PFN not issued on the spot

[WesternLancer]

Thank you all. I have submitted both an appeal and a complaint to GTR.

Firstly, the appeal to Penalty Services, below:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Reference: x

I am writing in response to a letter dated 21 September 2026 regarding a Penalty Fare Notice (PFN) of the reference above.

I am writing on the grounds of appeal that I did not receive a PFN on the spot by my Revenue Protection Officer on the 26 August 2026 for my actions. Therefore, I was unable to pay the PFN within the 21 day mark. I had also not received any letter or email correspondence prior to the letter dated 21 September 2026.

I also understand that the appeal window is within 21 days. However, I would be grateful if you could consider this case as I have only received the letter on the 25 September, which is after the 21 day mark.

Thank you for your help.

Yours sincerely,
x




Secondly, the complaint to GTR:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Reference: x

I am writing in response to a letter dated 21 September 2026 regarding a Penalty Fare Notice (PFN) of the reference above.

I am writing on the grounds of appeal that I did not receive a PFN on the spot by my Revenue Protection Officer on the 26 August 2026. Therefore, I was unable to pay the PFN within the 21 day mark. My RPO had also not informed me of the fact I was being charged a PFN, the identification number of the collector, the penalty fare number, the amount, or how to pay.

I believe this breaches many regulations under Penalty Fares, 5. -2:

The Railways (Penalty Fares) Regulations 2018

These Regulations make provision for the charging of penalty fares for the failure to produce, when required to do so, a ticket or other authority authorising a person to travel by train or to be present in a compulsory ticket area at a station.

www.legislation.gov.uk

I had also not received any letter or email correspondence prior to the letter dated 21 September 2026.

Thank you for your help.

Yours sincerely,
x




Thank you all for your help guys. I will keep you all updated here on how it goes.

Let’s see what they say in response.

For future stages it might be a good idea to post drafts of what you want to send for people to proof read before you send them in. Experts here can often suggest amends like quoting the actual legislation clauses that set out why what happened was a breach of correct procedure for example, which can help strengthen a submission.

But you will have more stages of this that can be used especially if you want to enlist help of watchdogs like London Travelwatch should the matter need escalating. Which I suspect may well be required.

Keep us posted on how this develops as I’m sure people here will be happy to keep assisting if they can.

 

[Haywain]

It's too late now, but it might have been advisable to take advice here on wording before submitting these. I think you could have done with being clearer (in the appeal to Penalty Services) that the PFN was not issued to you in person and therefore cannot legally stand. As it is it reads more as though you are asking for the amount payable to be reduced by £50. The letter to GTR should have been clearer about the fact that you received a reminder for a PFN that wasn't issued to you and asking that they investigate the matter. You should also submit a Subject Access Request, as detailed earlier, to obtain any CCTV footage.

 

[delkhasteh]

It's too late now, but it might have been advisable to take advice here on wording before submitting these. I think you could have done with being clearer (in the appeal to Penalty Services) that the PFN was not issued to you in person and therefore cannot legally stand. As it is it reads more as though you are asking for the amount payable to be reduced by £50. The letter to GTR should have been clearer about the fact that you received a reminder for a PFN that wasn't issued to you and asking that they investigate the matter. You should also submit a Subject Access Request, as detailed earlier, to obtain any CCTV footage.

Apologies. I recognised that I should've waited for some forum replies in hindsight. I'll draft replies in upcoming correspondence