or you can post up your draft reply for comment if you think that may help.
What you have done so far is as much as you can really do I think, but is all useful.

Bear in mind they can and probably will check all you on line ticket buying, with all ticket retailers, to see if you have done this multiple times.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

Forum members have already given some good advice but here's the advice I give to people who seek our help in circumstances similar to yours.

The letter from GTR will typically take a couple of months to arrive but can be sooner although it shouldn't take longer than six months. The letter will say that they have received a report, are considering prosecuting you and asking for your version of events before deciding how to proceed. It is important that you engage with and reply to this letter. You might want to include the following in your reply:

- 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

Make sure your reply is short and concise, don't give a sob story - they've heard it all before. GTR are one of the more pragmatic train companies and are usually prepared to offer an administrative settlement (commonly known as an out of court settlement) for people who engage with the process and who haven't come to their attention before. There is no guarantee of this and the train company would be within their rights to prosecute you in the magistrates court.

If you are offered a settlement the amount varies depending on the train company and circumstances but tend to be around £100 pounds plus the outstanding fare. An out of court settlement might appear to be a fine, but it isn't and you won't have a criminal record as a result of accepting one.

Feel free to post a copy of the letter once it arrives (with personal details redacted) along with your draft reply in this thread and forum members will be happy to proof read it. for you.

 

[Jkambang]

Okay I’ve got my letter and they’re asking for my version of events

 

[WesternLancer]

Okay I’ve got my letter and they’re asking for my version of events

Ok - start working on something that would fit the outline of content suggested in post #7.

 

[Jkambang]

I bought a ticket at the machine with the railcard discount despite not having one and was pulled aside at the gate at my stop and asked to provide a railcard which I did not have.
I am very sorry for what has happened. I know that what I did was wrong and will never do this again, I have also purchased a railcard since the incident and have been using it ever since. I would like to prevent court action if possible and am willing to pay the outstanding fare and any other costs incurred

Thank you (mr manager xxx)

 

[WesternLancer]

I bought a ticket at the machine with the railcard discount despite not having one and was pulled aside at the gate at my stop and asked to provide a railcard which I did not have.
I am very sorry for what has happened. I know that what I did was wrong and will never do this again, I have also purchased a railcard since the incident and have been using it ever since. I would like to prevent court action if possible and am willing to pay the outstanding fare and any other costs incurred

Thank you (mr manager xxx)

make it more of an 'ask' eg add to this bit maybe :

I would like to prevent court action if possible, and in respect of this error of judgment on my part I would be most grateful if you could consider letting me pay the outstanding fare and any......etc

 

[spag23]

make it more of an 'ask' eg add to this bit maybe

Agreed. So many OPs don't realise that being "willing" to pay implies a concession (perhaps even a generous one) on their part. And of course they are in no such position of strength. It can even come over as arrogant or dismissive; not a good stance, in their predicament.
Maybe it's a language thing, by speakers of English as a second language?
A bit like Europeans commonly using the word possibility, where opportunity is the more natural (and indeed more positive) term in many scenarios.

 

[Jkambang]

I bought a ticket at the machine with the railcard discount despite not having one and was pulled aside at the gate at my stop and asked to provide a railcard which I did not have.
I am very sorry for what has happened. I know that what I did was wrong and will never do this again, I have also purchased a railcard since the incident and have been using it ever since. I would like to prevent court action if possible, and in respect of this error of judgment on my part I would be most grateful if you could consider letting me pay the outstanding fare and any other costs

Thank you

Is this okay?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Apr 2023 ==

Agreed. So many OPs don't realise that being "willing" to pay implies a concession (perhaps even a generous one) on their part. And of course they are in no such position of strength. It can even come over as arrogant or dismissive; not a good stance, in their predicament.
Maybe it's a language thing, by speakers of English as a second language?
A bit like Europeans commonly using the word possibility, where opportunity is the more natural (and indeed more positive) term in many scenarios.

Haha yeah I didn’t mean for it to come out as that way and English is my second language although I’m fluent

 

[Haywain]

I bought a ticket at the machine with the railcard discount despite not having one and was pulled aside at the gate at my stop and asked to provide a railcard which I did not have.
I am very sorry for what has happened. I know that what I did was wrong and will never do this again, I have also purchased a railcard since the incident and have been using it ever since. I would like to prevent court action if possible, and in respect of this error of judgment on my part I would be most grateful if you could consider letting me pay the outstanding fare and any other costs

Thank you

Is this okay?

That's actually pretty good.

 

[spag23]

That's actually pretty good.

Seconded. And far better than I could express myself in any foreign language.