Lost Photocard

[Bromptonite]

Help!
I regularly commute by train between Harpenden and West Hampstead. it was on an early morning train in early January just leaving Harpenden that I was asked to produce my ticket. I always buy a weekly season using my ID number. When I produced my ticket the Inspector asked for my photocard ID. I could not produce it because I had recently lost it. She then asked for my name and address and asked me to sign a statement to the effect that the reason that I was travelling without a card was because I had lost it. She was very nice and said that I was unlikely to hear any more and gave me a slip of paper to show to any other ticket collectors/inspectors that day if required. She told me to get a new photocard and get my ticket updated with the new reference asap which I duly did later that day.
Then this morning a letter from the Prosecutions dept of GTR arrived asking me to send a copy of the photocard by return. It said that failure to comply may result in prosecution through a magistrates court. Naturally, I am concerned with the thought of possible prosecution, a criminal record and all that would ensue from that.
Can anyone advise me on the best course of action and how I should explain that there was no intent to defraud the rail company.

 

[island]

You have a new photocard, yes? Send them a copy of that.

 

[Deerfold]

Had you reported the loss of the Photocard?

Did you not realise you'd need it to travel?

 

[Bromptonite]

No, I had not reported it lost and I did not realise that I needed it for travel. I thought that registration in the first instance was sufficient for their purposes.

 

[bb21]

The rear of the Photocard should be clear that the ticket is not valid without it. A sample image is available in our Ticket Gallery.

 

[scott118]

No, I had not reported it lost and I did not realise that I needed it for travel. I thought that registration in the first instance was sufficient for their purposes.

had you never been asked for it, prior to losing it?

 

[Bromptonite]

No, I had never been asked for it when I showed my ticket so never realised the importance that the railway companies give to it.

 

[Andrewlong]

No, I had never been asked for it when I showed my ticket so never realised the importance that the railway companies give to it.

Any ticket inspector doing their job properly will insist on seeing both season ticket and photocard together.

 

[Bromptonite]

That maybe the case but from personal experience it's the first time that I have ever been asked to produce it,.

 

[Clip]

How do you manage to lose something when they are to be kept in the same wallet together - which you get you first buy one?

Be truthful - have you ever had a photocard?

 

[tsr]

Some staff will vary their methods from day to day to check tickets. It can, for example, change depending on the type of fraud deemed most likely on a given train.

If the train is known for people travelling entirely without tickets, it may be that it is quicker not to get everyone to find photocards, and just focus on those dodging any fare - but other trains need a more thorough check to avoid fraudulent use of stolen/borrowed high-value seasons.

 

[Bromptonite]

Truthfully, I had a card and lost it.

 

[SAPhil]

How do you manage to lose something when they are to be kept in the same wallet together - which you get you first buy one?

I find questions like this annoying. It is perfectly possible to lose the photocard from the supplied wallet while not losing the ticket. I should know, I've done it!

 

[jon0844]

If I lost my photocard, I'd know immediately and seek to get a replacement straight away.

The issue is that someone might not realise a photocard is necessary in the first place, or optional, and that's somewhat surprising.

 

[Clip]

I find questions like this annoying. It is perfectly possible to lose the photocard from the supplied wallet while not losing the ticket. I should know, I've done it!

It may be an annoying question to you but I find it a struggle given the wallet they are given to you in you would notice right away when it dropped out unless you are careless

 

[SAPhil]

It may be an annoying question to you but I find it a struggle given the wallet they are given to you in you would notice right away when it dropped out unless you are careless

I disagree. For a start the wallets tend to split quite quickly, mine always end up being held together with sticky tape. Surprisingly, even the section I use for the photo card comes apart sooner rather than later . So it is quite easy for things to drop out of the wallet.

 

[Shempz]

It may be an annoying question to you but I find it a struggle given the wallet they are given to you in you would notice right away when it dropped out unless you are careless

Except not everyone keeps their ticket and photocard together in one of those plastic wallets. I've seen loads of people that have them in their normal wallets or purses.

 

[MikeWh]

Except not everyone keeps their ticket and photocard together in one of those plastic wallets. I've seen loads of people that have them in their normal wallets or purses.

Especially when you have to take the ticket out to operate the gates several times a day.

 

[Clip]

Except not everyone keeps their ticket and photocard together in one of those plastic wallets. I've seen loads of people that have them in their normal wallets or purses.

So whose fault is that then? I must be just too careful with my stuff because ive even had the same Oyster wallet which I open daily to get me bank card out and that hasnt split or any other of these things in well over 2 years. its faded to hell but hasnt broken.

 

[MikeWh]

So whose fault is that then?

Well I've had several ticket wallets over time. Some last a while, others split quite soon. It doesn't seem to bear any relation to the amount of use. Perhaps it's a difference in the manufacturing processes. But no, that must be the passengers fault.:roll:

 

[Clip]

Mines one that TfL issue so maybe you are right who knows.

 

[island]

It may be an annoying question to you but I find it a struggle given the wallet they are given to you in you would notice right away when it dropped out unless you are careless

I never use the ticket wallets because they don't fit into my wallet and if I kept them separately I would forget it.