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Hello, I was stopped by a West Midlands Trains Revenue Protection Inspector
and given an “Authority to Travel following a travel irregularity” slip.
The inspector took my details but I believe the address recorded may be
incorrect. He said their team will send me a letter asking for my comments.
I would like advice on:
- What steps I should take next
- How to check/update my address so I don’t miss any correspondence
- What to expect in the process
Notice number is provided on the slip but I will only share it privately if
needed.
If you have given them the wrong address, you have committed a second offence, on top of whatever the travel irregularity was.
It’s important that you get the letter they send to you, else it could easily escalate to court, where you will very likely be found guilty (assuming you did commit an offence). You won’t know about it until the court bailiffs catch up with you, which they are very good at doing.
As you have a slip with, presumably, a reference number, you should email the prosecutions team, and advise them if you correct address. (I can’t find the correct email at the moment, but I am sure someone will help with this.)
If you have given them the wrong address, you have committed a second offence, on top of whatever the travel irregularity was.
It’s important that you get the letter they send to you, else it could easily escalate to court, where you will very likely be found guilty (assuming you did commit an offence). You won’t know about it until the court bailiffs catch up with you, which they are very good at doing.
As you have a slip with, presumably, a reference number, you should email the prosecutions team, and advise them if you correct address. (I can’t find the correct email at the moment, but I am sure someone will help with this.)
The inspector took my details on a mobile device, but due to the rush on the train he accidentally recorded my home address incorrectly. I only noticed this afterwards.
He told me that a letter will be sent to the address he entered, but because the address is wrong, I’m concerned I will not receive the correspondence.
I have the Notice Number and the slip.
I would like to make sure they have my correct address so I don’t miss any correspondence and the situation doesn’t escalate without my knowledge.
Could someone please advise:
the correct contact email or department to update my address, and
If you have given them the wrong address, you have committed a second offence, on top of whatever the travel irregularity was.
It’s important that you get the letter they send to you, else it could easily escalate to court, where you will very likely be found guilty (assuming you did commit an offence). You won’t know about it until the court bailiffs catch up with you, which they are very good at doing.
As you have a slip with, presumably, a reference number, you should email the prosecutions team, and advise them if you correct address. (I can’t find the correct email at the moment, but I am sure someone will help with this.)
@sandeepk ref this you should at this stage contact them to conform or give them your correct contact deatial (post and e-mail)
All you should say in your e mail at this stage is along these lines:
Dear Sir/ Madam
I was stopped on x date at y location and questioned about the validity of my rail ticket.
I was given this ref number xxxxx
Unfortunately I am not sure if my address details were recorded correctly (/ or eg I did not give correct personal detail and I would like to apologise for this.)
Please note my correct name and address is …..
My e-mail address is:
Yours faithfully
Contact for West Mids Trains - dos the paperwork you were given have contact details? (address or e-mail) if so use that
Or possibly this e-mail (but I'm not sure as 'digital fraud' is often the team that seems to search through people's ticket records to kook for on line evidence of fare evasion and that is perhaps not who would be dealing with your case)
Someone here might know a better address - or search this part of the forum for west mids trains cases to see if anyone has posted an e-mail and other contact details address
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
The inspector took my details on a mobile device, but due to the rush on the train he accidentally recorded my home address incorrectly. I only noticed this afterwards.
He told me that a letter will be sent to the address he entered, but because the address is wrong, I’m concerned I will not receive the correspondence.
I have the Notice Number and the slip.
I would like to make sure they have my correct address so I don’t miss any correspondence and the situation doesn’t escalate without my knowledge.
Could someone please advise:
the correct contact email or department to update my address, and
@sandeepk ref this you should at this stage contact them to conform or give them your correct contact deatial (post and e-mail)
All you should say in your e mail at this stage is along these lines:
Dear Sir/ Madam
I was stopped on x date at y location and questioned about the validity of my rail ticket.
I was given this ref number xxxxx
Unfortunately I am not sure if my address details were recorded correctly (/ or eg I did not give correct personal detail and I would like to apologise for this.)
Please note my correct name and address is …..
My e-mail address is:
Yours faithfully
Contact for West Mids Trains - dos the paperwork you were given have contact details? (address or e-mail) if so use that
Or possibly this e-mail (but I'm not sure as 'digital fraud' is often the team that seems to search through people's ticket records to kook for on line evidence of fare evasion and that is perhaps not who would be dealing with your case)
Someone here might know a better address - or search this part of the forum for west mids trains cases to see if anyone has posted an e-mail and other contact details address
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Please can you upload a copy of the slip (all of it / both sides etc) but with the ref number and any of your personal details obscured.
Hello, I was stopped by a West Midlands Trains Revenue Protection Inspector
and given an “Authority to Travel following a travel irregularity” slip.
The inspector took my details but I believe the address recorded may be
incorrect. He said their team will send me a letter asking for my comments.
I would like advice on:
- What steps I should take next
- How to check/update my address so I don’t miss any correspondence
- What to expect in the process
Notice number is provided on the slip but I will only share it privately if
needed.
a) get your address records corrected (see above)
b) examine your own ticket records to see if whatever it was you have been reported for - if you explain to us what this was it will help ensure you get advice pertinent to what is going to happen - (or any other ticket buying activity that involves not paying the full and correct fare on your travels in the past) is available you and save that information. Because you can expect them to audit your ticket records for evidence of suspicious activity, or what look like suspicious activity to them - eg buying tickets for only part of your travel (short faring) or buying tickets with railcard discounts when you do not possess the relevant railcard etc)
2) How to check/update my address so I don’t miss any correspondence
see above
3) What to expect in the process
This may depend on what you were stopped for but this general advice from the forum may be of help to you to know what to expect in general terms
Assuming you did not have a valid ticket:
you committed a criminal offence by travelling with an invalid ticket and railway companies are entitled to prosecute you in the Magistrates Court if they want to. The good news is they will normally offer an out of court settlement to people who co-operate with them and who haven't come to their attention before.
Next, what happens is the railway company will write to you. The letter will go to the address that you gave them / on any of your ID they checked so you need to be able to access hard copy post at that address as they often send things that way (but also check e-mail and spam). It is extremely important that you reply, and you'll only have a limited time to do so (often 14 days from the date on their communication).
When you receive the letter post a redacted copy of it in this thread, along with your draft reply and forum members will proof read it for you. You'll find lots of example letters you can use in this section of the forum but the reply basically needs to mention:
- That you are sorry for what has happened
- What you have learned from the incident and will not do this again
- That you are keen to settle the matter without the need for court action
- Offer to pay the outstanding fare and the railway company’s administrative costs in dealing with the matter
The railway will probably offer you an out of court settlement. Expect to have to pay the cost of the fare for the journey you made at the full Anytime rate with no credit given for the invalid ticket you purchased. In addition they will charge an admin fee, typically £150. They will also audit your online ticket purchase history and if this shows you've purchased other tickets that were not valid (eg railcard discounted tickets when you did not have a valid railcard, or tickets for only par of the journey, or tickets bought after boarding the train you travelled on ) they will probably factor the cost of these journeys into the settlement offer, or may seek to pursue that with you separately*. Depending on how many journeys you've made over the period concerned this could end up being expensive.
Settlements usually have to be paid in full within a few days of them being offered so if money is tight you might want to think about how you will raise the sum required at short notice.
* We often see WM Trains doing this separately, possibly later on
I can't confirm anything if you are reluctant to upload the paperwork you were given* (which is entirely up to you of course, but it does limit the advice people can give you here).
ITAL is a company that some railway companies outsource aspects of their ticket enforcement work (and / or Penalty Fares work which is handled differently) to, and that is an e-mail address for ITAL that you can find used on this forum BUT
-Whether WM trains use them I am not 100% sure
- Whether ITAL is dealing with your case even if WM Trains outsource some work to them I can not know.
If it is an e-mail address on your paperwork you could use it to contact them. If it's an e-mail address you have found via a search you can't know for certain if they will be dealing with your case or not.
*ideally we'd need to see every word on it apart from personal info that can be linked to you - especially any 'small print'
I can't confirm anything if you are reluctant to upload the paperwork you were given* (which is entirely up to you of course, but it does limit the advice people can give you here).
ITAL is a company that some railway companies outsource aspects of their ticket enforcement work (and / or Penalty Fares work which is handled differently) to, and that is an e-mail address for ITAL that you can find used on this forum BUT
-Whether WM trains use them I am not 100% sure
- Whether ITAL is dealing with your case even if WM Trains outsource some work to them I can not know.
If it is an e-mail address on your paperwork you could use it to contact them. If it's an e-mail address you have found via a search you can't know for certain if they will be dealing with your case or not.
*ideally we'd need to see every word on it apart from personal info that can be linked to you - especially any 'small print'
I'm afraid we cannot accept payment for this notice due to the current status of the case, please contact one of our advisors on 0844 409 9614 or alternatively email us at prosecutions@ital-uk.com.
The Payment Line is open Monday to Friday 0900 - 1600 excluding bank holidays.
Calls to 0844 numbers cost 5 pence per minute plus your standard network charges.
When I search with my notice number in https://www.ircas.co.uk/ got above information
I'm afraid we cannot accept payment for this notice due to the current status of the case, please contact one of our advisors on 0844 409 9614 or alternatively email us at prosecutions@ital-uk.com.
The Payment Line is open Monday to Friday 0900 - 1600 excluding bank holidays.
Calls to 0844 numbers cost 5 pence per minute plus your standard network charges.
When I search with my notice number in https://www.ircas.co.uk/ got above information
The company hasn't asked you for any money. The report is basically a write-up for prosecution. In the coming weeks the company will write to you asking for your side of the story. This is why we need to know what has happened, so we can help you write back and avoid being prosecuted - whether you have done something illegal or not (sometimes, people do have lawful defences!).
I'm afraid we cannot accept payment for this notice due to the current status of the case, please contact one of our advisors on 0844 409 9614 or alternatively email us at prosecutions@ital-uk.com.
The Payment Line is open Monday to Friday 0900 - 1600 excluding bank holidays.
Calls to 0844 numbers cost 5 pence per minute plus your standard network charges.
When I search with my notice number in https://www.ircas.co.uk/ got above information
what notice? You have not shown us the notice so we can't advise you clearly about this
That is a payment process for paying them (including paying as Penalty Fare which I suspect you have not been given) if they have agreed a payment option for you (such as an out of court settlement) that usually won't be agreed until they write to you, you reply and they decide to let you pay a sum of money instead of prosecuting you in court (as explained above)
If this only happened a few days ago on 21 Nov, it won't be on their systems yet - which in my view is probably why it does not recognise the number you have inputted.
what notice? You have not shown us the notice so we can't advise you clearly about this
That is a payment process for paying them (including paying as Penalty Fare which I suspect you have not been given) if they have agreed a payment option for you (such as an out of court settlement) that usually won't be agreed until they write to you, you reply and they decide to let you pay a sum of money instead of prosecuting you in court (as explained above)
If this only happened a few days ago on 21 Nov, it won't be on their systems yet - which in my view is probably why it does not recognise the number you have inputted.
West midlands Trains Revenue Protection Department Authority to Travel following travel Irregularity.
Inspector: XXXX
Notice No: XXXX
From : Coventry
To : London Euston
This slip entities you to complete your journey within 90 minute's of the date and time shown.
Date: 21/11/2025
time: 08:55
Only valid on West Midlands Trains services and without prejudice. It is an offence to misuse or alter this authority to travel slip in any way.
As part of the above slip I am trying to searching my application with notice number in IRCAS portal to update the correct address.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Subject: Correction of Address – Notice No. [XXXX]
Hello,
I recently received a “West Midlands Trains – Authority to Travel following a travel irregularity” slip.
The inspector took my details during a busy moment on the train, but the address recorded on the system is incorrect. I want to make sure I receive any correspondence regarding this case.
Notice Number: XXXXX Correct Name: [Your full name] Correct Address:
[Your correct full postal address]
Please can you confirm that my correct address has been updated on the case?
Subject: Correction of Address – Notice No. [XXXX]
Hello,
I recently received a “West Midlands Trains – Authority to Travel following a travel irregularity” slip.
The inspector took my details during a busy moment on the train, but the address recorded on the system is incorrect. I want to make sure I receive any correspondence regarding this case.
Notice Number: XXXXX Correct Name: [Your full name] Correct Address:
[Your correct full postal address]
Please can you confirm that my correct address has been updated on the case?
I have found ITAL mail on IRCAS website when am searching with my notice number:
I'm afraid we cannot accept payment for this notice due to the current status of the case, please contact one of our advisors on 0844 409 9614 or alternatively email us at prosecutions@ital-uk.com.
The Payment Line is open Monday to Friday 0900 - 1600 excluding bank holidays.
Calls to 0844 numbers cost 5 pence per minute plus your standard network charges.
Look, either provide a copy of the notice, along with a summary of what happened, in which case we will try and help you. Or don’t, because atm you are wasting the time of those trying to help you.
Look, either provide a copy of the notice, along with a summary of what happened, in which case we will try and help you. Or don’t, because atm you are wasting the time of those trying to help you.
thanks for your reply. I am really appreciate for your help on this situation.
Hello, I was stopped by a West Midlands Trains Revenue Protection Inspector
and given an “Authority to Travel following a travel irregularity” slip.
The inspector took my details but I believe the address recorded may be
incorrect. He said their team will send me a letter asking for my comments.
The slip contains below like:
West midlands Trains Revenue Protection Department Authority to Travel following travel Irregularity.
Inspector: XXXX
Notice No: XXXX
From : Coventry
To : London Euston
This slip entities you to complete your journey within 90 minute's of the date and time shown.
Date: 21/11/2025
time: 08:55
Only valid on West Midlands Trains services and without prejudice. It is an offence to misuse or alter this authority to travel slip in any way.
As part of the above slip I am trying to searching my application with notice number in IRCAS portal to update the correct address.
I have found ITAL mail on IRCAS website when am searching with my notice number and Can I send mail prosecutions@ital-uk.com to update my correct address??
I'm afraid we cannot accept payment for this notice due to the current status of the case, please contact one of our advisors on 0844 409 9614 or alternatively email us at prosecutions@ital-uk.com.
The Payment Line is open Monday to Friday 0900 - 1600 excluding bank holidays.
Calls to 0844 numbers cost 5 pence per minute plus your standard network charges.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
I have found ITAL mail on IRCAS website when am searching with my notice number and Can I send mail prosecutions@ital-uk.com to update my correct address??
Well you can e-mail them anything you like (and see what they say in reply) but unless you know ITAL / IRCAS are dealing with this then it might not result in them updating your records
You can also use the e-mail address for WM Trains in post #6 and see what they reply with. That also may or may not work.
So as that is an answer to my q2 "is there anything on the slip that says you can / should contact ITAL about it?"
You can not therefore know for certain that ITAL/ IRCAS are dealing with your case and thus if you e-mail or write to them to confirm your address they may or may not be able to do that for you.
And if the slip was issued by London North Western Railway / West Midlands Trains my view is that you should contact WM Trains / London North Western Railway about your address details.
So as that is an answer to my q2 "is there anything on the slip that says you can / should contact ITAL about it?"
You can not therefore know for certain that ITAL/ IRCAS are dealing with your case and thus if you e-mail or write to them to confirm your address they may or may not be able to do that for you.
And if the slip was issued by London North Western Railway / West Midlands Trains my view is that you should contact WM Trains / London North Western Railway about your address details.
I have sent mail to prosecutions@ital-uk.com to update my correct address with my notice number. I will update once I received any further communications. thank you
I have sent mail to prosecutions@ital-uk.com to update my correct address with my notice number. I will update once I received any further communications. thank you
well @AlterEgo in post #25 is saying that ITAL maintain the process for paying for things like this but NOT for administering the vast majority of cases - so telling them your correct address will probably not resolve the initial problem you have.
So you need to tell the train company that stopped and questioned you your correct address.
As an aside we are doing our best to help advise you but you seem to not wish to answer questions that will help us to help you, and you don't seem to be clearly understanding what is likely to happen to you as a result of whatever it is that has caused this issue. You are making a relatively simple problem to resolve much more difficult for yourself.
If this escalates because they can not contact you and thus you do not reply it will automatically result in you being taken to court. the results of that will be:
- a guilty verdict
- a fine from the court (the punishment for travel without a valid ticket)
- costs of the train company involved in investigating things and bringing the case to court
- a requirement to pay the correct train fare for the travel concerned
- a criminal record
It's therefore in your interest to inform the correct organisation of how to contact you because that significantly reduces the chance of this ending up in court.
If you don't want to trust people on line with certain information (which is up to you if you don't wish to share), another option would be to employ a solicitor to help you resolve this. They would be acting on your behalf. If you opt to do that then you should use a solicitor that specialises in railway ticketing problems, and you should seek quotes from such firms for their help. Their fees to help might cost around £500 or more on top of whatever is necessary to pay the railway for any travel undertaken without a valid ticket.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
I have sent mail to prosecutions@ital-uk.com to update my correct address with my notice number. I will update once I received any further communications. thank you
it will be helpful to see what ITAL reply to you with as hopefully if they can help with the address they will confirm that, if they can't they will tell you they can't (or maybe tell you who can if they are being helpful)
Meanwhile someone has started another thread about being in touch with WM Trains by e-mail so I have asked them if they can share the e-mail address that they received messages from and replied to.
From what we see on here WM Trains do often contact people by e-mail following these incidents (instead of or as well by letter) - so it may be that an incorrect post address recorded when you were on the train will not prevent you hearing from them by e-mail if they have your e-mail address recorded as part of your ticket buying process - if you had a ticket at all of course, which we don't know because you haven't yet told us what happened.
Forum members are trying to assist but in order to give the best advice we really need to see a redacted copy of the notice you were given rather than a transcript or summary of it.
it’s highly likely that you need to contact WMT’s prosecutions department about this rather than ITAL but until we see a redacted copy of the notice it is difficult to advise.
I have sent mail to prosecutions@ital-uk.com to update my correct address with my notice number. I will update once I received any further communications. thank you
We are aware of an issue with emails from the Forum to Microsoft-based email accounts (hotmail/outlook/live.com email addresses). This is being looked into currently, thanks for your patience meanwhile.
