MG11

[sama]

Hello everyone. Please i need help, I was given an mg11 ticket since on Wednesday last week for expired railcard I tried to tell them that I totally forgot I had an expired railcard but I guess it was my fault for not remembering and I was told I was going to be prosecuted for having an expired railcard card as it is fraud. The problem now is that I haven’t heard anything from them now, I’m so scared because it’s been a week and I don’t know what to expect. I gave them my house address, I just don’t know why I haven’t heard anything from them. Do I give them a call to know if it was sent to the wrong house or do I wait. I’ve had panic attack because of this. It’s making me worry too much and I’m having sleepless nights. Help me please!
I just want to hear from them so I can have rest of mind.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

It usually takes several weeks for Southeastern to write to you. There's nothhing to be gained by chasing them up.

As long as you co-operate with Southeastern you will be able to sort this out without going to court but it will cost you some money. When Southeastern's letter arrives post a redacted copy of it in this thread along with your draft reply and forum members will proof read it for you.

 

[sama]

Okay, thank you so much

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@sama. Welcome to the forum. What Southeastern are quite probably now doing is having a look back at your online ticket purchasing history to see if you've purchased and possibly then used any other railcard discounted tickets since your old railcard expired. BTW, how long ago did your previous railcard actually expire? Earlier in July? Earlier in the year? Even longer than that?

 

[sama]

@sama. Welcome to the forum. What Southeastern are quite probably now doing is having a look back at your online ticket purchasing history to see if you've purchased and possibly then used any other railcard discounted tickets since your old railcard expired. BTW, how long ago did your previous railcard actually expire? Earlier in July? Earlier in the year? Even longer than that?

Truthfully my rail card expired last year but because I lost my job and wasn’t using it I didn’t see the need to renew it and I totally forgot about it. Like it totally escaped me. I’m so worried. I feel so stupid right now.

 

[AlterEgo]

Truthfully my rail card expired last year but because I lost my job and wasn’t using it I didn’t see the need to renew it and I totally forgot about it. Like it totally escaped me. I’m so worried. I feel so stupid right now.

Have you been buying all your tickets online? If so, which retailer?

 

[sama]

Have you been buying all your tickets online? If so, which retailer?

I’ve been buying all my tickets online and I use the Trainline

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I’ve been buying all my tickets online and I use the Trainline

So noted. How many times do you reckon you will have purchased and then used railcard discounted tickets since the previous railcard expired? Was the typical journey from Chatham to London Victoria and then back again the same day? Or have you made any journeys to somewhere further afield than that?

 

[sama]

the Chatham to London Victoria is not frequent. The only frequent one is Chatham to strood

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@sama. What might happen next is that Southeastern will write to you and ask you to settle up the fares for all the incorrectly railcard discounted journeys you've made. Not just the difference, but the full Anytime Day Single fare for each one way journey made. So, £3.90 for Chatham for the two stops to Strood (Kent). Possibly £24.40 for Chatham to London Victoria. Day return = 2 x singles. Then a ~£150 admin and investigation fee added on top.

 

[sama]

I’ll pay whatever they want me to pay atm. I just don’t want to be prosecuted

 

[sama]

Hello everyone, they finally got back to me and I need to respond back

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Aug 2025 ==

Hello everyone, they finally got back to me and I need to respond back

This is my response

Dear Prosecutions Team,

I am writing in response to your letter dated 14 August 2025 regarding the incident that occurred on 23 July 2025.

I would like to sincerely apologise for this incident and for travelling with an invalid ticket. At the time, I had not realised that my railcard had expired, and as a result, the discounted ticket I purchased was not valid. This was an honest oversight on my part, and I regret the mistake deeply.

I fully understand the importance of travelling with a valid ticket and railcard at all times, and I can assure you this will not happen again. I have since made arrangements to ensure my railcard remains valid before purchasing discounted tickets so that this situation cannot reoccur.

I kindly ask that you allow me to settle this matter without it proceeding to court. I am willing to pay the outstanding fare together with any reasonable administrative costs incurred.

Thank you for considering my explanation and for giving me the opportunity to respond. I am very sorry for any inconvenience caused and grateful for your understanding.

Yours sincerely,