Prosecution over child ticket

[Iamcooked]

Hi
I was stopped by an officer in Birmingham new street on Monday 10th February because I didn’t have a valid ticket. I had foolishly bought a child ticket simply because it was cheaper.
He took my details and told me a letter would be sent to my address.
This was not my first time buying a child ticket instead of an adult one and there is a record of me purchasing child tickets over 20 times in the past 10 months on train line app.
I am scared of going to court and I had no idea the consequences would be so severe.
I realize how stupid my actions were but I’m not sure what I can do to avoid going to court.
I’m just waiting for them to get back to me .
can anyone provide me with some guidance please ?

 

[AlterEgo]

Firstly, do you know which company's staff you were dealing with? There were a few train companies conducting revenue blocks at New Street recently. We have seen Avanti West Coast managed to stop someone lately.

 

[WesternLancer]

Hi
I was stopped by an officer in Birmingham new street on Monday 10th February because I didn’t have a valid ticket. I had foolishly bought a child ticket simply because it was cheaper.
He took my details and told me a letter would be sent to my address.
This was not my first time buying a child ticket instead of an adult one and there is a record of me purchasing child tickets over 20 times in the past 10 months on train line app.
I am scared of going to court and I had no idea the consequences would be so severe.
I realize how stupid my actions were but I’m not sure what I can do to avoid going to court.
I’m just waiting for them to get back to me .
can anyone provide me with some guidance please ?

How old are you? You may be entitled to a Railcard that can legitimately reduce your fares. Buying one now would be something you could do to show that you have learned a lesson and changed your ways. You can tell them that when the write to you.

That’s part of an action you can take which will help reduce the risk of them taking you to court. The cost of the railcard will be good value if it helps you avoid court.

 

[Iamcooked]

Firstly, do you know which company's staff you were dealing with? There were a few train companies conducting revenue blocks at New Street recently. We have seen Avanti West Coast managed to stop someone lately.

I have no idea .
I bought a return ticket from new street to university
When I was going to university station I got on a West Midlands train and on my way back I got on a cross country train

 

[Iamcooked]

How old are you? You may be entitled to a Railcard that can legitimately reduce your fares. Buying one now would be something you could do to show that you have learned a lesson and changed your ways. You can tell them that when the write to you.

That’s part of an action you can take which will help reduce the risk of them taking you to court. The cost of the railcard will be good value if it helps you avoid court.

I am 20. Okay thanks I’ll definitely look into buying one

 

[WesternLancer]

I am 20. Okay thanks I’ll definitely look into buying one

Ok thanks. So it would be a 16-25 Railcard.

 

[Cuthbert]

Firstly, do you know which company's staff you were dealing with? There were a few train companies conducting revenue blocks at New Street recently. We have seen Avanti West Coast managed to stop someone lately.

WMR were definitely working the afternoon at the gates in Green lounge. Not sure if it was a multi-toc op.

 

[Iamcooked]

Ok thanks. So it would be a 16-25 Railcard.

I’ve bought a 16 - 25 rail card just now for a 3 year period

 

[WesternLancer]

I’ve bought a 16 - 25 rail card just now for a 3 year period

That’s good. Check the t&c so you know when you can use it.

Basically you need to wait to hear from them (assume you gave correct address, they will likely write hard copy but maybe email so also check spam). Then you can get advice from here on how best to respond in a way that minimises chances of court action.

You should expect to have to pay for the fares you have evaded. So calculate that total and save funds up.

Have a look at other threads to get the idea of what typically happens.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

We see lots of incidents like this on here, as you've now found out travelling with an invalid ticket is a serious issue nd the train company is entitled to prosecute you in the Magistrates Court of they want to.

What happens next is the train company (likely West Midlands Trains but could be Avanti - they are allowed to deal with each others cases) will write to you saying that they have received a report, are considering prosecuting you but asking you for your version of events before they decide how to proceed. I recommend a short, concise letter that mentions the following points:

- That you are sorry for what has happened
- What you have learned from the incident
- That you are keen to settle the matter without the need for court action
- Offer to pay the outstanding fare and the train company's administrative costs in dealing with the matter

Train companies are normally prepared to offer an out of court settlement to people who co-operate witht heir investigation and who haven't come to their attention before. Expect to have to pay the cost of the fare avoided at the full Anytime rate with no credit given for the invalid tickets you did purchase. You will also have to pay an admin fee, typically around £175. The train company will likely audit your onoine ticket purchasing history and as this shows you've purchased other child rate tickets they will likely want to factor the cost of these journeys into the settlement figure. Settlements usually have to be paid in full within a few days of them being offered, payment in installments isn't normally allowed. Paying a settlement might feel like paying a fine but technically it isn't, only a court can impose a fine upon conviction and you won't have a criminal record as a result of paying a settlement.

When the letter arrives, post a redacted copy of it in this thread along with your draft reply and forum members will be happy to proof read it for you.

 

[Iamcooked]

Welcome to the forum!

We see lots of incidents like this on here, as you've now found out travelling with an invalid ticket is a serious issue nd the train company is entitled to prosecute you in the Magistrates Court of they want to.

What happens next is the train company (likely West Midlands Trains but could be Avanti - they are allowed to deal with each others cases) will write to you saying that they have received a report, are considering prosecuting you but asking you for your version of events before they decide how to proceed. I recommend a short, concise letter that mentions the following points:

- That you are sorry for what has happened
- What you have learned from the incident
- That you are keen to settle the matter without the need for court action
- Offer to pay the outstanding fare and the train company's administrative costs in dealing with the matter

Train companies are normally prepared to offer an out of court settlement to people who co-operate witht heir investigation and who haven't come to their attention before. Expect to have to pay the cost of the fare avoided at the full Anytime rate with no credit given for the invalid tickets you did purchase. You will also have to pay an admin fee, typically around £175. The train company will likely audit your onoine ticket purchasing history and as this shows you've purchased other child rate tickets they will likely want to factor the cost of these journeys into the settlement figure. Settlements usually have to be paid in full within a few days of them being offered, payment in installments isn't normally allowed. Paying a settlement might feel like paying a fine but technically it isn't, only a court can impose a fine upon conviction and you won't have a criminal record as a result of paying a settlement.

When the letter arrives, post a redacted copy of it in this thread along with your draft reply and forum members will be happy to proof read it for you.

Okay thank you.
I will post the letter once it arrives

 

[30907]

I’ve bought a 16 - 25 rail card just now for a 3 year period

Excellent decision.

Please read the T&Cs about the minimum fare that is payable in the morning peak time (except July/August).

 

[notmyrealname]

Well done. It's also a good idea to diary the expiry date of your card because from what we see here they may well not remind you.

 

[Iamcooked]

I received this email today.
They’re saying it could lead up to 3 months imprisonment. Will this actually happen?

 

[alholmes]

No, you won’t be going to prison. But they’ve checked your ticket history and can see you’ve purchased child tickets before

Have a read of post #10 from Hadders above, then draft a response and post it here to get feedback before you send anything back. It may still be possible to settle this out of court.

 

[Iamcooked]

Dear sir / madam

Thank you for your letter dated 4th March 2025 regarding the incident in Birmingham new street on Monday 10th February .

I am really sorry for purchasing child tickets as an adult instead of adult tickets. I understand what I have done is completely foolish and take full responsibility for my actions.

The only reason why I did so was because child tickets are cheaper . However I understand that this by no means is a valid reason and does not justify my actions.

I promise that I will never board a train without a valid ticket for the rest of my life .

If you look at my ticket purchase history after the incident you would see that I have been purchasing valid tickets and I have also purchased a 3 year 16-25 rail card to save money on tickets legally . I was not aware of how useful rail cards are until I bought them.

Once again I apologize for my wrong doings.
I would highly appreciate the opportunity to settle this matter out of court. I would like to pay for the outstanding fares that I have as well as the administrative costs spent on this investigation.

Thank you for giving me a chance to explain myself.

 

[Haywain]

The only reason why I did so was because child tickets are cheaper . However I understand that this by no means is a valid reason and does not justify my actions.

This is really stating the obvious and adds nothing. It is better left out.

I promise that I will never board a train without a valid ticket for the rest of my life

This sounds a bit insincere. It would sound better to say that you will ensure that you always have a valid ticket in future.

 

[Iamcooked]

Ok thanks , here’s the new one
Dear sir / madam

Thank you for your letter dated 4th March 2025 regarding the incident in Birmingham new street on Monday 10th February .

I am really sorry for purchasing child tickets as an adult instead of adult tickets. I understand what I have done is completely foolish and take full responsibility for my actions.

I will ensure that I always have a valid ticket in the future.

If you look at my ticket purchase history after the incident you would see that I have been purchasing valid tickets and I have also purchased a 3 year 16-25 rail card to save money on tickets legally . I was not aware of how useful rail cards are until I bought them.

Once again I apologize for my wrong doings.
I would highly appreciate the opportunity to settle this matter out of court. I would like to pay for the outstanding fares that I have as well as the administrative costs spent on this investigation.

Thank you for giving me a chance to explain myself

 

[tonycockram]

I think that’s a good letter.

 

[WesternLancer]

Dear sir / madam

Thank you for your letter dated 4th March 2025 regarding the incident in Birmingham new street on Monday 10th February .

I am really sorry for purchasing child tickets as an adult instead of adult tickets. I understand what I have done is completely foolish and take full responsibility for my actions.

The only reason why I did so was because child tickets are cheaper . However I understand that this by no means is a valid reason and does not justify my actions.

I promise that I will never board a train without a valid ticket for the rest of my life .

If you look at my ticket purchase history after the incident you would see that I have been purchasing valid tickets and I have also purchased a 3 year 16-25 rail card to save money on tickets legally . I was not aware of how useful rail cards are until I bought them.

Once again I apologize for my wrong doings.
I would highly appreciate the opportunity to settle this matter out of court. I would like to pay for the outstanding fares that I have as well as the administrative costs spent on this investigation.

Thank you for giving me a chance to explain myself.

Possibly needs a bit more emphasis on how you now understand the seriousness of what you did.

It’s way more than foolish. ‘A very serious error of judgment’ at a minimum.

 

[Iamcooked]

Okay thank you
Dear sir / madam

Thank you for your letter dated 4th March 2025 regarding the incident in Birmingham new street on Monday 10th February .

I am really sorry for purchasing child tickets as an adult instead of adult tickets. I understand that what I have done is beyond foolish. It was a very serious error of judgment and I take full responsibility for my actions.

I will ensure that I always have a valid ticket in the future.

If you look at my ticket purchase history after the incident you would see that I have been purchasing valid tickets and I have also purchased a 3 year 16-25 rail card to save money on tickets legally . I was not aware of how useful rail cards are until I bought them.

Once again I apologize for my wrong doings.
I would highly appreciate the opportunity to settle this matter out of court. I would like to pay for the outstanding fares that I have as well as the administrative costs spent on this investigation.

Thank you for giving me a chance to explain myself
Yours Faithfully

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Mar 2025 ==

Would it be worth it if I mentioned that i live in a household with a total income of less than 20 k a year with benefits and send them evidence of my household income or will they only see it as an excuse
Also the train officer that reported me told me to mention that i mainly use tram to get to places rather than train so that they don’t think I’ve been bumping train too many times. Would that help at all?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Mar 2025 ==

And it is true I use tram everyday but only use train about once a week .

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Would it be worth it if I mentioned that i live in a household with a total income of less than 20 k a year with benefits and send them evidence of my household income or will they only see it as an excuse

No. Whether it's the right thing for them to do or not, the railway has essentially one tariff for adult passengers, regardless of whether they have much household income or not. So the railway will expect you to pay the full fare, however much money is coming into your household.

 

[WesternLancer]

Would it be worth it if I mentioned that i live in a household with a total income of less than 20 k a year with benefits and send them evidence of my household income or will they only see it as an excuse

I don't think so really. It's only if it gets to court that your income gets taken into consideration in terms of a court fine (the punishment) when that is set. The railway just want to obtain the fares form you that you evaded, plus the costs of the hassle you have caused them by them needing to investigate this, they are not fining you

and if you want to legitimately reduce the cost of train fares there may be legit ways to do that you could have done (like buy a railcard if you are entitled to one) instead of evading fares. If you can buy one, and it would work for you then you could but one and tell them you have done that as an example of what you have done to legitimately reduce fares. But if a railcard does not work for your travel patterns then you don't have to do that.

Also the train officer that reported me told me to mention that i mainly use tram to get to places rather than train so that they don’t think I’ve been bumping train too many times. Would that help at all?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Mar 2025 ==

And it is true I use tram everyday but only use train about once a week .

Again no real point in my view, they can probably see how many times you have bought train fares that were wrong by looking at any on line purchasing of tickets that you do. You won't have bought train tickets of any sort on occasions when you have used the tram.

 

[Iamcooked]

Oh okay that makes sense thanks.
When should I reply back to them ?
They haven’t given me a deadline or anything.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

When should I reply back to them ?
They haven’t given me a deadline or anything

If you're happy with your response, then get it sent off to them. You really don't want to give the impression that you're not going to reply as that could encourage the railway to take you to court.

 

[WesternLancer]

Oh okay that makes sense thanks.
When should I reply back to them ?
They haven’t given me a deadline or anything.

We usually see them state they want a reply within 14 days (sometimes 21 days) of the date they contacted you on - so when you are happy with it send your reply as soon as you can.

Keep copies of everything.

 

[Iamcooked]

Okay thank you everyone for the support.

 

[saismee]

Well done. It's also a good idea to diary the expiry date of your card because from what we see here they may well not remind you.

This is incredibly important, as it is very easy to accidentally forget to renew your railcard and end up on the hook for hundreds of pounds worth of tickets. It's frustrating how easy it is to forget... best bet is to renew it on your birthday or a holiday as its easy to remember.

 

[Hadders]

The latest version of the letter looks ok to me. Do let us know how things work out.

 

[Iamcooked]

they agreed to settle it out of court and asked for a payment of £318
Thank you so much to everyone who replied on this thread . My life would’ve been screwed if I got a criminal conviction.