Had to give details

[A44]

Hi there,
I’m mainly a bit confused and would just like some clarity on what might happen.

I boarded the train from Solihull station however I did not have a ticket as I was late and just made the train (usually I will just buy one on the train). However this time I couldn’t buy the ticket on Trainline as my signal wasn’t good enough to load to purchase it(kept saying purchase failed). I then got to moor street and bought the ticket on the platform and proceeded to the gates where there were inspectors blocking the gates.

As the man scanned my ticket he said why have you just bought it 5 minutes ago and I explained as before that I was late, which he then explained boarding the train without a ticket is an offence which is fair enough.
I was then taken to the side with a girl who also recently bought a ticket and was told to give him some I.D which I did. He didn’t tell me what for until I asked him what happens now and he just said I will receive a letter and told me to go.

I’m a bit more confused as the girl next to me with a different inspector was told she would get a fine and had to pay £50 or something for everyday over the due date, however I had no mention of a fine and was just told I will get a letter from tfl I think he said which doesn’t make much sense considering it happened in birmingham.

I would like to know what the letter will be about. If anyone could help as I’ve read on here I could end up in court or get a criminal record, which would ruin my career. Thanks

 

[AlterEgo]

What's happened here is the inspector has noted you bought the ticket only when confronted by a barrier to exit the station. As there is a ticket office and machines at Solihull, you should have purchased before boarding, and you committed an offence as soon as you boarded the train.

It's not TFL involved here, but Chiltern and their agents, TIL (Transport Investigations Limited). They will write to you about the matter in due course; the letter can take weeks or even a few months to arrive, but once it arrives, post it here for advice on how to reply.

 

[A44]

What's happened here is the inspector has noted you bought the ticket only when confronted by a barrier to exit the station. As there is a ticket office and machines at Solihull, you should have purchased before boarding, and you committed an offence as soon as you boarded the train.

It's not TFL involved here, but Chiltern and their agents, TIL (Transport Investigations Limited). They will write to you about the matter in due course; the letter can take weeks or even a few months to arrive, but once it arrives, post it here for advice on how to reply.

Thanks for the reply, reading other threads people are saying they can track your Trainline account. Is this true? And how do they do this? As I have previously bought tickets before boarding the train in other situations. Will they know this and mean I have to go to court?

 

[AlterEgo]

Thanks for the reply, reading other threads people are saying they can track your Trainline account. Is this true? And how do they do this?

They do a subject access request to the company for your purchase history.

As I have previously bought tickets before boarding the train in other situations. Will they know this and mean I have to go to court?

They will likely audit your account to see if there is anything suspicious in the purchase history. This may include seeing how often you have purchased tickets just before exiting a barrier (as they would be able to tell from the purchase time and scan time). Chiltern look upon this quite dimly because they know this behaviour is indicative of people who only pay when challenged, either by coming across staff, or by realising the barriers are closed at the destination.

Chiltern may be amenable to an out of court settlement but it depends on the extent and nature of what has happened, and you should wait for their letter.

 

[A44]

They do a subject access request to the company for your purchase history.


They will likely audit your account to see if there is anything suspicious in the purchase history. This may include seeing how often you have purchased tickets just before exiting a barrier (as they would be able to tell from the purchase time and scan time). Chiltern look upon this quite dimly because they know this behaviour is indicative of people who only pay when challenged, either by coming across staff, or by realising the barriers are closed at the destination.

Chiltern may be amenable to an out of court settlement but it depends on the extent and nature of what has happened, and you should wait for their letter.

Thanks again, I’ll be back when I receive the letter. Hopefully it gets resolved out of court as I suppose it’s easier for all parties and will make sure to buy tickets before the train every time now.

 

[John R]

The comment “usually I will just buy one on the train” is potentially relevant. Given there are ticket purchase facilities at Solihull, you have been committing an offence every time you have done this. Any investigation might try to determine whether this has been done innocently, or whether it has involved purchase of tickets only when a check appeared imminent (ie with fraudulent intent).

 

[Hadders]

The comment “usually I will just buy one on the train” is potentially relevant. Given there are ticket purchase facilities at Solihull, you have been committing an offence every time you have done this. Any investigation might try to determine whether this has been done innocently, or whether it has involved purchase of tickets only when a check appeared imminent (ie with fraudulent intent).

Does I usually buy on the train mean:

I buy a ticket from the guard when they come round, or
I use my phone to buy a ticket on the trainline app when I see a guard checking tickets, or
I get on the train and immediately buy a ticket on my phone using the trainline app
(Other phone apps are available)

Either way you must be in possession of a ticket before you board a train.

 

[MotCO]

To the OP: If you usually catch a train from the same station and try to buy a ticket on line, why could you not get a signal this time when presumably you could previously get a signal. Was there wi-fi on the train, which presumably could give you a signal? Given that the train journey is probably over 10 minutes, why did you not have time to try to purchase on-line again?

TIL may well be asking you these questions in due course, so you may want to think about this, and maybe make a few notes whilst the episode is still fresh in your mind.

 

[A44]

Does I usually buy on the train mean:

I buy a ticket from the guard when they come round, or
I use my phone to buy a ticket on the trainline app when I see a guard checking tickets, or
I get on the train and immediately buy a ticket on my phone using the trainline app
(Other phone apps are available)

Either way you must be in possession of a ticket before you board a train.

By “I usually buy on the train” I meant if other times in situations when I couldn’t buy a ticket yet I just buy it on the train, however this specific time my data wasn’t working. I only really use the train during rush hour so it’s pointless not buying a ticket anyway as the gates are always down. But I now realise I have to get a ticket before boarding the train.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Oct 2023 ==

To the OP: If you usually catch a train from the same station and try to buy a ticket on line, why could you not get a signal this time when presumably you could previously get a signal. Was there wi-fi on the train, which presumably could give you a signal? Given that the train journey is probably over 10 minutes, why did you not have time to try to purchase on-line again?

TIL may well be asking you these questions in due course, so you may want to think about this, and maybe make a few notes whilst the episode is still fresh in your mind.

Usually I just buy one at the platform while I wait but that day I was late so I just rushed on, usually I can buy one on the train that has stops, however this train went straight from Solihull to moor street and I only got signal at certain parts of the journey and each time I went to purchase it annoyingly failed. In hindsight I should probably get the ticket before I get to the station, but I’ve been doing it like this for ages so it’s sort’ve ingrained in my head to buy the ticket at the platform as stupid as that sounds.

 

[Llanigraham]

By “I usually buy on the train” I meant if other times in situations when I couldn’t buy a ticket yet I just buy it on the train, however this specific time my data wasn’t working. I only really use the train during rush hour so it’s pointless not buying a ticket anyway as the gates are always down. But I now realise I have to get a ticket before boarding the train.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Oct 2023 ==


Usually I just buy one at the platform while I wait but that day I was late so I just rushed on, usually I can buy one on the train that has stops, however this train went straight from Solihull to moor street and I only got signal at certain parts of the journey and each time I went to purchase it annoyingly failed. In hindsight I should probably get the ticket before I get to the station, but I’ve been doing it like this for ages so it’s sort’ve ingrained in my head to buy the ticket at the platform as stupid as that sounds.

There is no "probably" about it!
If there are facilities at the station you board that take the method of payment you use then by Law you are required to possess a ticket before you get on the train.