Not received Fare evasion letter

[abondonedseagu]

I got caught bumping the train to London 3 months ago and haven’t received a letter yet - what do I do?

Exactly 3 months ago I got caught short Faring a Thameslink train, but it was weird circumstances see context below. I’ve read enough posts to know what to do once the letter comes in but haven’t received anything - Do I need to reach out to them?


Context: Was going from Luton to Farringdon, where I change to the underground. I had a ticket from Luton to Luton airport. When I saw the ticket inspectors (there was like 5 of them on a rammed train in the morning between St Albans and Farringdon - like some sort of sting operation lol), I immediately bought a ticket on the spot for a journey between St Albans and Farringdon. When they scanned the ticket they said I had just bought it on the spot. I told them I mistakenly bought Luton to Luton Airport as I did that journey last week and just clicked the ‘rebook’ function on the uber app (what I use to book my tix), and when I saw the inspectors and got my ticket out only then did I realise and hence purchased a ticket on the spot as I only then realised my mistake. Anyway she didn’t care and took all my details and stuff cautioned me and said they will write to me . So I have been waiting for the letter but it’s been 3 months now lol and the anxiety is killin me now. What should I do?

 

[WesternLancer]

I got caught bumping the train to London 3 months ago and haven’t received a letter yet - what do I do?

Exactly 3 months ago I got caught short Faring a Thameslink train, but it was weird circumstances see context below. I’ve read enough posts to know what to do once the letter comes in but haven’t received anything - Do I need to reach out to them?


Context: Was going from Luton to Farringdon, where I change to the underground. I had a ticket from Luton to Luton airport. When I saw the ticket inspectors (there was like 5 of them on a rammed train in the morning between St Albans and Farringdon - like some sort of sting operation lol), I immediately bought a ticket on the spot for a journey between St Albans and Farringdon. When they scanned the ticket they said I had just bought it on the spot. I told them I mistakenly bought Luton to Luton Airport as I did that journey last week and just clicked the ‘rebook’ function on the uber app (what I use to book my tix), and when I saw the inspectors and got my ticket out only then did I realise and hence purchased a ticket on the spot as I only then realised my mistake. Anyway she didn’t care and took all my details and stuff cautioned me and said they will write to me . So I have been waiting for the letter but it’s been 3 months now lol and the anxiety is killin me now. What should I do?

Welcome

1) are you confident they recorded your postal address correctly? This is important.

2) did they give you any paperwork, esp something with a ref number on it?

The general advice on here is to sit tight (if they have your correct contact details) - in case they might just have forgotten you and the 6 month limit in which they can bring a criminal prosecution against you is reached - at which point their leverage over you to pay them a settlement sum is reduced, because the threat of bringing a criminal prosecution against you is no longer available.

Alternatively if you do wish to contact them to ask what is happening / when you can expect them to contact you, we can give you their address (for Thameslink this has to be done by post in writing). That's a judgement call for you.

Be aware that they will almost certainly audit your on line ticket buying records to look for suspicious ticket buying. If they find other examples of this sort of thing they are likely to ask you about them too with a view to seeking payment for other evaded fares. That might be contributing to the time it's taking to contact you.

 

[Haywain]

I told them I mistakenly bought Luton to Luton Airport as I did that journey last week and just clicked the ‘rebook’ function on the uber app (what I use to book my tix), and when I saw the inspectors and got my ticket out only then did I realise and hence purchased a ticket on the spot as I only then realised my mistake.

And you thought they would believe that? The number of people who travel by train from Luton to Luton Airport Parkway is vanishingly small because, as you will realise if you live in Luton, they are so close together. On the other hand, the number of people buying tickets for that journey is quite a bit higher.

 

[AlterEgo]

Yes, if they find lots of Luton to Luton Airport tickets they may have questions for you when they come to investigate your case.

 

[abondonedseagu]

Welcome

1) are you confident they recorded your postal address correctly? This is important.

2) did they give you any paperwork, esp something with a ref number on it?

The general advice on here is to sit tight (if they have your correct contact details) - in case they might just have forgotten you and the 6 month limit in which they can bring a criminal prosecution against you is reached - at which point their leverage over you to pay them a settlement sum is reduced, because the threat of bringing a criminal prosecution against you is no longer available.

Alternatively if you do wish to contact them to ask what is happening / when you can expect them to contact you, we can give you their address (for Thameslink this has to be done by post in writing). That's a judgement call for you.

Be aware that they will almost certainly audit your on line ticket buying records to look for suspicious ticket buying. If they find other examples of this sort of thing they are likely to ask you about them too with a view to seeking payment for other evaded fares. That might be contributing to the time it's taking to contact you.

I’ve just checked the witness statement receipt and the address DoB is all correct. I know it’s subjective but What would you do in my case? I’m thinking of just reaching out because I want it sorted now coz it’s just in the back of my mind

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Nov 2025 ==

And you thought they would believe that? The number of people who travel by train from Luton to Luton Airport Parkway is vanishingly small because, as you will realise if you live in Luton, they are so close together. On the other hand, the number of people buying tickets for that journey is quite a bit higher.

My mistake but it was actually Leagrave to Luton Airport, which is a little better as it’s one side from Luton to the other and is not as uncommon especially for those of us who live near the station. However, I did actually panic when asked hence why that BS came out about mistakenly booking the wrong ticket, I thought I’d be fine coz I booked the ticket on the spot so was caught off guard when they found me out. Regardless I’m not trying to run with the story I want to just settle out of court regardless of fine amount.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Nov 2025 ==

Yes, if they find lots of Luton to Luton Airport tickets they may have questions for you when they come to investigate your case.

Yh I know but if they ask I will just fess up and ask to settle out of court but I just want it sorted now it’s been 3 months now. Also i don’t know if this will help but all the previous times I booked through uber and the ticket on the spot which i booked and they scanned to find out I just booked it was done through trainline with very few previous purchases. Don’t know if that will effect it or not but regardless I just want to know if I should reach out or not it’s been 3 months.

 

[WesternLancer]

I’ve just checked the witness statement receipt and the address DoB is all correct. I know it’s subjective but What would you do in my case? I’m thinking of just reaching out because I want it sorted now coz it’s just in the back of my mind

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Nov 2025 ==

There's no real reason why contacting them would speed things up - because of the 6 month prosecution deadline it's important to them to deal with cases in date order I would think - so the oldest first. If you 'jump the queue' that someone getting close to 6 months that might get 'let off' - why would they do that?

But I guess if it's making you anxious you could try and see what happens

if you were writing to them it would be best to keep it just a basic query about when you might expect to hear

eg

Dear Sir/ Madam

I was stopped on x date at y location and questioned about the validity of my rail ticket.

I was given this ref number xxxxx

I was advised by the member of staff that I should expect to hear for you and I am wondering when I might expect to receive any follow up correspondence.

Please note my name and address is …..

My e-mail address is:

Yours faithfully


But I think most people on here would suggest you sit tight.

 

[Elecman]

I’ve just checked the witness statement receipt and the address DoB is all correct. I know it’s subjective but What would you do in my case? I’m thinking of just reaching out because I want it sorted now coz it’s just in the back of my mind

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Nov 2025 ==


My mistake but it was actually Leagrave to Luton Airport, which is a little better as it’s one side from Luton to the other and is not as uncommon especially for those of us who live near the station. However, I did actually panic when asked hence why that BS came out about mistakenly booking the wrong ticket, I thought I’d be fine coz I booked the ticket on the spot so was caught off guard when they found me out. Regardless I’m not trying to run with the story I want to just settle out of court regardless of fine amount.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Nov 2025 ==


Yh I know but if they ask I will just fess up and ask to settle out of court but I just want it sorted now it’s been 3 months now. Also i don’t know if this will help but all the previous times I booked through uber and the ticket on the spot which i booked and they scanned to find out I just booked it was done through trainline with very few previous purchases. Don’t know if that will effect it or not but regardless I just want to know if I should reach out or not it’s been 3 months.

It really isn’t in your interest to contact them until they have contacted you

 

[abondonedseagu]

So I received my letter of intention to prosecute, which is the bog standard as others in the forum. I'll add context below as well as my draft response. Please could you advise on if the draft response is okay. Also do I need to type it or write it out in the sheet they provide?

Context:
About 4 months ago I got caught short Faring a Thameslink train. I was travelling from Leagrave to Farringdon, where I change to the underground. I had a ticket from Leagrve to Luton airport. When I saw the ticket inspectors (there was like 5 of them on a rammed train in the morning between St Albans and Farringdon - like some sort of sting operation lol), I immediately bought a ticket on the spot for a journey between St Albans and Farringdon. When they scanned the ticket they said I had just bought it on the spot. I told them I mistakenly bought Leagrave to Luton Airport as I did that journey last week and just clicked the ‘rebook’ function on the uber app (what I use to book my tix), and when I saw the inspectors and got my ticket out only then did I realise and hence purchased a ticket on the spot as I only then realised my mistake (this was just an instictive response after being caught off-guard to them knowing I booked the ticket on the spot). This was my first time being caught and done it a handful of times before.

Draft repsonse:

Dear Prosecutions Department,

I am writing in response to your letter about the incident that took place on 01 September 2025 on a train between St. Albans and St pancras where I was approached by a Revenue Protection Officer and I failed to produce a valid ticket.

Firstly, I would like to sincerely apologise for travelling without the correct ticket, I understand that it is my responsibility to ensure I have a valid ticket before travelling, and I deeply regret not doing so. I appreciate the seriousness of this matter and understand the impact it has on both the rail companyand fellow passengers. I have learned a valuable lesson and can assure you this will never happen again.

I would be very grateful if you would consider allowing me to resolve this matter directly with Govia Thameslink Railway through an out-of-court settlement rather than through court proceedings. I will pay the outstanding fare, together with any administrative or penalty costs required to settle the matter.

Once again, I am truly sorry for my actions and any disruption they caused. I take full responsibility for my actions and will not allow this to happen again.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my response.

Yours sincerely,

 

[Fawkes Cat]

So I received my letter of intention to prosecute, which is the bog standard as others in the forum.

Does the letter from the railway only refer to this incident, or is there any suggestion that they have already looked to see if there are other incidents?

It's important to match your response to the questions asked so you don't either lie by accident or imply that you have something to hide.

 

[WesternLancer]

So I received my letter of intention to prosecute, which is the bog standard as others in the forum. I'll add context below as well as my draft response. Please could you advise on if the draft response is okay. Also do I need to type it or write it out in the sheet they provide?

Context:
About 4 months ago I got caught short Faring a Thameslink train. I was travelling from Leagrave to Farringdon, where I change to the underground. I had a ticket from Leagrve to Luton airport. When I saw the ticket inspectors (there was like 5 of them on a rammed train in the morning between St Albans and Farringdon - like some sort of sting operation lol), I immediately bought a ticket on the spot for a journey between St Albans and Farringdon. When they scanned the ticket they said I had just bought it on the spot. I told them I mistakenly bought Leagrave to Luton Airport as I did that journey last week and just clicked the ‘rebook’ function on the uber app (what I use to book my tix), and when I saw the inspectors and got my ticket out only then did I realise and hence purchased a ticket on the spot as I only then realised my mistake (this was just an instictive response after being caught off-guard to them knowing I booked the ticket on the spot). This was my first time being caught and done it a handful of times before.

Draft repsonse:

Dear Prosecutions Department,

I am writing in response to your letter about the incident that took place on 01 September 2025 on a train between St. Albans and St pancras where I was approached by a Revenue Protection Officer and I failed to produce a valid ticket.

Firstly, I would like to sincerely apologise for travelling without the correct ticket, I understand that it is my responsibility to ensure I have a valid ticket before travelling, and I deeply regret not doing so. I appreciate the seriousness of this matter and understand the impact it has on both the rail companyand fellow passengers. I have learned a valuable lesson and can assure you this will never happen again.

I would be very grateful if you would consider allowing me to resolve this matter directly with Govia Thameslink Railway through an out-of-court settlement rather than through court proceedings. I will pay the outstanding fare, together with any administrative or penalty costs required to settle the matter.

Once again, I am truly sorry for my actions and any disruption they caused. I take full responsibility for my actions and will not allow this to happen again.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my response.

Yours sincerely,

Insert their ref number clearly under the 'Dear....'

and advice I often give - make the key thing you are asking from them the last thing the person dealing with this reads - or almost the last thing

so swap these paragraphs around

I would be very grateful if you would consider allowing me to resolve this matter directly with Govia Thameslink Railway through an out-of-court settlement rather than through court proceedings. I will pay the outstanding fare, together with any administrative or penalty costs required to settle the matter.

Once again, I am truly sorry for my actions and any disruption they caused. I take full responsibility for my actions and will not allow this to happen again.