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invalid railcard

Joined
30 Aug 2026
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23
Location
stockwell
I got caught short faring from Vauxhall to London Waterloo when I actually came back from Selhurst. I got pulled over as I didn't have the ticket so went through the barriers, and the revenue protection team pulled me over. They asked for my details and took a picture of my train line ticket. I've been using the 16-17 saver card for the past 2 weeks when I should be using the 16-25 saver card (I don't have a railway card yet). Will they only check my trainline history? Before those 2 weeks i had been using my little A16 Plus Oyster card and returned it 2 weeks ago, and they've never pulled me on the card, so will they investigate that too?
 
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methecooldude

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14 Dec 2015
Messages
419
I got caught short faring from Vauxhall to London Waterloo when I actually came back from Selhurst. I got pulled over as I didn't have the ticket so went through the barriers, and the revenue protection team pulled me over. They asked for my details and took a picture of my train line ticket. I've been using the 16-17 saver card for the past 2 weeks when I should be using the 16-25 saver card (I don't have a railway card yet). Will they only check my trainline history? Before those 2 weeks i had been using my little A16 Plus Oyster card and returned it 2 weeks ago, and they've never pulled me on the card, so will they investigate that too?
This post is very confusing.

Did you have a ticket (regardless of what it is) or not?
Did you have a railcard (regardless of its type) or not?
 
Joined
30 Aug 2026
Messages
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Location
stockwell
im 23
It may be helpful if the op told us their actual age?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

This post is very confusing.

Did you have a ticket (regardless of what it is) or not?
Did you have a railcard (regardless of its type) or not?
i had a wrong ticket and i don't have a railcard. i was thinking of making one

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

The matter is with SWR. I'm just worried what the potential outcome will be
 
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Swedenorer

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28 Sep 2025
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Hants
Put simply you did not have a valid ticket at all. You could be prosecuted for this one offence and you would be found guilty.

Alternatively SWR could look at your purchase history and offer you a settlement based on two anytime return fares for every return journey you have made with no credit for any fares actually paid. If they were all from Selhurst to Waterloo that would be £14 per journey plus an admin fee of about £150 so for two five day weeks call it £430.

Whether they will investigate the Oyster card I don't know. Did you mention this to the SWR staff?
 
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I didn’t mention the oyster to them. I was using it 3 weeks ago but returned the oyster to the person. Been using Trainline the past 14 days

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

When you mean I’d be prosecuted for the offence would it appear on my record and affects my DBS
 

Haywain

Veteran Member
Joined
3 Feb 2013
Messages
24,526
When you mean I’d be prosecuted for the offence would it appear on my record and affects my DBS
A criminal conviction is a matter of public record, so is on your record. If you are concerned about a DBS check, then it would be best to stop breaking the law.
 

Kite159

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Unless you mentioned the Oyster they wouldn't know anything about it.

All you can do is wait for them to write to you in the post, as it will probably be likely they look at any other purchases of Vauxhall - Waterloo tickets on the account.
 
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I've only done that purchase once which was yesterday. I've been using trainline to pay from my local station to waterloo but i've been using the 16-17 saver card instead of the 16-25 saver card and I don't have a railway card which I didn't know before.
 

AlterEgo

Verified Rep - Wingin' It! Paul Lucas
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I've learnt from this situation and won't do it again. How long woud it be on my public record?
If you are convicted, forever - for all time. Someone in the year 3000 will be able to see it when they look at historic records.

What gets disclosed on a DBS is a different matter though. Bylaw convictions are non-recordable on the Police National Computer and will not appear on a Basic or Standard DBS, but may appear in some circumstances on an Enhanced DBS.

But you're well ahead of yourself here. If you cooperate with the train comapny and pay them the losses you caused them they will not prosecute you.
 

MotCO

Established Member
Joined
25 Aug 2014
Messages
6,086
How long do you think it will take Southwestern railway to get back to me?

If SWR want to take you to Court, they have 6 months in which to do it. Therefore, they will be writing to you fairly soon, probably 3 - 4 weeks depending on their workload, (but it could be longer if they start researching your Trainline account), in order that they stay within the 6 month limit.
 

Fawkes Cat

Established Member
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8 May 2017
Messages
5,258
SWR could look at your purchase history and offer you a settlement based on two anytime return single fares for every return journey you have made with no credit for any fares actually paid. If they were all from Selhurst to Waterloo that would be £14 per journey plus an admin fee of about £150 so for two five day weeks call it £430.
Just correcting a typo, I think.
 
Joined
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Messages
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Location
stockwell
If SWR want to take you to Court, they have 6 months in which to do it. Therefore, they will be writing to you fairly soon, probably 3 - 4 weeks depending on their workload, (but it could be longer if they start researching your Trainline account), in order that they stay within the 6 month limit.
Do you think they will research the trainline account or you think they are just going to deal with this single offence? I assumed they'd write to me this week
 

MotCO

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Do you think they will research the trainline account or you think they are just going to deal with this single offence? I assumed they'd write to me this week
Whenever they write to you, come back here for advice before responding.
 
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Because it’s only 2 weeks of journey history on Trainline you think it’s very unlikely they will prosecute me and will expect an off court settlement pay?
 

MotCO

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Because it’s only 2 weeks of journey history on Trainline you think it’s very unlikely they will prosecute me and will expect an off court settlement pay?
If you actively engage with them, show them you have learnt your lesson, and in their opinion you have shown that you will not reoffend, then you should be offered as settlement. If you string them along with lies, obscurification, and misleading information (not that I am saying you are doing this), then they won't be so inclined. Two weeks' 'bad record' is not one of the worse cases they will have seen - they have seen much worse where they have still offered a settlement. If you are offered a settlement, they will expect the sum to be paid in one go.
 
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Location
stockwell
How will I be able to tell them I have learnt my lesson and so forth?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

They didn't catch me with the 16 plus oyster card. The revenue protection guy only took a picture of my false ticket from vauxhal to waterloo. Do you think they will use cameras to check me using the 16 plus oyster card although there is no link to the trainline account?
 

John R

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6,078
How will I be able to tell them I have learnt my lesson and so forth?
When they write to you, you write back with a very polite and apologetic tone, say you've learnt your lesson, and you promise not to do it again. And then ask very nicely if they would consider an out of court settlement instead of prosecution. Preferably in your own words, as AI letters we see hear can be a bit cringy, are easy to spot, and IMO don't show the sincerity you are looking to convey in the letter.

Sometimes though, they offer you a settlement straight away, which is why it's important for you to come back here and show us the letter when you get it, and also so we can review any draft you write before you send it.
 
Joined
30 Aug 2026
Messages
23
Location
stockwell
When they write to you, you write back with a very polite and apologetic tone, say you've learnt your lesson, and you promise not to do it again. And then ask very nicely if they would consider an out of court settlement instead of prosecution. Preferably in your own words, as AI letters we see hear can be a bit cringy, are easy to spot, and IMO don't show the sincerity you are looking to convey in the letter.

Sometimes though, they offer you a settlement straight away, which is why it's important for you to come back here and show us the letter when you get it, and also so we can review any draft you write before you send it.
Will do thank you very much. My situation isn’t as serious as other situations you’ve observed right?
 

Fawkes Cat

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8 May 2017
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5,258
Will do thank you very much. My situation isn’t as serious as other situations you’ve observed right?
It's pretty much standard in terms of what we see here.
Although you need to know that if it does go to court, you would end up with an expensive fine, and for certain jobs etc. which require a high level of honesty you would have to declare it to an employer.

So while we have seen more serious cases, don't think you can ignore it or treat it lightly. Engage with the process and everything will probably end up OK: ignore it and hope it will go away and you could blow it up into a real problem.
 

SuspectUsual

Established Member
Joined
11 Jul 2018
Messages
6,685
Start saving, and ensure you buy the correct ticket. And make sure you keep checking your post for the letter.

And don’t delete your Trainline account thinking that’ll mean the train company won’t be able to check it. All that would happen would be you’d not be able to see your data and they still would
 

WesternLancer

Veteran Member
Joined
12 Apr 2019
Messages
14,991
i had a wrong ticket and i don't have a railcard. i was thinking of making one

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

The matter is with SWR. I'm just worried what the potential outcome will be
So you were thinking of forging a Railcard?
Really stupid idea.
 

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