Northern Rail Fare Evasion.

[zoso]

Hi Guys,

Wonder if you could give me your thoughts on this as I'm slightly worried.

I work in Liverpool so every day I get the train from Huyton to Limestreet. I buy a yearly rail pass as it is much more cost effective for me than buying tickets each day.

My last pass expired on 19/10/2014 (which I did not realise as I use the pass every day without looking at it and didn't realise the expiry date and was still half asleep) on the 20/10/2014 I got the train and showed the pass to the ticket inspector at the gate of limestreet station who then noticed that it had expired the day earlier. The guy then stopped me and I apologised and said I would buy a single ticket there and then. He said no and took my details, which I gave without any issues and then i purchased my ticket.

Later that day after work I then purchased a new 12 month rail pass for 641 pound and to be honest as it has been over 3 months since the incident I forgot all about it. But today I got a letter from the Debt Recovery and Prosecution Unit asking me for my statement and speaking of legal action, conviction etc.

I am going to fill this letter in and return it immediately, but I just wanted your thoughts on what to expect from this. I would rather not pay a fine obviously (especially when I have recently spent so much on a yearly rail pass) but if I must then I will, what is the amount of these fines normally?

And obviously I would hate to get any kind of criminal record as a result of this silly mistake on my part.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[yorkie]

Presumably the new pass commenced from the 20th? If you send details of the pass you bought to Northern, and explain what happened, I think it unlikely they will take further action.

 

[zoso]

Yes the incident was at around 07:20 on the 20th and I purchased the new 12 month rail pass the same day at 18:24. I know this as I still have the receipt.

Although the ticket I purchased in the morning after giving my details to the ticket inspector for my outward journey I no longer have as I must have thrown that one away.

 

[najaB]

I would rather not pay a fine obviously (especially when I have recently spent so much on a yearly rail pass) but if I must then I will, what is the amount of these fines normally?

And obviously I would hate to get any kind of criminal record as a result of this silly mistake on my part.

I concur with Yorkie's assessment that Northern are unlikely to take this any further.

If they do decide (for whatever insane reason) to proceed with the matter, the most likely outcome is that they will request a £80 out of court settlement.

If they were so crazy as to attempt to bring a prosecution, it could only realistically be under the Railway Byelaws as there is no evidence of intent to defraud, which would carry no risk of a criminal record.

However, I do not believe they are likely to proceed with the matter.

 

[zoso]

I have just checked and I no longer have the old rail card that I shown originally.

Will this be an issue?? I thought I kept hold of it but I can't find it anywhere.

Thanks for the responses btw guys!!
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Out of curiosity could the ticket inspector have been more understanding and allowed me to purchase a ticket when I offered. Or was he forced under the rules of Northern Rail to take my details and escalate the issue?

I would have hoped him more understanding to the situation but he seemed to be in an foul mood and would not listen to what I had to say. Maybe he was having a bad day or maybe I misread his attitude I don't know.

 

[najaB]

I have just checked and I no longer have the old rail card that I shown originally.

Will this be an issue?? I thought I kept hold of it but I can't find it anywhere.

Not really, as the inspector will have noted the expiry date in his notes. In fact, I'm a bit surprised that he didn't keep it as evidence.

Out of curiosity could the ticket inspector have been more understanding and allowed me to purchase a ticket when I offered. Or was he forced under the rules of Northern Rail to take my details and escalate the issue?

I have no knowledge of Northern's internal policies, but there is nothing written in law that compelled the inspector to take your details.

 

[Merseysider]

In your letter back, I would reiterate the fact you purchased a new annual later that day, apologise for any inconvenience caused and mention that you hope a swift resolution can be brought about.

I'm not sure about the people in Northern's prosecutions department, but it is pretty clear to me that someone who purchases annual season tickets is probably not looking to evade the fare.

 

[island]

You did however commit a criminal offence when you joined the train with an expired ticket, and Northern is within its rights to prosecute you for doing so. I would expect it is unlikely it will do so.
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Also please note that an annual ticket and a Railcard are not interchangeable terms. A Railcard is a document that entitles you to discounts on certain tickets but is not a ticket itself.

 

[RPI]

You say that the inspector took your details, then you bought your ticket and went on your way? Can you clarify, did the inspector who took your details ALSO sell you the ticket?? If they did then the offence has been disposed of by selling the ticket