Notice of Intention to Prosecute

[miss_stoat]

Hi All

Long time lurker, first time poster and I wonder if you can help or advise. I did a quick search of the forum and cannot find anything related but apologies if there is.

A friend of mine has just received a Notice of Intention to Prosecute through the post for around the seventh time. Problem is none of them are his...

He has received them from TfL, South West Trains and the latest from FCC (I'm not sure they were all notices to intention to prosecute or if some were penalty fares). Someone appears to be using his name and address whenever they are caught being naughty.

In the past he has just called up and spoken to the customer service people of whoever has sent him the letter and it has been disregarded, however, after seven times it's getting tedious.

After the last time he told customer service he was a man in his 50's and the customer service person said that the person caught travelling was a man in his 20's.

How can my friend stop this from happening to him? is there anything he can do?

Many thanks

 

[island]

I don't think there's a great deal more that can be done unfortunately. If the TOCs have any sense:roll: they'll put a note against the address on their verification database that it is a false address, so next time an RPI phones up to get the address checked they'll be told and might be able to get the BTP:roll:

 

[Tetchytyke]

Your friend needs to get a copy of his credit report, if they're using his name and address for this who knows what else they're using it for?

 

[455driver]

I would ring all the TOCs in the area, explain what is happening and your friend should give them details about himself (age, height, build etc) and see if they will possibly link a password to his name and address which will confirm its him, no password and its BTP time.

Whether they will do that I dont know but it has to be in their interest to catch this person as well.

 

[miss_stoat]

Thanks so much for all the replies

I have relayed all of this to my friend. He emailed FCC today asking if there was any CCTV footage from the train/station to see if he could identify the person and he is just waiting to hear back from them (incidentally, FCC do not appear to answer the phone)

Just out of interest, FCC didn't send him any other correspondence about this before sending the Notice of Intention to Prosecute...is that normal?

Thanks again!

 

[PermitToTravel]

I would ring all the TOCs in the area, explain what is happening and your friend should give them details about himself (age, height, build etc) and see if they will possibly link a password to his name and address which will confirm its him, no password and its BTP time.

Whether they will do that I dont know but it has to be in their interest to catch this person as well.

Their system would have to already be set up to deal with that - it won't be, unfortunately.

I love the idea though! Regularly deal with revenue protection? Why not create an account to speed up the process!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Just out of interest, FCC didn't send him any other correspondence about this before sending the Notice of Intention to Prosecute...is that normal?

It can be, it depends on how much evidence they have. Sometimes they'll give you a chance to incriminate yourself

 

[miss_stoat]

I rather like the idea of contacting all the TOCS, maybe via email, so even if they do not put notes on their systems, if he does get another of these he can say 'Look I contacted you to let you know someone was using my identity on such and such a date'...but before he does that he needs FCC to answer the phone so he can dispute this notice!

No chance of incrimination Fahad, it genuinely wasn't him!

You guys have been really helpful, thank you!

 

[MyFriendMary]

Could even go as far as contacting your local MP over the issue.

Personally I'd go straight above customer services and contact a Managing Director over the issues that your husband has faced. Then, each time it occurs again, contact the MD and list about how he/she has failed on their promise to you.

 

[Darandio]

Could even go as far as contacting your local MP over the issue.

I'm not sure why that is necessary?

over the issues that your husband has faced.

Husband?

 

[MyFriendMary]

That's what I get for attempting to remember a thread I read days ago :P

--

MP because... why not? It's not a matter that involves the Police and, since this has occurred a number of times, it seems nobody within the TOCs has done anything. Worst case, the MP does nothing. Best case... something happens

 

[miss_stoat]

Well, my friend managed to get through to FCC and they said to send the notice back to them with a note explaining that this was nothing to do with him. So that is them sorted, for now...

What happens in the long-term remains to be seen, I have relayed your suggestions back to him

LOL at 'husband'

 

[Haywain]

MP because... why not? It's not a matter that involves the Police and, since this has occurred a number of times, it seems nobody within the TOCs has done anything. Worst case, the MP does nothing. Best case... something happens

And what can they be expected to do if they do not know that there is a problem? The ask for a name and address, and get given a valid name and address - how are they to know (or believe) that the person in front of them is an imposter? That person might even have (fraudulent) proof of ID.

 

[185]

Competent train operating companies should have a system when personal details are entered, in the case of multiple deliberate false details, a message under the person description flags up the message (DO NOT ACCEPT THESE DETAILS - NOTIFY POLICE).

If my company can do it, all of them should.

 

[ModernRailways]

We had a similar case with my sister. After about 5 or 6 times, we had got sick and phoned the police over it. They came out the next day, took some details and went off to Nexus to get more details about the prosecution/penalty fare notices. A week or two later they came back telling us it was being sorted and they have caught the offender. We haven't had another one through since.

As they're 50 the Police are likely to take a stronger approach than two teenagers (my Sister was 17, and the person committing the offence was around 19). Also, the person may be doing it to more than just your friend. Just call your local Police station, and tell them your identity is being stolen by someone attempting to defraud the railway.

 

[redbutton]

Your friend needs to get a copy of his credit report, if they're using his name and address for this who knows what else they're using it for?

miss_stoat, you should relay the above advice to your friend in the strongest possible terms. Sure, it's possible that someone is merely using your friend's details to get free train rides, but it could be a lot worse than that. The only way to know is for him to request his credit reports from all three bureaus (Experian, Equifax, Callcredit).

 

[miss_stoat]

Thanks ianfromnyc

I have relayed all the messages left here to him, including getting a credit report, which is an entirely sensible thing to do.

He has cleared up the issue with FCC now - after to speaking to them they advised sending the notice back with a letter explaining that it wasn't him they stopped and that someone else has been using his name and address.

Thanks again to all those that replied and the advise given