SE

[AMridul]

Hi all,

Recently received a letter from South Eastern stating that due to an incident earlier this month they are considering prosecuting me.
A ticket officer caught me short faring between 2 stations in Kent. This is my first issue with short faring but I have been caught and given penalty of 3 previous occasions for penalty evasion. I am writing to them hoping to settle out of court but just wanted advise on how likely that is given that I have paid penalty 3 times before

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Feb 2025 ==

This is the letter I received

 

[AlterEgo]

You’ve had three penalty fares? In what sort of time frame?

 

[AMridul]

You’ve had three penalty fares? In what sort of time frame?

Over the last 2 years

 

[AndroidBango]

Is the first time you've short fared, or the first time you were caught?

 

[JordR]

Were the penalty fares issued by Southeastern? Were they also in crcumstances where you were short faring?

Others may know if they check these things or even consider previous penalty fares an aggravating factor towards prosecution.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

We really need to know more information about your case to be able to advise properly

Which stations were you travelling between?
What tickets did you buy?
Were these purchased before you boarded the train?
Was a railc ard used? If so, do you possess the railcard and is it in date?
What was said on the day when you were stopped? Were you given any paperwork, and if so can you upload a redacted copy of it.

You mention three previous Penalties - what were these? Penalty Fares? Can you tell us what these were given to you for? When were you charged them and by which train company?

Normally, Southeastern are willing to offer an out of court settlement to people who co-operate with their investigation and who haven't come to their attention before. It sounds as though you have come to their attention before so while I wouldn't completely rule out a settlement I think it's going to be very difficult to achieve one.

 

[WesternLancer]

Over the last 2 years

The problem you have here is that it will look to them like you persists but incorrect tickets and just pay a penalty fare on occasions when you get caught as this is a cheaper option for you.

They want to put a stop to this behaviour (if it’s what you do which is why people are asking what the penalty fares are for) so might now go down the prosecution route

But people here will help you make the best of it.

You need to persuade them you’ve learned a lesson changed your ways.