RPO on the GX - help!

[Terribelle608]

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice please. Info on my situation below:

• I was stopped by an RPO during a journey from Haywards Heath to London Victoria on the GX where I was asked to present my railcard (Job Centre Card) used for the ticket. I'd bought my ticket on the trainline app during the journey. I couldn't produce the railcard (it was expired anyway) and panicked, and said that I had the card somewhere at home. I complied and gave all contact information requested. My rights were read to me and I realise I messed up and should've taken the fine (which the RPO was, in hindsight, hinting at at the outset of our interaction).
• I asked what should I do if I can't find the card and they pointed me to write to the address on the printout they gave me.
• I haven't received a letter about this. This happened a week ago.
• I've probably made 20 or so journeys on the card since it expired. I have also short fared between London and Brighton.
• What I'm wondering is:
  • if I should write to the address given before they write to me?
  • How much detail should I give in the first place? I'm assuming that the fact that my card is expired is easy for the TOC to find out, and that investigations will be done to see how often I travelled on the expired card - is this right?
  • Should I say anything about shortfaring? Will they assume this when they see that the journeys I've made are inconsistent? Ie Haywards Heath to Victoria, and then Victoria to Gatwick?

I'm anxious and full of regret over these bad decisions, and want to settle this out of court and as quickly as possible.

Thanks in advance!

 

[AlterEgo]

Wait for them to contact you and when you are contacted, answer only the questions that have been asked of you. Do update us if and when you receive any correspondence, all you can do is wait. GTR often do not audit purchases because theyre lazy.

 

[Terribelle608]

Wait for them to contact you and when you are contacted, answer only the questions that have been asked of you. Do update us if and when you receive any correspondence, all you can do is wait. GTR often do not audit purchases because theyre lazy.

Thanks for the quick reply! They don't often audit purchases as in they don't often verify start and ends of journeys? Or they don't often look back to see if other journeys were made with the expired railcard?

 

[WesternLancer]

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice please. Info on my situation below:

• I was stopped by an RPO during a journey from Haywards Heath to London Victoria on the GX where I was asked to present my railcard (Job Centre Card) used for the ticket. I'd bought my ticket on the trainline app during the journey. I couldn't produce the railcard (it was expired anyway) and panicked, and said that I had the card somewhere at home. I complied and gave all contact information requested. My rights were read to me and I realise I messed up and should've taken the fine (which the RPO was, in hindsight, hinting at at the outset of our interaction).
• I asked what should I do if I can't find the card and they pointed me to write to the address on the printout they gave me.
• I haven't received a letter about this. This happened a week ago.
• I've probably made 20 or so journeys on the card since it expired. I have also short fared between London and Brighton.
• What I'm wondering is:
  • if I should write to the address given before they write to me?
  • How much detail should I give in the first place? I'm assuming that the fact that my card is expired is easy for the TOC to find out, and that investigations will be done to see how often I travelled on the expired card - is this right?
  • Should I say anything about shortfaring? Will they assume this when they see that the journeys I've made are inconsistent? Ie Haywards Heath to Victoria, and then Victoria to Gatwick?

I'm anxious and full of regret over these bad decisions, and want to settle this out of court and as quickly as possible.

Thanks in advance!

It might be some time before they contact you eg six to eight weeks.
If you have not heard in about 4 months come back here for advice on what to consider at that stage.

Little point in contacting them now really. Unless you wanted to write to explain that the railcard had in fact expired.

So did you at some point actually have a Job Seeker railcard? If so that’s quite rare.
We see lots of cases on here of people claiming that discount and getting caught, but I don’t think any / many of them have ever actually had the railcard.

 

[SECR 65]

Thanks for the quick reply! They don't often audit purchases as in they don't often verify start and ends of journeys? Or they don't often look back to see if other journeys were made with the expired railcard?

You will need to honestly tell them the origin and destination of the journey that you were caught on, if the inspector did not already write this down. GTR often don't bother looking into previous journeys. There is little point in openly telling them about these, unless they specifically ask you about them.

 

[Terribelle608]

It might be some time before they contact you eg six to eight weeks.
If you have not heard in about 4 months come back here for advice on what to consider at that stage.

Little point in contacting them now really. Unless you wanted to write to explain that the railcard had in fact expired.

So did you at some point actually have a Job Seeker railcard? If so that’s quite rare.
We see lots of cases on here of people claiming that discount and getting caught, but I don’t think any / many of them have ever actually had the railcard.

Thanks for this. Yes I did have the railcard, I'd thought it only just expired but it did back in August. I assume the TOC would only have to ask the JC if there was a card issued in my name/dates of validity to verify this.

Do you think writing soon to explain that that the card has expired and that I am no longer using it would be a wise move or should I leave it until they contact me?

 

[AlterEgo]

Thanks for this. Yes I did have the railcard, I'd thought it only just expired but it did back in August. I assume the TOC would only have to ask the JC if there was a card issued in my name/dates of validity to verify this.

Do you think writing soon to explain that that the card has expired and that I am no longer using it would be a wise move or should I leave it until they contact me?

Wait until they contact you! There is no benefit to writing to them before hand.

Keep hold of proof of the expired card, in case they audit your purchases - then you can show that at least some of the purchases were legitimate.

 

[WesternLancer]

Wait until they contact you! There is no benefit to writing to them before hand.

Keep hold of proof of the expired card, in case they audit your purchases - then you can show that at least some of the purchases were legitimate.

I agree with this.

OP should just diary coming back here in 4 months for advice on options to consider if they have not heard from the railway but if course in the mean time ask as many questions as they want to - people here will know the answers I'm sure

 

[Greyman1]

They will likely go through your trainline history. Have you made previous purchases using a JC card?
Sit tight and wait for them to come to you. Much the same as the others have said.

 

[Terribelle608]

You will need to honestly tell them the origin and destination of the journey that you were caught on, if the inspector did not already write this down. GTR often don't bother looking into previous journeys. There is little point in openly telling them about these, unless they specifically ask you about them.

The inspector did already write down Haywards Heath, it's in their witness statement so I suppose I don't need to say anything further to this unless asked?

 

[SECR 65]

The inspector did already write down Haywards Heath, it's in their witness statement so I suppose I don't need to say anything further to this unless asked?

Yes, so GTR will already know the details of your journey, so you won't need to tell them specifically. They may reference the start and end points of the journey in their letter. The anytime single fare will be used to calculate the settlement amount. They will not require 'proof' that you boarded at Haywards Heath.