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Seeking opinions & advice

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bitofapickle

New Member
Joined
28 Jul 2024
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3
Location
Bridgwater
Writing shortly in behalf of my wife regarding events that took place in the day of posting.

My wife traveled from Birstol to Bridgwater using GWR today, using a return ticket that requires a railcard. She was given this ticket by a friend and if asked, she had the full intention to pay the difference of the fare. This decision was made hastly without too much thought.

During the ride, she was apprcoahed and asked for a ticket, she provided the mentioned ticket (16-25) via railcard one, but had no railcard of her own. She immidiately offered to pay the difference for the ticket. She was asked if she had a rail card and she mentioned she currently didn't have hers. After an official statament about being on camera and so forth, she was asked again, and she laid out that she did infact not own one at all (she doesn't) and reiterated that she would be willing to pay the difference. She was then told that lying about having a railcard would result in a prosecution & court hearing etc. After handing out her drivers license and giving them her email, she was told that she didn't have to answer any questions and was free to leave, whilst being asked quesitons regarless. She promptly left asking if she could once more.

Now, I've gone and read about the policy regarding GWR's loss prevention in their own website, and from my understanding prosecution is seeken when in question with repeat offences, but I'm a little unsure about any of it. I also, in my research stumbled to this forum and it's vast threads regarding the subject and I've found plenty of answers and situations here, that have either reassured me that everything will be alright, and how things can quickly hit the fan.

To muddy the waters slightly, we currently live in a different country. She is visiting the UK after a period of living with me in another country and receiving her provisional stay and is due back here in two days. The name on her lisence is with her old surename, as she took mine when we married. If we were to receive any letters, the would go to a slightly unreliable family members, but possibly be able to be recovered to us if it came to that.

So, I'd ask, what are the likelyhood of consequences, and what could those be? I'm asking to get some clarity to the situation so we can be prepapred for it. If it were to be a fine, we would gladly pay it, or a settlement for that matter of any sort. The most problematic thing is anything outside of that becomes quite life altering, and we'd have a slightly harder time handling it as we live in a different country all together.

If any additional information regarding the incident is required to help or advice, I'll gladly answer / seek out the answers needed.

Yours truly,

Edit:
Additionally, she was asked for her email address which she readily provided, so I'd also like to ask, how likely is it that we would be contacted by these means, as it would be our best way of communication. Sadly I'm unaware of how things work in Britain, as most of the threads I've read has had people posting letters etc.
 
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RailUK Forums

Gloster

Veteran Member
Joined
4 Sep 2020
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13,057
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Up the creek
Did she receive any paperwork at the time? If so, please post it in this thread with the name, address and any identifying details, such as reference numbers, obscured.
 

bitofapickle

New Member
Joined
28 Jul 2024
Messages
3
Location
Bridgwater
She did not receive any paperwork, she walked away after being told twice or so that she is not being held and can leave. She promply left after asking if she was allowed to after those statements. No paperwork were given.

Thank you for your prompt reply.
 

John R

Established Member
Joined
1 Jul 2013
Messages
6,149
Whilst we don't normally recommend trying to contact a train company prior to receiving a letter, in your case I think it would be reasonable to email them, explain exactly where and when your wife was stopped, and that she is leaving the country in two days, so she would appreciate any further contact being by email. GWRProsecutions@GWR.com is probably the best email to use, even although it won't have got that far yet.

It's very likely that the outcome will be an offer of an out of court settlement, provided your wife engages with the process and apologises for her mistake when she is written to.

For info, here is a link to a page from which you can download GWR's Revenue Protection Policy, from which I got the email address.

 
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