Railcard expired

[LXJ]

Hi, just writing for some advice.

I was stopped by a ticket inspector as I was leaving the station on the weekend in Bristol and cautioned for an expired rail card. On the card the expiry date said SEPT21 so i assume it expired at the start of the month. I had no idea it had expired and would have never used it if i had known. The whole thing has really upset and stressed me out.

I had been in Bristol just for the weekend and used Great western and Cross Country for 3 separate single tickets. However, in the month of October i had also used the railcard a further 3 times on Chiltern railways. As i had purchased the tickets on trainline, the inspector asked me if I had used the railcard for these journeys, I was honest and replied I had as I had not realised until I had just been stopped. He then proceeded to take a photo of these journeys with his phone. The only ticket he actually scanned was the Cross Country journey I had just been on at the time I was stopped but he handed me a Great Western railways card?

I was extremely apologetic and clearly taken aback throughout the interview and he told me to not to worry and let it ruin my life and I would have a chance to explain myself to the prosecutors within the next 21 days. Yet I am worried that because I had used the railcard for multiple journeys with different train company's this will reflect badly and cause me to be potentially chased by multiple train lines.

Does anyone know if 1. it would likely be GWR prosecuting me if I was handed their card and 2. Will I be chased by the other train lines?

Thanks for your help.

 

[221129]

1. it would likely be GWR prosecuting me if I was handed their card

Most likely. But they could pass it onto XC but that's unlikely.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Oct 2021 ==

Will I be chased by the other train lines?

Possibly. Although GWR could prosecute for all the offences together.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

If you haven't already spotted it, have a look at posts #1 - #4 in https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/expired-railcard.223891/. The poster there is in a rather similar position, and so our advice to you would be similar. Essentially, it's likely ( but not guaranteed) that you will be able to settle out of court.

 

[RPI]

GWR will more than likely complete a data release form for the trainline to disclose all of your previous bookings since the expiry of your railcard and calculate the fares due.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

Here's the advice I normally give to other posters who seek our advice in similar circumstances.

You are likely to receive a letter from the train company (or an investigation company acting on their behalf) which will probably take a few weeks to arrive saying that they have received a report, are considering prosecuting you and asking for your version of events. It is important that you engage with and reply to this letter. You might want to include the following in your reply:

- 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

Make sure your reply is short and concise, don't give a sob story - they've heard it all before. Most train companies are usually prepared to offer an administrative settlement (commonly known as an out of court settlement) for people who engage with the process and who haven't come to their attention before. There is no guarantee of this and the train company would be well within their rights to prosecute you in the magistrates court.

If you are offered a settlement the amount varies depending on the train company and circumstances but tend to be a few hundred pounds plus the outstanding fare. An out of court settlement might appear to be a fine, but it isn't and you won't have a criminal record as a result of accepting one.

Feel free to post a copy of the letter when it arrives (with personal details removed) and I'm sure members on here will be happy to assist in proof reading your reply.

 

[LXJ]

Still haven’t heard anything yet.. how long does it usually take for them to send a letter?

 

[LXJ]

Sorry me again! I still haven’t received any letter.. do you think it is worth reaching out to them? Or is it common to have to wait a few months? It has now been 6 weeks and i’m just concerned it’s got lost in the post or something! Thanks in advance x

 

[Hadders]

Sorry me again! I still haven’t received any letter.. do you think it is worth reaching out to them? Or is it common to have to wait a few months? It has now been 6 weeks and i’m just concerned it’s got lost in the post or something! Thanks in advance x

It can take up to 6 months for the letter to arrive. I wouldn't chase them up, just sit tight and wait for it to arrive.

 

[LXJ]

It can take up to 6 months for the letter to arrive. I wouldn't chase them up, just sit tight and wait for it to arrive.

Okay thanks for your help

 

[MrBrightside14]

Sorry me again! I still haven’t received any letter.. do you think it is worth reaching out to them? Or is it common to have to wait a few months? It has now been 6 weeks and i’m just concerned it’s got lost in the post or something! Thanks in advance x

Received anything yet?

 

[30907]

Received anything yet?

Welcome to the forum.
8 weeks is still well under 6 months. If you have an issue you want help with, please start a new thread.

 

[MrBrightside14]

Welcome to the forum.
8 weeks is still well under 6 months. If you have an issue you want help with, please start a new thread.

Thank you. My story is pretty much parallel bar the location mine happened at, it even happened on the same weekend too and I have received no correspondence yet. Am scared by some of the stories I’ve seen where even tho you have given the right address it still gets sent to the wrong address and they only find out after it’s gone too far to deal with before court.

 

[gray1404]

Thank you. My story is pretty much parallel bar the location mine happened at, it even happened on the same weekend too and I have received no correspondence yet. Am scared by some of the stories I’ve seen where even tho you have given the right address it still gets sent to the wrong address and they only find out after it’s gone too far to deal with before court.

You should start your own new post.

 

[LXJ]

Just a quick update - received a letter this week from GWR offering an out of court settlement for £200. Paid and just happy it’s behind me now! Horrible experience but safe to say I will be double-checking my railcard when travelling from now on.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Just a quick update - received a letter this week from GWR offering an out of court settlement for £200. Paid and just happy it’s behind me now! Horrible experience but safe to say I will be double-checking my railcard when travelling from now on.

Thanks for all your help!

Thanks for letting us know: this may very well be helpful for anyone else in the same position.

 

[Blinkbonny]

That's a terribly long time to have had this hanging over you (though within the six months I suppose.) You have my sympathies.