Intended prosecution

[dazza01]

Hello
On the 26th July I received a letter outlining I went on a chiltern railway train without a valid ticket. I paid for the ticket on the train which is where an inspector asked for my ID as I purchased the ticket on the train and told me that I can’t do that. When receiving the letter, i put reasoning to what actually happened and explained to them that I was sorry for this matter and I explained To chiltern railway the situation which happened which is where I went on the train and bought my ticket on the train and continued to outline that I am actually sorry for this matter. I also outlined that this situation has given me stress and anxiety as I have been stressed and worried since the day they have sent me this letter and it’s been all on my mind since. I’ve seen quite a few similar situations so is there any help you guys can give me?

 

[jfollows]

Hello, welcome to the forum!

I'm sure we can help you, but first will you please read Please read before posting in Disputes & Prosecutions and follow the guidance? We need to know more details before we advise you, because every case is different, to be sure the advice offered is the best it can be.

 

[WesternLancer]

Hello
On the 26th July I received a letter outlining I went on a chiltern railway train without a valid ticket. I paid for the ticket on the train which is where an inspector asked for my ID as I purchased the ticket on the train and told me that I can’t do that. When receiving the letter, i put reasoning to what actually happened and explained to them that I was sorry for this matter and I explained To chiltern railway the situation which happened which is where I went on the train and bought my ticket on the train and continued to outline that I am actually sorry for this matter. I also outlined that this situation has given me stress and anxiety as I have been stressed and worried since the day they have sent me this letter and it’s been all on my mind since. I’ve seen quite a few similar situations so is there any help you guys can give me?

Hi and welcome

Yes, people will be able to help guide you through the process to help reduce your anxiety and stress and explain what will happen and how to try to avoid being prosecuted for example.

Have you already sent the reply you mention in your post? If you have then you can't change what you have said so it's a case of waiting to see how they respond to your reply. Depending on what their response is, you may need to write to them again. People here can help advise you what to say in any further letters / e-mails to Chiltern Railways and what to expect to happen.

When you get the reply, and if you need advice on it - then post a copy of it here with all of your personal details and ref numbers removed.

In case you don't already know, the reason you committed a ticketing offence is that you are required to buy your ticket for travel before you board the train (unless there is no facility to buy a ticket at the station where you got on), as the inspector presumably explained.

This is because people who deliberately evade their fare often do not buy a ticket until they see someone checking tickets or they see a barrier at the station where they get off, hoping they can get away without buying a ticket if there is no check on the journey. The railway expect you to show you were always going to buy a ticket by expecting you to buy one before you board the train at the start of your journey (this is often called 'Buy before you board')

It would help to know where you got on the train and where you were travelling to.

 

[dazza01]

Hello, welcome to the forum!

I'm sure we can help you, but first will you please read Please read before posting in Disputes & Prosecutions and follow the guidance? We need to know more details before we advise you, because every case is different, to be sure the advice offered is the best it can be.

Hello, my journey was from Wembley stadium to High Wycombe but I bought a ticket from London Marleybone to High Wycombe just because so I can have an E-ticket. I presented a ticket and he told me that buying a ticket after boarding is invalid and he took my details down from my ID and he told me wait for about 8 weeks for a letter that I received about a week ago.

 

[dazza01]

Hi and welcome

Yes, people will be able to help guide you through the process to help reduce your anxiety and stress and explain what will happen and how to try to avoid being prosecuted for example.

Have you already sent the reply you mention in your post? If you have then you can't change what you have said so it's a case of waiting to see how they respond to your reply. Depending on what their response is, you may need to write to them again. People here can help advise you what to say in any further letters / e-mails to Chiltern Railways and what to expect to happen.

When you get the reply, and if you need advice on it - then post a copy of it here with all of your personal details and ref numbers removed.

In case you don't already know, the reason you committed a ticketing offence is that you are required to buy your ticket for travel before you board the train (unless there is no facility to buy a ticket at the station where you got on), as the inspector presumably explained.

This is because people who deliberately evade their fare often do not buy a ticket until they see someone checking tickets or they see a barrier at the station where they get off, hoping they can get away without buying a ticket if there is no check on the journey. The railway expect you to show you were always going to buy a ticket by expecting you to buy one before you board the train at the start of your journey (this is often called 'Buy before you board')

It would help to know where you got on the train and where you were travelling to.

Yes I have already sent my reply. Yes I explained to them while writing the email that when I travel I pay for all of my fares correctly and show them to the inspector. They emailed me saying they would get back to me soon and my journey was From Wembley stadium to high Wycombe but bought a ticket from London Marleybone to High Wycombe.

 

[John R]

Yes I have already sent my reply. Yes I explained to them while writing the email that when I travel I pay for all of my fares correctly and show them to the inspector. They emailed me saying they would get back to me soon and my journey was From Wembley stadium to high Wycombe but bought a ticket from London Marleybone to High Wycombe.

Does the last sentence mean that they have acknowledged that you started short (ie joined at Wembley Stadium, having purchased a ticket from Marylebone)?

Given a single ticket from Marylebone is over 40% more expensive (13.10 v 9.20 if I have interpreted brfares correctly), it does appear a rather unusual thing to do and one I might have expected some challenge over.

 

[dazza01]

Does the last sentence mean that they have acknowledged that you started short (ie joined at Wembley Stadium, having purchased a ticket from Marylebone)?

Given a single ticket from Marylebone is over 40% more expensive (13.10 v 9.20 if I have interpreted brfares correctly), it does appear a rather unusual thing to do and one I might have expected some challenge over.

Yeah I purchased a ticket from Marleybone to Wycombe but went on from Wembley stadium. I showed them the ticket that I bought in my response

 

[John R]

Yeah I purchased a ticket from Marleybone to Wycombe but went on from Wembley stadium. I showed them the ticket that I bought in my response

There’s no debate that you had a ticket from Marylebone to High Wycombe. The problem you have is that you were picked up because the purchase time of the ticket was after the train you caught left Marylebone. So if you did board there (which they suspected, and would be a reasonable assumption to make given the ticket you held) then you committed an offence, by boarding a train without a valid ticket.

 

[dazza01]

There’s no debate that you had a ticket from Marylebone to High Wycombe. The problem you have is that you were picked up because the purchase time of the ticket was after the train you caught left Marylebone. So if you did board there (which they suspected, and would be a reasonable assumption to make given the ticket you held) then you committed an offence, by boarding a train without a valid ticket.

Dammm what you think is going to happen

 

[WesternLancer]

Yeah I purchased a ticket from Marleybone to Wycombe but went on from Wembley stadium. I showed them the ticket that I bought in my response

But what is key is did you buy the ticket even if it was from Marylebone BEFORE you got on at Wembley? If you did and you can convince them that you got on at Wembley then your ticket was valid I suspect.

So look at the time ticket bought and time train departed Wembley. You probably know where you bought it. On the train or on the station?

Is there anything you can use to prove you were at Wembley? Eg phone log for movement, an address you have been at in Wembley etc. might help convince them if you have it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Aug 2024 ==

You basically need to wait and see how they respond to what you sent them.

 

[dazza01]

But what is key is did you buy the ticket even if it was from Marylebone BEFORE you got on at Wembley? If you did and you can convince them that you got on at Wembley then your ticket was valid I suspect.

So look at the time ticket bought and time train departed Wembley. You probably know where you bought it. On the train or on the station?

Is there anything you can use to prove you were at Wembley? Eg phone log for movement, an address you have been at in Wembley etc. might help convince them if you have it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Aug 2024 ==

You basically need to wait and see how they respond to what you sent them.

I bought the ticket whilst I was on the train to High Wycombe

 

[island]

I bought the ticket whilst I was on the train to High Wycombe

Tickets need to be purchased before getting on the train. Because you chose not to do this, you committed a criminal offence for which you could be prosecuted.

As others say, you may be able to resolve this by paying an out of court settlement (which is not a fine) but you will have to wait for their next reply and see what they say.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

As you've already sent you're reply to Chiltern there isn't really anything that can be done until you hear back from them.

Historically Chiltern has been one of the harder train companies to deal with although they so seem to be taking a more pragmatic approach of late. Ordinarily, I expect they will offer you an out of court settlement but that does depend on exactly what you've told them in your reply.

Caome back here when you hear back from Chiltern and we can assist with next steps.

 

[dazza01]

Welcome to the forum!

As you've already sent you're reply to Chiltern there isn't really anything that can be done until you hear back from them.

Historically Chiltern has been one of the harder train companies to deal with although they so seem to be taking a more pragmatic approach of late. Ordinarily, I expect they will offer you an out of court settlement but that does depend on exactly what you've told them in your reply.

Caome back here when you hear back from Chiltern and we can assist with next steps.

Hello

Thank you, I basically just said what happened when I got Approached by the inspector, I also said that I was sorry for this matter and I guaranteed that this situation would never happen again. Furthermore, I explained that since this situation, I have always been paying my fare tickets where ever I go and just said this Dosent happen again. I also told them about my mental state and that this situation has made me have anxiety and stress as this is how I have been feeling since I got the letter.