Potenial Court Summons,Help!!!!

[Anna2]

On February 2, 2025. I took a train from Reading to London Paddington, and when exiting the station in London, I was caught without a ticket. The staff recorded my email and personal address.


In the past year, I had exited stations using a short ticket approximately six to seven times. I sincerely regret my actions. At the time, I mistakenly saw it as a way to save money, but I now fully recognize how wrong and irresponsible my behavior was.


So far, I have not received any communication from the railway company, and I am feeling very anxious. How can I minimize the consequences of my mistake? Should I take the initiative to contact them?

 

[JordR]

Try not to worry. I know that's easy for me to say, but this is a pretty minor matter.

Do you know which company stopped you? This is important because Transport for London deal with cases a bit differently to the other train companies.

Don't contact them until they've contacted you. They may not be able to tie you to a case and you may admit to something you don't need to.

It can sometimes take several weeks, they have six months until you can no longer be prosecuted for minor railway ticketing crimes.

 

[Anna2]

Try not to worry. I know that's easy for me to say, but this is a pretty minor matter.

Do you know which company stopped you? This is important because Transport for London deal with cases a bit differently to the other train companies.

Don't contact them until they've contacted you. They may not be able to tie you to a case and you may admit to something you don't need to.

It can sometimes take several weeks, they have six months until you can no longer be prosecuted for minor railway ticketing crimes.

Thank you!! The company is Great Western Railway.

At that day, I spoke to the inspector who checked my ticket purchase history and noticed that I had used small tickets multiple times. He mentioned that this was a serious issue and could lead to a court summons.

I haven’t received any emails yet, which has made me quite worried during this period. Feeling a bit sad about it. I want to solve it as soon as possible, then I don't need to worry.

 

[John R]

I'm afraid you'll have to wait until they write to you. You're just one of many they catch, and will be dealt with when they work through their cases in order. Presumably they've got your correct address, and the email you use for your Trainline (or similar) account is your main one?

If you cooperate, apologise and promise not to do it again you should get a settlement offer to avoid prosecution, but it will cost you. The usual policy of train companies is to charge the Anytime Single fare for each journey you fare dodged (currently £32 between Reading and Paddington - so £64 for a return trip.) They will then add on around £150 for their admin costs in dealing with the case.

 

[Anna2]

I'm afraid you'll have to wait until they write to you. You're just one of many they catch, and will be dealt with when they work through their cases in order. Presumably they've got your correct address, and the email you use for your Trainline (or similar) account is your main one?

If you cooperate, apologise and promise not to do it again you should get a settlement offer to avoid prosecution, but it will cost you. The usual policy of train companies is to charge the Anytime Single fare for each journey you fare dodged (currently £32 between Reading and Paddington - so £64 for a return trip.) They will then add on around £150 for their admin costs in dealing with the case.

Thanks John! I gave them the correct address and the Trainline account(the only one I use). oh no, that should be a large amount of fine about 1000. I will definitely cooperate with their work. Will this leave any criminal record?

 

[JordR]

Will this leave any criminal record?

It's likely GWR will offer to settle out of court if you cooperate, which would mean no criminal record.

 

[Anna2]

It's likely GWR will offer to settle out of court if you cooperate, which would mean no criminal record.

That's a relief ，hope this have no influence for my DBS check

 

[John R]

Also I note that your location is Bath. If any of the journeys have been from there to London then the Anytime Single is £129.

If you are offered a settlement you'll have to pay it pretty quickly (usually within 14 days) so worth thinking whether you will have the funds available, and if not where you can get it at short notice.

 

[Anna2]

Also I note that your location is Bath. If any of the journeys have been from there to London then the Anytime Single is £129.

If you are offered a settlement you'll have to pay it pretty quickly (usually within 14 days) so worth thinking whether you will have the funds available, and if not where you can get it at short notice.

How much they will add for their admin costs, If it happened 6 times, then 150*6 for admin cost, or total 150 admin cost?

 

[John R]

How much they will add for their admin costs, If it happened 6 times, then 150*6 for admin cost, or total 150 admin cost?

Just the one you'll be relieved to hear. And 150 is an estimate - different companies charge slightly different amounts, and it depends on how much work is involved investigating your account and working out how much to "charge" as a settlement offer. I wouldn't have thought yours would be more than an average amount of work for them from what you've said.

 

[dciuk]

How much they will add for their admin costs, If it happened 6 times, then 150*6 for admin cost, or total 150 admin cost?

I would only expect them to charge 1 admin fee, although it could be higher then £150 but not likely to be 6x£150