GTR - notice to prosecute ADVICE NEEDED

[one world]

Hi all, this is my first post and I could really do with some advice.

I have received a letter from Thameslink with notice to prosecute, and I am really worried.

I was stopped in February 2025 for travelling on the wrong ticket. I had bought a ticket from elephant and castle (the stop before) to London Blackfriars instead of the stop I got on. They are charging me for travelling without a valid ticket.

I did this to try save money as a young professional. I was stopped and pulled over, and then was put under caution and asked why I did it, to which I said to save money with the price of living crisis. The woman I dealt with was very nice and fully understood why I did it.

Thameslink have asked for a response and account from myself. What should I say? I really want to get this sorted outside of court as I have just started working, and don't want a criminal record.

I have a railcard and have seen the best way to approach is this to

- Say how sorry I am 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

I appreciate all the help guys, I need to write back tomorrow as the deadline is fast approaching.

Thank you.

 

[SuspectUsual]

That sounds about right for what you need to cover, plus stressing that you won't do it again. And write it yourself, don't use AI!!

 

[one world]

That sounds about right for what you need to cover, plus stressing that you won't do it again. And write it yourself, don't use AI!!

Should I be worried if I have done it again? Would they go through my trainline records?

 

[spotify95]

Should I be worried if I have done it again? Would they go through my trainline records?

Trainline tend to give details of customers without any fuss, so you should expect your past purchasing history to be examined. If there are other short fares on your Trainline account, you might be asked about those too.

General advice is that:
If the letter only asks about the time you were stopped, then you only need to reply about the incident in question. But you mustn't lie - for example, don't say that it's your first time if you've been short faring for the best part of a month.
If the letter states that they have gone through past purchases and found other instances, then you'll need to mention those too and give a full account. The TOC will know anyway!

In any case, Govia Thameslink Railway should give you a settlement as long as you co-operate with them and are remorseful/apologetic, as per the advice usually given.

 

[one world]

Trainline tend to give details of customers without any fuss, so you should expect your past purchasing history to be examined. If there are other short fares on your Trainline account, you might be asked about those too.

General advice is that:
If the letter only asks about the time you were stopped, then you only need to reply about the incident in question. But you mustn't lie - for example, don't say that it's your first time if you've been short faring for the best part of a month.
If the letter states that they have gone through past purchases and found other instances, then you'll need to mention those too and give a full account. The TOC will know anyway!

In any case, Govia Thameslink Railway should give you a settlement as long as you co-operate with them and are remorseful/apologetic, as per the advice usually given.

Ok thank you, I will only respond to them about this occasion. How long does it take for them to get back to you usually? I will be moving out of my place at the end of June and abroad from mid July to mid august.

 

[Haywain]

Should I be worried if I have done it again? Would they go through my trainline records?

Yes, you should. Not only could they find out from your purchase history, imagine how it will look if you are caught again.

 

[AlterEgo]

Should I be worried if I have done it again? Would they go through my trainline records?

They often do this and will detect all the other offences too. They may come back with another letter if they decide to audit your accounts.

 

[Hadders]

Pop your draft reply in this thread and forum members will proof read it for you.

 

[one world]

Pop your draft reply in this thread and forum members will proof read it for you.

Ok,

Dear Fare Evasion Manager:

I am writing this in response to the notice of your intention to prosecute for the relative offence on x date.

Firstly I would like to apologise for travelling on a Thameslink service with the incorrect ticket.

From my point of view this is what happened on the day.

I was running late for work and thus ran to catch the service. Due to my lateness I couldn't buy the ticket from the stop I got on and thus bought it from the stop before my final destination. I did this as I was trying to save some money as I was experiencing some financial difficulties as a recent young professional in London.

Once arriving onto the destination platform, the barriers were protected by revenue officers who wanted to see my ticket. I showed an officer my ticket and he questioned passively aggressively about my travel, and ticket to work. During this another senior revenue officer came over who was much nicer and she dealt with me instead.

I confessed to what I had done and apologised to her, and explained to her that I had done this due to financial worries. She asked me a fair few further questions and then gave me an orange receipt (I still have this) letting me know that they will be in touch via email( I haven't received and email, I received a letter).

I must say how sorry I am for doing this, which hopefully can be shown in the co-operation I showed with the officer and in this letter, as well as my belief in the train system with my ownership of a railcard for some years.

I am very keen to settle this matter without the need for court action and I am happy to pay the outstanding fare and train company's administrative costs in this dealing with the matter, as I appreciate this is my own doing. Please let me know the next steps.

I will be leaving this place of residence at the end of June, if there is any more correspondence, how should I keep in contact with you?

Thank you and look forward to resolving this matter,

Name

 

[Hadders]

This is a reasonable first draft but it needs some changes.

I was running late for work and thus ran to catch the service. Due to my lateness I couldn't buy the ticket from the stop I got on and thus bought it from the stop before my final destination. I did this as I was trying to save some money as I was experiencing some financial difficulties as a recent young professional in London.

Scrap all of this. You made a deliberate decision to evade the fare. Arguably a professional should know that you can't evade the fare.

Once arriving onto the destination platform, the barriers were protected by revenue officers who wanted to see my ticket. I showed an officer my ticket and he questioned passively aggressively about my travel, and ticket to work. During this another senior revenue officer came over who was much nicer and she dealt with me instead.

Don't ctiticise the staff. This letter isn't the place to do that. You want them to agree to an out of court settlement, which they don't have to do.

I confessed to what I had done and apologised to her, and explained to her that I had done this due to financial worries. She asked me a fair few further questions and then gave me an orange receipt (I still have this) letting me know that they will be in touch via email( I haven't received and email, I received a letter).

There's no need to tell them you still have their receipt, or call them out about email over letter.

I will be leaving this place of residence at the end of June, if there is any more correspondence, how should I keep in contact with you?

It would be better if you could give them the address you are moving to.

 

[one world]

This is a reasonable first draft but it needs some changes.


Scrap all of this. You made a deliberate decision to evade the fare. Arguably a professional should know that you can't evade the fare.


Don't ctiticise the staff. This letter isn't the place to do that. You want them to agree to an out of court settlement, which they don't have to do.


There's no need to tell them you still have their receipt, or call them out about email over letter.


It would be better if you could give them the address you are moving to.

Ok, what would you advise to say as to what happened from my point of view as that is what they are asking? Appreciate the help.

 

[Hadders]

Ok, what would you advise to say as to what happened from my point of view as that is what they are asking? Appreciate the help.

Just tell them what you did.

I was travelling from xxxx to Blackfriars but only purchased a ticket between Elephant & Castle and Blackfriars.

 

[one world]

Just tell them what you did.

I was travelling from xxxx to Blackfriars but only purchased a ticket between Elephant & Castle and Blackfriars.

Ok, here's the 2nd draft, hope this suits.

Dear Fare Evasion Manager:

I am writing this in response to the notice of your intention to prosecute for the relative offence on x date.

Firstly I would like to apologise for travelling on a Thameslink service with the incorrect ticket.

From my point of view this is what happened on the day.

I travelled from x to London Blackfriars but knowingly purchased the wrong ticket, elephant and castle to London Blackfriars. I was pulled over by a revenue officer at Blackfriars about my ticket. I confessed to what I had done and apologised to her, and explained to her that I had done this due to financial worries.

I must say how sorry I am for doing this, which hopefully can be shown in the co-operation I showed with the officer and in this letter, as well as my belief in the train system with my ownership of a railcard for some years.

I am very keen to settle this matter without the need for court action and I am happy to pay the outstanding fare and train company's administrative costs in this dealing with the matter, as I appreciate this is my own doing. Please let me know the next steps.

I will be leaving this place of residence at the end of June, and will be moving to x.

Thank you and look forward to resolving this matter,

Name

 

[Hadders]

That's much better! Wait and see if any other forum members have any further suggestions but otherwise I think it's good to go.

 

[one world]

That's much better! Wait and see if any other forum members have any further suggestions but otherwise I think it's good to go.

Ok perfect should I keep the knowingly before the purchase or not? Really appreciate this hadders

 

[Pushpit]

It is the truth, so personally I'd stick with it, given it's in your own words. If you a slightly more nuanced word, you could use "deliberately" but I wouldn't overthink this, they want contrition and commitment to not repeat the matter, which is what you have done.