Letter from Prosecutions about Railcard

[rs2110]

So the other week I went to Cambridge, using my 16-25 rail card. However, when returning home I was asked by a ticket officer to show my rail card, upon realising I'd seemed to have misplaced the half that had the date on. However, I know for a fact that it was in date because I could remember the expiry date, and also received an email a few days after the event, telling me that it was about to expire.

I was given a little slip of paper that said I had to send a copy of my rail card to the prosecutions office in Kings Cross, however I was moving into University in the weeks after this event and it completely slipped my mind as I was stressed out with making sure I was ready.

The other day I received a letter reminding that I needed to send it to them, otherwise it may result in prosecution.

My question is - what do I do? I've lost the half of my rail card that had the expiry date on it in Cambridge so how do I prove to them it was a valid rail card? I'm extremely worried as I don't want to end up going to court and being given a criminal record. Would I be able to phone them and tell them the situation, and hope that I can pay the 1/3 taken off by the rail card and extra money on top of that?

 

[jon0844]

Do you have the emails? That could be a start, if not the only evidence you have.

 

[rs2110]

Do you have the emails? That could be a start, if not the only evidence you have.

Yes, I do still have the email about my rail card expiring. The only thing I would be worried about is if they chose not to believe it, instead thinking perhaps I got the email ages ago, and re sent it to myself to look as though it make my rail card valid. Although, I guess if I did that it would say that the email was forwarded from my email rather than their company's ones.

 

[Merseysider]

Since you first obtained the railcard, have you sent any delay repay claims off by email and included a photo of the ticket (and railcard)? If yes, hunt it down and use the attachment as proof you own(ed) one.
If no, is there any sort of ID number or ref or barcode on the half you have now?

 

[rs2110]

Since you first obtained the railcard, have you sent any delay repay claims off by email and included a photo of the ticket (and railcard)? If yes, hunt it down and use the attachment as proof you own(ed) one.
If no, is there any sort of ID number or ref or barcode on the half you have now?

No I haven't done that, I've never needed too. Yes on the photocard half there is what I'm assuming is an ID number, which should also appear on the half that bears the validity date to prove it is yours. It looks like this:
YOU 00550274

Is there anything I can do with this to show it was in date?

 

[DelayRepay]

How dis you pay for your railcard? Do you still have the receipt?

 

[rs2110]

How dis you pay for your railcard? Do you still have the receipt?

My dad bought it for me in October last year, so no I dont think so

 

[island]

For the avoidance of confusion, the card "that bears the validity date" is the Railcard. The card with your photo on is a Photocard. Properly, they are not two halves of a Railcard.

 

[DelayRepay]

My dad bought it for me in October last year, so no I dont think so

The only document which proves you had a railcard is the railcard its self. Unfortunately there are a number of dishonest people caught every day using railcard discounted tickets who do not own a railcard - in some cases they are not even eligible for one.

I think you need to gather up as much evidence as you can that the railcard did exist. As they had your email address, look back through your emails from the time it was purchased to see if you received confirmation. Ask your dad to do the same.

I would send a letter explaining the situation along with whatever evidence you can find, proof that you have now bought a replacement card (I assume you have?) and a sincere apology for what happened.

You may want to offer a sum of money to cover the TOC's expenses in dealing with your mistake - however I will leave it to others to advise whether you should offer money now or just give an explanation and see what happened.

 

[island]

My dad bought it for me in October last year

He was issued a receipt when he bought it. Can you produce that?

 

[rs2110]

The only document which proves you had a railcard is the railcard its self. Unfortunately there are a number of dishonest people caught every day using railcard discounted tickets who do not own a railcard - in some cases they are not even eligible for one.

I think you need to gather up as much evidence as you can that the railcard did exist. As they had your email address, look back through your emails from the time it was purchased to see if you received confirmation. Ask your dad to do the same.

I would send a letter explaining the situation along with whatever evidence you can find, proof that you have now bought a replacement card (I assume you have?) and a sincere apology for what happened.

You may want to offer a sum of money to cover the TOC's expenses in dealing with your mistake - however I will leave it to others to advise whether you should offer money now or just give an explanation and see what happened.

Ive looked back through my emails but I don'y have one - I do have the receipt however and yes I have a replacement card - I renewed my one I've just lost.

How much would you suggest I offer?

 

[rs2110]

He was issued a receipt when he bought it. Can you produce that?

Yes, I've got the receipt