GTR Meeting

[John R]

Have you ever used Trainline as a guest? They could have spotted some transactions that way, even though you don’t have an account with it.

 

[MotCO]

Don't Trainline provide their services to other operators? It may be that wherever you buy your tickets from is 'powered' by Trainline.

 

[WesternLancer]

The mention of Trainline may simply be standard text in such letters, as they know so many people use it. I guess the thing to be aware of is that they can access all on line ticket retailing sites to check for suspicious activity.

I guess if you are co-operating with them you can say that 'as far as you recall you have only purchased rail tickets from sites x,y and z if this is helpful for them to know'

I guess you could also say eg 'I'm not aware that I have used Trianline to purchase tickets that were not valid for travel but I would be happy to consider any information about that which they may hold' or some such.

I would not categorically deny ever using any specific ticket purchasing site in case at some random point you used such a site and have totally forgotten about it but they have it on a data trawl. You don't want to look like you are trying to hide anything as this reply from the railway looks like it's going in the direction you want (ie settlement offer without you having to pay for a solicitor).

 

[Haywain]

Don't Trainline provide their services to other operators? It may be that wherever you buy your tickets from is 'powered' by Trainline.

Trainline do not 'power' the Thameslink website.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Not quite sure what the British Transport Police would do....

If you are absolutely sure that you have never used Trainline, you should say so

 

[MotCO]

Please let me know your thoughts on the above, If I don't hear back from you, it will be assumed you do not wish to proceed with a settlement.

Should you wish to discuss matters in detail, I would be happy to schedule to explain the above and outline GTR's process. A call would last no longer than 15 minutes."

It does not say there will only be one phone call. Maybe one option is to listen to what they have to say, and ask if you can sleep on it and arrange a follow up call. This will let them know you want to engage in the process.

You may also want to research your travel history where you paid incorrect fares. Cost these out at the full peak day rate. This will therefore give you a ballpark figure of your misdemeanours.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Aug 2024 ==

Trainline do not 'power' the Thameslink website.

Did the OP say he bought from Thameslink / GTR? He was stopped by GTR, but I can't see any reference as to where he'd bought the tickets, unless I've missed it.

 

[MichaelJJ]

It does not say there will only be one phone call. Maybe one option is to listen to what they have to say, and ask if you can sleep on it and arrange a follow up call. This will let them know you want to engage in the process.

You may also want to research your travel history where you paid incorrect fares. Cost these out at the full peak day rate. This will therefore give you a ballpark figure of your misdemeanours.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Aug 2024 ==


Did the OP say he bought from Thameslink / GTR? He was stopped by GTR, but I can't see any reference as to where he'd bought the tickets, unless I've missed it.

Yes, that's right. Tickets bought via Southern/Thameslink websites directly

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Aug 2024 ==

A few solicitors said I should have a consultation before speaking with GTR. I guess they would say that to some extent but I could also accidentally incriminate myself and there's no formal agreement of an out of court settlement yet.

Is it worth consulting a solicitor? What could they reasonably offer?

 

[Haywain]

Did the OP say he bought from Thameslink / GTR? He was stopped by GTR, but I can't see any reference as to where he'd bought the tickets, unless I've missed it.

I responded to your comment about Trainline powered websites but the OP had said in post #30:

they had already conducted an investigation on my Thameslink account

And the OP has now confirmed that tickets have been purchased through this channel.

 

[Titfield]

It does not read to me that you have to speak with GTR. They are offering to explain the process through a telephone call as that may be the means they find acceptable to the majority of customers.

There is nothing to stop you crafting a well worded email that would provide the basis of the information they are looking for and asking them to send you a spreadsheet of the alleged infringements so you can check them against any records you may have and then agree / disagree as appropriate.

 

[Camsus]

Update:

I did respond to the letter I received this morning (based on similar responses I've seen here and highlighting my own apologies).

I have now received the following reply:

"Thank you for your response.

Since you were spoken to by a GTR Fraud Officer, Govia Thameslink Railway's investigation into your ticket purchase history via Trainline has identified numerous short ticket transactions [...]

My role within GTR's Fraud Department is to decide what course of action is most appropriate in a fraud investigation such as this. I have the option of referring your case to our Prosecutions Department, or alternatively, we can attempt to resolve the matter via the payment of a financial settlement, consisting of any rail fares that have been avoided plus GTR's costs.

I am prepared on this occasion to offer you an opportunity to try and reach a settlement agreement with GTR, however for this to happen your full cooperation and honesty are required. Please note, if we are unable to agree on a satisfactory outcome regarding this matter, your case will be referred to GTR's Prosecutions Department, which will result in a court summons being issued or your case being passed over to the British Transport Police for review.

Although you are under no obligation to enter into a settlement with Govia Thameslink Railway, providing the above points are met I would consider providing a settlement proposal based on any rail fares which were avoided, along with GTR’s costs to investigate this case.

Please let me know your thoughts on the above, If I don't hear back from you, it will be assumed you do not wish to proceed with a settlement.

Should you wish to discuss matters in detail, I would be happy to schedule to explain the above and outline GTR's process. A call would last no longer than 15 minutes."

I'm very grateful at the opportunity for a financial settlement and of course will comply fully.

My only concern is that the opening paragraphs mention my Trainline account - I don't have one or use one.

It goes on to say that an investigation was conducted *after* I was stopped by the Fraud team but when I was stopped, they had already conducted an investigation on my Thameslink account which showed some invalid tickets.

Is there any suggestions for how to approach the call?

Maybe I'm wrong, but I suspect the author of the response you received from GTR may have copied and pasted what they wrote from another email they'd sent to someone else with a case involving Trainline tickets.The same applies for their email also stating the investigation was conducted AFTER you were stopped, as clearly that wasn't the case because the fraud team appear to have targeted you