Intent of prosecution from southeastern

[Micheal3709]

Hello,

My friend referred me to this website for help.

I recently booked a ticket from Maze Hill to London Bridge using a 25–30 Railcard. When I arrived at London Bridge, I scanned my ticket at the barrier using the scanner provided by a station officer. He asked to see my Railcard, and I honestly told him that I did not have one.

He then began asking for my personal details. I pleaded with him, but he started threatening to call the police. Eventually, I provided him with my information.

Yesterday, I received the attached letter regarding the incident. I am unsure how to respond to it or how I might settle the matter outside of court. I would really appreciate your guidance.

They are also asking for my National Insurance number, occupation, date of birth, and full name. I was told I need to fill in those details as well, I don’t know why they are asking me for my NI and occupation.

Thank you for your support.

 

[WesternLancer]

Hello,

My friend referred me to this website for help.

I recently booked a ticket from Maze Hill to London Bridge using a 25–30 Railcard. When I arrived at London Bridge, I scanned my ticket at the barrier using the scanner provided by a station officer. He asked to see my Railcard, and I honestly told him that I did not have one.

He then began asking for my personal details. I pleaded with him, but he started threatening to call the police. Eventually, I provided him with my information.

Yesterday, I received the attached letter regarding the incident. I am unsure how to respond to it or how I might settle the matter outside of court. I would really appreciate your guidance.

They are also asking for my National Insurance number, occupation, date of birth, and full name. I was told I need to fill in those details as well, I don’t know why they are asking me for my NI and occupation.

Thank you for your support.

They want details like that to guard against people who give fake details. Plus it’s easier to track you if it went to court and you tried to avoid paying a court fine. Eg set up an attachment of earnings order. But your objective should be to avoid court and seek an out of court settlement. That means co operating with them, so by not filing in the details you risk being seen as uncooperative, which would serve to presumably reduce your chances of a settlement.

Also so you are aware
It’s a separate offence to refuse to give your name and address to a member of railway staff in these circumstances.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Apr 2025 ==

You will get advice here on how best to respond.

 

[RyanOPlasty]

They want details like that to guard against people who give fake details. Plus it’s easier to track you if it went to court and you tried to avoid paying a court fine. Eg set up an attachment of earnings order. But your objective should be to avoid court and seek an out of court settlement. That means co operating with them, so by not filing in the details you risk being seen as uncooperative, which would serve to presumably reduce your chances of a settlement.

Also so you are aware
It’s a separate offence to refuse to give your name and address to a member of railway staff in these circumstances.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Apr 2025 ==

You will get advice here on how best to respond.

National Insurance fraud is a significant problem, and the number should not be used to verify identity. Gov.uk explains why.
To protect my privacy and protect myself from fraud, I would never provide my own National Insurance number without a legitimate reason, and in this case, it is unneccesary.

 

[AlterEgo]

You don’t need to tell them your occupation or NI number, I agree. Southeastern settle every time, pretty much, so I wouldn’t have any concerns about not “being cooperative”. They have no business in knowing either of these things whatsoever,

Give them your name, address and date of birth and that’s it.

 

[Micheal3709]

They want details like that to guard against people who give fake details. Plus it’s easier to track you if it went to court and you tried to avoid paying a court fine. Eg set up an attachment of earnings order. But your objective should be to avoid court and seek an out of court settlement. That means co operating with them, so by not filing in the details you risk being seen as uncooperative, which would serve to presumably reduce your chances of a settlement.

Also so you are aware
It’s a separate offence to refuse to give your name and address to a member of railway staff in these circumstances.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Apr 2025 ==

You will get advice here on how best to respond.

Yeah I later gave them my details. Thank you for your reply

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Apr 2025 ==

National Insurance fraud is a significant problem, and the number should not be used to verify identity. Gov.uk explains why.
To protect my privacy and protect myself from fraud, I would never provide my own National Insurance number without a legitimate reason, and in this case, it is unneccesary.

Thank you so much. So I should just write a comment and explain what really happen and tell them I want to settle the matter out of court right?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Apr 2025 ==

You don’t need to tell them your occupation or NI number, I agree. Southeastern settle every time, pretty much, so I wouldn’t have any concerns about not “being cooperative”. They have no business in knowing either of these things whatsoever,

Give them your name, address and date of birth and that’s it.

Okay thank you

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Apr 2025 ==

Hello,

My friend referred me to this website for help.

I recently booked a ticket from Maze Hill to London Bridge using a 25–30 Railcard. When I arrived at London Bridge, I scanned my ticket at the barrier using the scanner provided by a station officer. He asked to see my Railcard, and I honestly told him that I did not have one.

He then began asking for my personal details. I pleaded with him, but he started threatening to call the police. Eventually, I provided him with my information.

Yesterday, I received the attached letter regarding the incident. I am unsure how to respond to it or how I might settle the matter outside of court. I would really appreciate your guidance.

They are also asking for my National Insurance number, occupation, date of birth, and full name. I was told I need to fill in those details as well, I don’t know why they are asking me for my NI and occupation.

Thank you for your support.

Please how do I reply to this letter?

 

[30907]

Thank you so much. So I should just write a comment and explain what really happen and tell them I want to settle the matter out of court right?

You need to ask them not tell them! Search for posts on here by longstanding member Hadders - they will include suggestions of points to make in your reply.

Also, bear in mind that they routinely check travel histories, so if you have cheated the railway before expect them to know and be careful how you reply.

 

[Micheal3709]

Please someone should proofread this for me. Thank you

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing in response to the letter I received regarding a travel irregularity that occurred on the Xxx of March.

Firstly, I would like to sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and any cost this incident may have caused Southeastern. I deeply regret my actions and the situation that led to this issue.

On the xxxx of March, I booked a ticket from Maze Hill using a 25–30 Railcard, though I did not have a Railcard.

Upon arriving at London Bridge, I scanned my ticket using the scanner provided by the station officer. He requested to see my Railcard, and I was honest in telling him that I did not have one. He then asked for my details, which I provided.

I fully accept responsibility for my actions and would like to respectfully request the opportunity to settle this matter out of court. I am willing to pay the outstanding fare and administrative costs associated with the case.

Please let me know the next steps I should take to resolve this issue. Once again, I am truly sorry for the inconvenience caused, and I assure you this will not happen again.

Kind regards,

 

[Haywain]

the day of my graduation, I was on my way to visit a sick friend. That evening, several trains on my usual route were cancelled, which caused a lot of disruption.

None if this is relevant or of interest to the train company, and some of it reads as diverting blame. Take it out.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Please someone should proofread this for me. Thank you

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing in response to the letter I received regarding a travel irregularity that occurred on the Xxx of March.

Firstly, I would like to sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and any cost this incident may have caused Southeastern. I deeply regret my actions and the situation that led to this issue.

On the xxxx of March, the day of my graduation, I was on my way to visit a sick friend. That evening, several trains on my usual route were cancelled, which caused a lot of disruption. In an effort to get to London Bridge, I booked a ticket from Maze Hill using a 25–30 Railcard, though I did not have a Railcard.

Upon arriving at London Bridge, I scanned my ticket using the scanner provided by the station officer. He requested to see my Railcard, and I was honest in telling him that I did not have one. He then asked for my details, which I provided.

I fully accept responsibility for my actions and would like to respectfully request the opportunity to settle this matter out of court. I am willing to pay any outstanding fare and administrative costs associated with the case.

Please let me know the next steps I should take to resolve this issue. Once again, I am truly sorry for the inconvenience caused, and I assure you this will not happen again.

Kind regards,

I'm not sure how it's relevant that the incident was on the day of your graduation, so I would miss that out.

And it's our general view that the railway wants to be reassured that you won't fare dodge again. It's hard to prove what you will do in future, but you should at least confirm that you won't do it again.

 

[Haywain]

pay any outstanding fare

Any? There is, undoubtedly, an outstanding fare - try "the outstanding fare".

 

[Micheal3709]

Please someone should proofread this for me. Thank you

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing in response to the letter I received regarding a travel irregularity that occurred on the Xxx of March.

Firstly, I would like to sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and any cost this incident may have caused Southeastern. I deeply regret my actions and the situation that led to this issue.

On the xxxx of March, I booked a ticket from Maze Hill using a 25–30 Railcard, though I did not have a Railcard.

Upon arriving at London Bridge, I scanned my ticket using the scanner provided by the station officer. He requested to see my Railcard, and I was honest in telling him that I did not have one. He then asked for my details, which I provided.

I fully accept responsibility for my actions and would like to respectfully request the opportunity to settle this matter out of court. I am willing to pay any outstanding fare and administrative costs associated with the case.

Please let me know the next steps I should take to resolve this issue. Once again, I am truly sorry for the inconvenience caused, and I assure you this will not happen again.

Kind regards,

I have edited it and remove the graduation part and my sick friend. Is this edited okay to be sent to them please?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Apr 2025 ==

None if this is relevant or of interest to the train company, and some of it reads as diverting blame. Take it out.

Done have edited it. Please proof read again. Thank you

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Apr 2025 ==

Any? There is, undoubtedly, an outstanding fare - try "the outstanding fare".

Done have edited it. Please proof read again. Thank you

 

[Haywain]

I have edited it and remove the graduation part and my sick friend. Is this edited okay to be sent to them please?

I think you need to do two things to the letter: say that it won't happen again, and briefly say why you did add a discount you were not entitled to ("a foolish or misguided attempt to save money" perhaps?). And, as previously mentioned, it should be the outstanding fare, not any outstanding fare - there is no question that a fare is outstanding.

 

[Micheal3709]

I'm not sure how it's relevant that the incident was on the day of your graduation, so I would miss that out.

And it's our general view that the railway wants to be reassured that you won't fare dodge again. It's hard to prove what you will do in future, but you should at least confirm that you won't do it again.

Done have edited it. Please proof read again. Thank you

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Done have edited it. Please proof read again. Thank you

I now realise that you have always finished with

I assure you this will not happen again.

which meets what I thought was missing. Sorry for missing it! But if it's easy for me to miss it, then might the railway miss it as well? I think you could do worse than follow @Haywain 's advice:

I think you need to do two things to the letter: say that it won't happen again, and briefly say why you did add a discount you were not entitled to ("a foolish or misguided attempt to save money" perhaps?

 

[Micheal3709]

Please guys this the reason why the incident happen which I want to add it to the comment. Is this okay?

The incident on the XXX of March happened due to financial hardship. I did not have enough funds to afford the full ticket fare to attend my graduation ceremony a very important and once in a lifetime event for me. In a moment of poor judgment and under pressure, I chose to book a discounted ticket using a 25–30 Railcard, though I did not have a Railcard. I truly regret this decision and understand that it was wrong.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Apr 2025 ==

I think you need to do two things to the letter: say that it won't happen again, and briefly say why you did add a discount you were not entitled to ("a foolish or misguided attempt to save money" perhaps?). And, as previously mentioned, it should be the outstanding fare, not any outstanding fare - there is no question that a fare is outstanding.

Okay. This what I wanna add to it. Is it okay ?

Please guys this the reason why the incident happen which I want to add it to the comment. Is this okay?

The incident on the XXX of March happened due to financial hardship. I did not have enough funds to afford the full ticket fare to attend my graduation ceremony a very important and once in a lifetime event for me. In a moment of poor judgment and under pressure, I chose to book a discounted ticket using a 25–30 Railcard, though I did not have a Railcard. I truly regret this decision and understand that it was wrong.

 

[Haywain]

The incident on the XXX of March happened due to financial hardship. I did not have enough funds to afford the full ticket fare to attend my graduation ceremony a very important and once in a lifetime event for me. In a moment of poor judgment and under pressure, I chose to book a discounted ticket using a 25–30 Railcard, though I did not have a Railcard. I truly regret this decision and understand that it was wrong.

Try this version.

 

[Hadders]

It's ok to provide a reason why this happened but Southeastern really won't care what the reason was.

If Southeastern search your online ticket purchasing history will they find other examoples of invalid tickets. While they havent asked you about other occasions if you have done this before they will want to factor the costs of these journeys into the settlement cost.