Prosecution by Thames Link

[catlover131266]

Hi guys,

Come here for a bit of advice. Today in the post I got a court letter from Govia Thameslink advising to plead guilty or not guilty for “fare evasion”.

What happened was I tapped in with my card at one station and when I got off the TUBE there was tonnes of ticket officers not allowing anyone to leave without showing a ticket or tapping card. When I tapped my card it come up with “error with card issuer”. He then took my details down for fare evasion.

I’m being prosecuted for a £6.70 charge. I don’t know why my card didn’t work when I got to the other side but I have had problems with my card at different places where it didn’t work.

So I’m not really sure what to do, do I fight this? Or do I just plead guilty. As i was on a TFL train anyway not a Govia Thames link. I’ve never been on their trains! I don’t have proof of a transaction coming out of my bank account as It didnr count me tapping out at my destination.

I’m very anxious as it says a lot about a criminal offence in the documents I received and I’ve never been in this situation before.

 

[island]

Hi guys,

Come here for a bit of advice. Today in the post I got a court letter from Govia Thameslink advising to plead guilty or not guilty for “fare evasion”.

Please upload photos of all pages of the document you have received, blocking out any person details or reference number.

What happened was I tapped in with my card at one station and when I got off the TUBE

Please can you confirm exactly what line you took (e.g. Elizabeth line, Hammersmith & City line, Circle line) and what station you travelled to.

there was tonnes of ticket officers not allowing anyone to leave without showing a ticket or tapping card. When I tapped my card it come up with “error with card issuer”. He then took my details down for fare evasion.

I’m being prosecuted for a £6.70 charge. I don’t know why my card didn’t work when I got to the other side but I have had problems with my card at different places where it didn’t work.

If you have had “problems” with your card why did you keep trying to use it?

So I’m not really sure what to do, do I fight this? Or do I just plead guilty.

We need more information to advise.

As i was on a TFL train anyway not a Govia Thames link.

This does not necessarily matter. Train companies prosecute on one another’s behalf all the time; however, it is possible they have made a mistake on the paperwork which is why we need to see it.

I’ve never been on their trains! I don’t have proof of a transaction coming out of my bank account as It didnr count me tapping out at my destination.

If you had tapped in properly you would have had a charge, even without a tap out, so this tends to suggest you did not tap in properly (or at all).

I’m very anxious as it says a lot about a criminal offence in the documents I received and I’ve never been in this situation before.

GTR are usually pragmatic with these issues and will typically accept payment for the avoided fare and their costs in lieu of taking the case to court. The fact you have received prosecution paperwork suggests you may have received other letters about the case before, as they rarely go straight to prosecution. Did you receive these? If so, did you reply?