Offence of not having a valid ticket

[Haywain]

If you had a railcard that looked like this, I think that "damaged and illegible" is quite a generous interpretation, and you'd got a lot of nerve to even think it was acceptable!

 

[34D]

If you had a railcard that looked like this, I think that "damaged and illegible" is quite a generous interpretation, and you'd got a lot of nerve to even think it was acceptable!

Haywain, this illustration can allow the rest of us to make sense of how the date could be missing. I would also suggest that this could be persuasive as to intent.

 

[jon0844]

I can only imagine that you'd be able to hide the date by somehow using some chemical to damage the card - and then presumably spreading that damage over (covering part of the photo) to make it look like it's not just targeting the date.

I can't imagine how else you'd do it so that it was impossible to read. Or was it from a marker pen or paint to hide the date? Loads of scratches? Again, somewhat suspicious.

Now if the card was taken by staff, it could presumably have been sent off for a more thorough investigation and I'm sure someone will work out how the 'damage' was done.

 

[sillymistake]

It had been expired for 4 months.

 

[Haywain]

I can only imagine that you'd be able to hide the date by somehow using some chemical to damage the card - and then presumably spreading that damage over (covering part of the photo) to make it look like it's not just targeting the date.

I can't imagine how else you'd do it so that it was impossible to read. Or was it from a marker pen or paint to hide the date? Loads of scratches? Again, somewhat suspicious.

Now if the card was taken by staff, it could presumably have been sent off for a more thorough investigation and I'm sure someone will work out how the 'damage' was done.

All good specualtion, but the OP said this:

The top of my picture was missing and also the expiry date.

 

[sillymistake]

Thanks to everyone elss for your honest advice. I'll keep you posted on how things turn out.

 

[jon0844]

All good specualtion, but the OP said this:

And that's what I based my comment on - after seeing the photo of a railcard, and that the top of the photo is pretty much in line with the expiry date.

Thus, you'd probably want to damage the card in such a way that it looks like wear and tear, but is probably also quite obviously defaced.

Had the card been checked in detail and it was concluded that it was deliberate, it could well have resulted in charges for fraud.

 

[TheEdge]

All good specualtion, but the OP said this:

Must add, there are the two forms of railcard. The paper type and plastic type. The paper type has the photo on a standard railway photocard and then the additional YP coupon with the date (and a few other things) on it. So for both the date and picture to be missing both parts of that would need to have been damaged. This is the type that tends to fade, much like seasons.

The plastic one obviously would need to be really damaged in quite a specific and odd place to have the date and picture both damaged. I can think of ways it could be done by accident (I myself have managed to inadvertently rub away the print in the middle on a similar plastic card, not a railcard I point out) but I doubt the TOC will be best pleased with the state of affairs and can easily see why they want to go further.

The fact OP has mentioned history of railcards online would lead me to believe they bought it online so probably had the plastic one (if its not been confirmed already)

 

[Haywain]

Must add, there are the two forms of railcard. The paper type and plastic type. The paper type has the photo on a standard railway photocard and then the additional YP coupon with the date (and a few other things) on it. So for both the date and picture to be missing both parts of that would need to have been damaged. This is the type that tends to fade, much like seasons.

The plastic one obviously would need to be really damaged in quite a specific and odd place to have the date and picture both damaged. I can think of ways it could be done by accident (I myself have managed to inadvertently rub away the print in the middle on a similar plastic card, not a railcard I point out) but I doubt the TOC will be best pleased with the state of affairs and can easily see why they want to go further.

The fact OP has mentioned history of railcards online would lead me to believe they bought it online so probably had the plastic one (if its not been confirmed already)

The OP has confirmed it was a railcard that was purchased online, and therefore the plastic type.

 

[jon0844]

I have stored more than one plastic card in a wallet pocket, and so you can get those small surface scratches.

However, if the date was really impossible to read then we're talking quite a serious amount of damage. Frankly, how would you ever expect to present that?

And in any case, the railcard was supposedly not used that much?

 

[Squaddie]

The ticket inspector informed me that I would need to replace my rail card because it was damaged. I asked how I could do so and he informed me that I could do so at a staffed station ticket office or online. I decided to visit the ticket office at Victoria upon his advice...

Upon arrival at London Victoria, I presented my ticket and rail card to the barrier personnel. I was told that my ticket was not valid because my rail card was damaged and illegible. I was told that unfortunately I would have to pay a penalty fare because although I have a ticket, it was not valid. I apologised and explained that I am willing to pay the penalty fare but did not have my bank card with me or enough money as I only had £4.

If you only had £4 on you and no bank card, how did you intend to pay for the new railcard at Victoria?

I did however follow the advice of the inspector on the train and got it replaced that day.

How did you pay for it?

At the time I was unaware that it had expired because to be honest I don't use the train very often unless I am going back home from uni which is roughly every few months.

How did your railcard get so badly damaged if it's only used a few times a year? I would imagine that it would take quite a lot of wear and tear to remove both the expiry date and the photograph.

 

[Flamingo]

If I come across an expired plastic railcard, rather than confiscating it (as it contains the photo & name of the owner), I usually attempt to render it unusable by cutting/snapping/damaging it to make it obviously damaged and unusable.

Just saying...

 

[sillymistake]

Hi Everyone!!

I emailed my letter to the prosecutions team along with an attachment of my new rail card. In the letter I explained exactly what happened, apologised, mentioned that I would be willing to pay the costs for the matter to be dealt with outside of court and also that it would not happen again. They emailed me requesting a payment of £35 for the penalty fare and administrative fees. Yaaay!!!
Thanks to everyone for your constructive advice.

 

[Crossover]

That was a very quick response! Thanks for letting us know

I think you should count yourself lucky as the outcome could have been much worse - hopefully it'll be a reminder to make sure your railcard hasn't expired or been defaced in the future

 

[Greenback]

Thanks for the update. You have got a good result!

 

[Yew]

Put a reminder in your phone or calendar around the time it expires!

 

[sillymistake]

Definitely Crossover and Greenback, I am really relieved! I have certainly learnt from my mistake

Good idea Yew, I'll ensure I do that.