Late payment of fine

[chgz]

Good day,
I got caught without a railcard in august 2024 and they collected my details and told me to wait for a letter. After some days I had to move for some personal reasons. I kept in contact with my previous housemates and told them to watch out for any letter for me but they didn’t get back to me. I kept reaching out to them and one of my housemates got back to me and took a picture of two letters from the train company (northern railway) from September and October 2024. The first letter was the initial contact letter and the second was a fixed penalty notice stating I need to pay £118.40. I just knew about these letters today(feb 2025) and I promptly paid them but the letter stated that I needed to pay them within 14 days. Please what is going to happen now that I paid late. I’m trying to avoid a criminal conviction. Do I call or email them to explain the reason for the late payment?

 

[Haywain]

Do I call or email them to explain the reason for the late payment?

Yes, as a matter or urgency. It is possible that you have already been prosecuted or papers have been laid at the court.

 

[chgz]

Yes, as a matter or urgency. It is possible that you have already been prosecuted or papers have been laid at the court.

Will I need to pay an out of court settlement after paying the fine today. I am willing to pay anything needed I just need to know what to expect.

 

[Haywain]

Will I need to pay an out of court settlement after paying the fine today. I am willing to pay anything needed I just need to know what to expect.

What you have paid is an out of court settlement but paying it so late means that Northern are at liberty to say it was a limited-time offer and refuse it. Depending on what has happened in the meantime they may ask for more to reflect their increased costs, or they could just return it if the case has gone to court.

 

[chgz]

What you have paid is an out of court settlement but paying it so late means that Northern are at liberty to say it was a limited-time offer and refuse it. Depending on what has happened in the meantime they may ask for more to reflect their increased costs, or they could just return it if the case has gone to court.

If the case has/goes to court is there still an option to settle out of court with them or is my fate sealed?

 

[Haywain]

If the case has/goes to court is there still an option to settle out of court with them or is my fate sealed?

No, a case can be settled at any time prior to conviction.

 

[WesternLancer]

If the case has/goes to court is there still an option to settle out of court with them or is my fate sealed?

Make sure in your contact with them you give a clear up to date correct postal address where you can be contacted over at least the next six months as well as your e mail address.

 

[Hadders]

Normally when a train comoany decides to prosecute you're no longer able to pay the fixed penalty notice. The fact that you were able to pay it, although late, probably means that Northern haven't got round to prosecuting yet.

To be on the safe side I would email Northern, apologising for the lateness in paying the penalty and ask them to confirm that the case is now closed.

 

[chgz]

Make sure in your contact with them you give a clear up to date correct postal address where you can be contacted over at least the next six months as well as your e mail address.

Will do thanks.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Feb 2025 ==

Normally when a train comoany decides to prosecute you're no longer able to pay the fixed penalty notice. The fact that you were able to pay it, although late, probably means that Northern haven't got round to prosecuting yet.

To be on the safe side I would email Northern, apologising for the lateness in paying the penalty and ask them to confirm that the case is now closed.

Thank you for this glimpse of hope, I’ll contact them ASAP

 

[gray1404]

If it transpires that you have been convicted in your absence then you can fill out a statutory declaration

 

[WesternLancer]

If it transpires that you have been convicted in your absence then you can fill out a statutory declaration

Indeed. But the OP would be well advised to check here on best way of going about that (while being mindful there is a short time period in which to do it but advice here would usually be prompt in terms of how best to do this).