Intent of prosecution EMAIL

[sara shah]

Hi guys. I got an intent of prosectution letter from Chiltern Railways. I sent them an email as they gave me their email address stating what had happened and asked for an out of court settlement. I sent the email and its been nearly 2 weeks. Does anyone know if there reply will be via email or letter or is it both. Thank you for all the help!

 

[notmyrealname]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

Could you show us the letter that you had please, so the pros here can understand what's happening? Make sure you cover up your name, address and any reference numbers so you keep this anonymous.

 

[sara shah]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

Could you show us the letter that you had please, so the pros here can understand what's happening? Make sure you cover up your name, address and any reference numbers so you keep this anonymous.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Mar 2025 ==

Hi, welcome to the forum.

Could you show us the letter that you had please, so the pros here can understand what's happening? Make sure you cover up your name, address and any reference numbers so you keep this anonymous.

Hey i just replied with it thank you so much! Im just nervous as someone last year said they got an automated reply. I didnt but the email didnt bounce back of anything

 

[John R]

You might wish to ask the moderation team to allow you to change your user name if it is your real name. You can report on your first message to get in contact with them, and explain what you want to do.

 

[sara shah]

You might wish to ask the moderation team to allow you to change your user name if it is your real name. You can report on your first message to get in contact with them, and explain what you want to do.

Hey this isnt my name thank u

 

[addyt]

I got an automated response when I emailed Chiltern.

 

[sara shah]

I got an automated response when I emailed Chiltern.

Did you get it automatically and was this recent? Also did you email the same address and did u use Capital letter like stated in the letter?

 

[Hadders]

If you're concerned that the email might not have arrived then I'd print a copy of the email and post it to them at their address.

 

[sara shah]

If you're concerned that the email might not have arrived then I'd print a copy of the email and post it to them at their address.

Thank you! But theres no address do you know how I can?

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you! But theres no address do you know how I can?

It’s the Freepost one on the top left hand corner of the letter you uploaded in post 3. Despite no postcode I believe that is an address you can send to. No stamp required I assume.

 

[addyt]

L

Did you get it automatically and was this recent? Also did you email the same address and did u use Capital letter like stated in the letter?

It was recently, I used all lower case and I got an instant auto response.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

If you're concerned that the email might not have arrived then I'd print a copy of the email and post it to them at their address.

Another obvious step is to send a further copy of your email: forward the one you originally sent, and add a note to explain that you are worried that it wasn't received first time out as you didn't get an acknowledgement.

It might also be worth typing the email address in again from scratch; rather than using the address you already have: I can well imagine that if you got the bit after the @ right but the first bit wrong then it might go to a catch-all address which doesn't get checked very often.

 

[sara shah]

L

It was recently, I used all lower case and I got an instant auto response.

Thank you! Did you receive a reply. Hoping it went well for you

 

[sara shah]

Another obvious step is to send a further copy of your email: forward the one you originally sent, and add a note to explain that you are worried that it wasn't received first time out as you didn't get an acknowledgement.

It might also be worth typing the email address in again from scratch; rather than using the address you already have: I can well imagine that if you got the bit after the @ right but the first bit wrong then it might go to a catch-all address which doesn't get checked very often.

Hey turned out the automated email of them receiving it was in my spam. Im still waiting on a reply. Do you know wheether it would be an email back or do they send a letter? Thank you for all the help!

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Hey turned out the automated email of them receiving it was in my spam. Im still waiting on a reply. Do you know wheether it would be an email back or do they send a letter? Thank you for all the help!

Sorry, I don't know. You will have to keep an eye out on both your email and your letter box to see how they respond
In the circumstances, don't forget to check your spam, and be prepared to wait for as much as six months for Chiltern to get back to you.

 

[Hadders]

Hey turned out the automated email of them receiving it was in my spam. Im still waiting on a reply. Do you know wheether it would be an email back or do they send a letter? Thank you for all the help!

If you've had an automated reply then they've received your email. It often takes several weeks for them to reply. They are a small team that deals with hundreds of cases at any one time. It also takes time for them to obtain data from the likes of Trainline etc.

Unfortunately, you just have to wait until your case comes to the top of their pile.

 

[sara shah]

Hi guys, my 6 months has passed and so has the 90 days for chiltern to reply back to me. I had a notice of intended prosecution letter which i emailed asking for it to be kindly settled out of court. I am so nervous theyve taken it to court before my 6 months ended and i am unaware of this as it takes weeks for court papers to reach me. It was an genuine honest mistake on my behalf and i made that clear in the email. Also it is my first time ive never been in such a situation before. I have seen some people get served court papers and also a penalty fare in one letter and you can choose. I was wondering if anyone has been in the same boat as me? Any advice will be appreciated thank you!

 

[WesternLancer]

Hi guys, my 6 months has passed and so has the 90 days for chiltern to reply back to me. I had a notice of intended prosecution letter which i emailed asking for it to be kindly settled out of court. I am so nervous theyve taken it to court before my 6 months ended and i am unaware of this as it takes weeks for court papers to reach me. It was a genuine honest mistake on my behalf and i made that clear in the email. Also it is my first time ive never been in such a situation before. I have seen some people get served court papers and also a penalty fare in one letter and you can choose. I was wondering if anyone has been in the same boat as me? Any advice will be appreciated thank you!

You could write to Chiltern and ask if they received your response (enclosed another copy) and ask when you might expect to hear from them as you are still keen to resolve the matter without court action.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

You could write to Chiltern and ask if they received your response (enclosed another copy) and ask when you might expect to hear from them as you are still keen to resolve the matter without court action.

Although this is inviting the railway to ask for an out of court settlement when there is (apparently) no potential court case for the settlement to see off.

It all depends what's most important to the OP: if spending as little as possible is the most important thing, then sit tight and don't remind the railway of your existence. But if peace of mind is more important, get in touch with them but accept that you'll probably be lining yourself up to pay an out of court settlement of maybe a couple of hundred pounds (i.e. train fare plus admin of around £150)

 

[sara shah]

You could write to Chiltern and ask if they received your response (enclosed another copy) and ask when you might expect to hear from them as you are still keen to resolve the matter without court action.

Ok I think I will as it was only yesterday that my 6 months passed. Shall I wait a few more days or do it now?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jun 2025 ==

Although this is inviting the railway to ask for an out of court settlement when there is (apparently) no potential court case for the settlement to see off.

It all depends what's most important to the OP: if spending as little as possible is the most important thing, then sit tight and don't remind the railway of your existence. But if peace of mind is more important, get in touch with them but accept that you'll probably be lining yourself up to pay an out of court settlement of maybe a couple of hundred pounds (i.e. train fare plus admin of around £150)

Thank you for your reply. I dont mind paying, i have graduated and started my career, really dont want to be taken to court. My 6 months passed yesterday. Do you think i should email now or wait few days?

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Ok I think I will as it was only yesterday that my 6 months passed. Shall I wait a few more days or do it now?

As you're only just over the six months, you need to know that there could be a letter from the court on its way to you. That's because the six months is for the railway to let the court know that they're going to be prosecuting: the court then needs to let you know, and we all know how slow the post can be at the moment.

So the practical advice is still to keep waiting. Give the court another month to get in touch with you - just in case.

 

[KirkstallOne]

the court then needs to let you know

For a regular summons that is the case, with an SJPN the documents get posted to the court and the defendant at the same time so there shouldn't be much delay after the 6 months has expired.

 

[sara shah]

As you're only just over the six months, you need to know that there could be a letter from the court on its way to you. That's because the six months is for the railway to let the court know that they're going to be prosecuting: the court then needs to let you know, and we all know how slow the post can be at the moment.

So the practical advice is still to keep waiting. Give the court another month to get in touch with you - just in case.

Shall I still email saying I am willing to still settle it out of court? Thank you

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Shall I still email saying I am willing to still settle it out of court? Thank you

As I said, in my view you should give it a few more weeks to see if anything is on its way to you.

 

[sara shah]

As you're only just over the six months, you need to know that there could be a letter from the court on its way to you. That's because the six months is for the railway to let the court know that they're going to be prosecuting: the court then needs to let you know, and we all know how slow the post can be at the moment.

So the practical advice is still to keep waiting. Give the court another month to get in touch with yo

As I said, in my view you should give it a few more weeks to see if anything is on its way to you.

Thank you for all the help. I am just suoer anxious and wanted peace of mind do you think its in my favour if i email and just ask for a follow up? Or is that more harm in my case

 

[WesternLancer]

As you're only just over the six months, you need to know that there could be a letter from the court on its way to you. That's because the six months is for the railway to let the court know that they're going to be prosecuting: the court then needs to let you know, and we all know how slow the post can be at the moment.

So the practical advice is still to keep waiting. Give the court another month to get in touch with you - just in case.

I agree with this. Wait for now.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jun 2025 ==

Thank you for all the help. I am just suoer anxious and wanted peace of mind do you think its in my favour if i email and just ask for a follow up? Or is that more harm in my case

No. Just wait a few weeks for now imho. At least two weeks.

 

[Elecman]

Shall I still email saying I am willing to still settle it out of court? Thank you

It is not in your interest to contact them

 

[sara shah]

It is not in your interest to contact them

Thank you for all the help. I wont contact them im genuinely hoping it doesnt go to court and if they do send me papers they also give me an option of paying a fine as well. I have seen that happen here. But thank you honestly!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jun 2025 ==

I agree with this. Wait for now.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jun 2025 ==


No. Just wait a few weeks for now imho. At least two weeks.

I will thank you. Im hoping theyll contact ne for a fine instead of court, tryna keep optimistic! Thank you for all the help

 

[Hadders]

Thank you for all the help. I wont contact them im genuinely hoping it doesnt go to court and if they do send me papers they also give me an option of paying a fine as well. I have seen that happen here. But thank you honestly!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jun 2025 ==


I will thank you. Im hoping theyll contact ne for a fine instead of court, tryna keep optimistic! Thank you for all the help

Just to be pedantic, you don't want to pay a fine!

A fine can only be imposed by a court as a punishment upon conviction (ie. you are taken to court and plead guilty or plead not guilty and are found guilty after a trial). Whether you have to appear in person or it's dealt with by post without you having to attend if the case is decided in court and you are convicted you'll have to pay a fine.

I assume that you don't want to go to court so what you want to pay is an out of court settlement. This is a sum of money that you pay to the train company and in return they don't prosecute you. Paying an out of court settlement will fee like paying a fine but technically it isn't a fine!

I agree that it's not in your interests to chase Chiltern. If they want to prosecute you then they have to 'lay papers before the court' within six months of the date taking place.

 

[sara shah]

Just to be pedantic, you don't want to pay a fine!

A fine can only be imposed by a court as a punishment upon conviction (ie. you are taken to court and plead guilty or plead not guilty and are found guilty after a trial). Whether you have to appear in person or it's dealt with by post without you having to attend if the case is decided in court and you are convicted you'll have to pay a fine.

I assume that you don't want to go to court so what you want to pay is an out of court settlement. This is a sum of money that you pay to the train company and in return they don't prosecute you. Paying an out of court settlement will fee like paying a fine but technically it isn't a fine!

I agree that it's not in your interests to chase Chiltern. If they want to prosecute you then they have to 'lay papers before the court' within six months of the date taking place.

Yes sorry I want to pay for an out of court settlement which I asked for in the email. I am still hopeful theyll get back to me and its just alot of backlog as it was a genuine honest mistake on my behalf and ive been a loyal customer to them. But I will just have to wait if in 2 weeks I dont receive anything I will email them for a follow up. Thank you for all the help