Received a Notice of intention to prosecute

[HootingHorn]

Hi all,

On Tuesday 23rd of July I was travelling between Cricklewood and Luton Airport Parkway, since I work at Luton Airport I have a Luton Staff Discount Railcard which I normally use on my tickets. I buy my tickets on the online app TrainLine and had a misconception I could choose any railcard I like as there was no specific "Luton airport staff" railcard. Therefore I decided to use the Jobcentre+ card as it seemed to give the biggest discount on train tickets and also seemed to be related to Jobs. I have since realised what a foolish mistake this was and that I was infact not entitled to this railcard. I fully accept responsibility for my actions and am looking to make this right by paying a penalty fare. Now going back to that ill fated Tuesday I was stopped by a ticket inspector on the train and was questioned if I had the "Jobcentre+" railcard with me, I explained that I had forgotten my railcard in my locker at work - this being my Luton Airport Staff Discount card which at this point I was still assuming was the same Jobcentre+ card. the inspector than asked me some questions citing it was a witness statment, he mainly asked me if I could cover the cost of a full ticket and if I had a railcard - I truthfully answered that yes indeed I did have a railcard and that I had forgotten it - not realising that I infact did not have a jobcentre railcard. He then told me a website that I could upload a picture of the railcard too so when I went home that evening I promptly uploaded a picture of my Luton Airport Staff railcard and thought that was the end of it - yesterday 23rd of August I received a Notice of intention to prosecute and I am now worried I did some research and realised I did not have the same railcard, I have attached a copy of the letter I received and I am unsure what to do next and if I will be liable for all the trips that I have taken using this railcard.

Thanks for reading and looking forward to everyone's best advice,
HootingHorn

 

[John R]

Have you since established what you should be doing to buy tickets at the appropriate reduced rate, and what that reduction should be?

 

[AlterEgo]

The Luton Airport Discount card is only available on season tickets and cannot be used on day tickets, or on a site like Trainline.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

A quick Google brings up https://www.london-luton.co.uk/corporate/careers/staff-discount-travelcard: in brief, you appear to be able to get discount on season tickets to work, rather than on day tickets.

In general, GTR seems to be willing to settle ticket irregularities out of court: @Hadders routinely gives some excellent advice on what you will need to explain. But this also looks like misuse of your employment travel arrangements, and your employer may not be happy if the railway get in touch with them. If you are in a union it is probably worth talking to your union rep soon.

 

[HootingHorn]

Have you since established what you should be doing to buy tickets at the appropriate reduced rate, and what that reduction should be?

Yes I have - I now know how to correctly apply my railcard and that it doesn't work for single tickets - if I could just get some advice on what I should include in my reply and if I can type this up instead of handwriting it

 

[30907]

Yes I have - I now know how to correctly apply my railcard and that it doesn't work for single tickets - if I could just get some advice on what I should include in my reply and if I can type this up instead of handwriting it

Look at posts by member @Hadders on this forum.

Definitely type your reply (and make it readable - short paragraphs!) but cross-reference it to any other document.

 

[AlterEgo]

Have you estimated the number of fares which are affected here? GTR haven’t indicated if they are considering any other fares here (they can audit your accounts if they want to, but often they don’t bother).

I’d limit my response to the single instance you were stopped and not discuss or intimate you have done this before.

 

[Hadders]

I suggest a short, concise reply that includes the following:

- 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

If you post a dradft copy of your reply in this thread forum members will proof read it for you.

 

[HootingHorn]

I suggest a short, concise reply that includes the following:

- 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

If you post a dradft copy of your reply in this thread forum members will proof read it for you.

To whomever this may concern,
I was travelling from Cricklewood to Luton Airport Parkway on 23rd July 2024 with a valid ticket and a railcard that I believe I was entitled to, a ticket inspector stopped me and asked to see my railcard. I explained that I had left it at home and he directed me to a website where I could upload it too, when I got home I realised that I was using the wrong railcard and it did not match. I am sincerely sorry for my actions and am looking to settle this matter without the need for court action, I am willing to pay the outstanding fare and any administrator fees I may have incurred.
Thank you for taking the time to read my appeal,
HootingHorn

Could I also get some advice on how to get this too them asap, should I post it myself on a separate piece of paper or use their paper - I have also never had the need to a post a letter before so do I need to buy any special stamps, can I type my reply and print it out ? or does it need to be handwritten?

Thanks all

@Hadders

 

[ikcdab]

This doesn't really make sense. You say you were travelling with a Railcard yet you told the ticket inspector you had left it at home.

Better to say:

I was travelling from Cricklewood to Luton Airport Parkway on 23rd July 2024. I had bought a ticket using a Railcard discount that I was not entitled to. When I stopped by the ticket inspector I told him that I had left my Railcard at home.

 

[WesternLancer]

To whomever this may concern,
I was travelling from Cricklewood to Luton Airport Parkway on 23rd July 2024 with a valid ticket and a railcard that I believe I was entitled to, a ticket inspector stopped me and asked to see my railcard. I explained that I had left it at home and he directed me to a website where I could upload it too, when I got home I realised that I was using the wrong railcard and it did not match. I am sincerely sorry for my actions and am looking to settle this matter without the need for court action, I am willing to pay the outstanding fare and any administrator fees I may have incurred.
Thank you for taking the time to read my appeal,
HootingHorn

Could I also get some advice on how to get this too them asap, should I post it myself on a separate piece of paper or use their paper - I have also never had the need to a post a letter before so do I need to buy any special stamps, can I type my reply and print it out ? or does it need to be handwritten?

Thanks all

@Hadders

You don’t need special stamps technically but it is VITAL they get your reply. So usual advice here is to take your response to a post office and ask at the counter to send it tracked or signed for postal service.

They will give you a receipt with a code on it that allows you to log on and see when it was delivered. Keep that receipt safe and keep a screen shot of when it says it was delivered as your proof in case needed.

Keep a copy of everything they have sent you and of your final version of your reply.

All separate pages should have their reference numbers on them in case things get separated their end so make sure you include them. Imagine this is going into a busy office dealing with hundreds of these each week. You don’t want yours being lost. Make life easy for their staff. That’s in your best interest.

Good luck.