Short fairing - help/advice needed

[pink_90]

Hello All,

I today got stopped by a revenue officer. I stupidly have been short fairing from Paddington to slough and then twyford to Reading. They wanted to see my Trainline app and I didn’t know what I shouldn’t done but in panic I showed them and they saw multiple short tickets. I’ve been buying these tickets for Atleast 3/4 months, I explained to them that I have also brought full tickets. He then asked for my name and address I had no ID so he asked to see my Amazon app and found my old address from orders and my name. He took a picture of the Trainline ticket history and my name and address from Amazon app. He confirmed my number and email. He went on to advise that he’s recording me and that this is an interview under caution. I don’t know my rights, but I said I’m happy to pay for the shortcomings in instalments or however - he advised this is something I need to discuss after I’ve received a letter. I know this is so will of me and has worried me. I didn’t not know of the severity of the situation and did not realise what this could result to. He said this will be sent off for investigation and the department will contact me. I really want to refrain from any court proceedings and have a criminal record. This has worried me immensely and I just don’t know what to anticipate. I don’t have the money to pay for a solicitor outright either. Has anyone experienced this before? Shall I contact a solicitor prior to receiving the letter.

I really don’t want a criminal record, this was just a stupid silly way to save some money which has had such a detrimental outcome.

While I was being interviews a young lad jumped over the fence, I did say to the inspector he’s just jumped and he just casually said he’ll be caught- which he wasn’t.

Any advise will be highly appreciated - when asked the questions I answered the to the best, I have brought some tickets in full which I highlighted.

Thank you.

 

[island]

Were you stopped by an officer from GWR or from TfL?

 

[pink_90]

Were you stopped by an officer from GWR or from TfL?

It was a revenue inspection officer from GWR.

 

[Titfield]

If you use the search facility on this forum you will see that there are numerous threads providing advice on how to respond to correspondence from the Train Operating Company which will arrive in due course.

When the letter arrives please upload here with your personal details and reference number obscured (redacted). Guidance can then be given.

TOCs (except TfL) can usually be "encouraged" to offer an out of court settlement which would be for the full fares avoided (usually with no allowance for the fares already paid) and an administration fee of between £100 and £200.

You may wish to read the advice forum member @Hadders offers in situations such as this.

 

[pink_90]

If you use the search facility on this forum you will see that there are numerous threads providing advice on how to respond to correspondence from the Train Operating Company which will arrive in due course.

When the letter arrives please upload here with your personal details and reference number obscured (redacted). Guidance can then be given.

TOCs (except TfL) can usually be "encouraged" to offer an out of court settlement which would be for the full fares avoided (usually with no allowance for the fares already paid) and an administration fee of between £100 and £200.

You may wish to read the advice forum member @Hadders offers in situations such as this.

Thank you! I appreciate this. I will do when the letter is received.

 

[John R]

Just to ensure you are prepared, this could be a very expensive lesson, as a common practice is to ignore any tickets you held, and charge the full anytime single fare for each journey (£30.60). You may be offered a reduction as you do appear to have covered the majority of your journey with fares, but it’s not guaranteed. There is an argument that it’s unfair not to allow for the fair paid, and practice varies between operators, (I’m not sure what GWR usually does) but you need to be prepared for the worst, as you’ll only have a very short window of time to come up with the full amount due if you are offered a settlement.

You’ll be able to look at your account (as they will almost certainly do) to work out how many times youve done this, to work out the potential cost, adding in an admin fee of around £150 to the fares calculated.

Hopefully you are given some allowance for the fares you paid, which should make any settlement more manageable.

 

[pink_90]

Just to ensure you are prepared, this could be a very expensive lesson, as a common practice is to ignore any tickets you held, and charge the full anytime single fare for each journey (£30.60). You may be offered a reduction as you do appear to have covered the majority of your journey with fares, but it’s not guaranteed. There is an argument that it’s unfair not to allow for the fair paid, and practice varies between operators, (I’m not sure what GWR usually does) but you need to be prepared for the worst, as you’ll only have a very short window of time to come up with the full amount due if you are offered a settlement.

You’ll be able to look at your account (as they will almost certainly do) to work out how many times youve done this, to work out the potential cost, adding in an admin fee of around £150 to the fares calculated.

Hopefully you are given some allowance for the fares you paid, which should make any settlement more manageable.

Thank you for your reply John. I’m concerned at the criminal offence and court dealings portion, I hope this can be settled outside of going to court. A very poor act on my end to try and save some money. I’m not sure when I’ll receive the letter, but if anyone can give some advise how likely is the chance this case going to be settled outside of court proceedings. I am willing to pay of course + admin fees. Just a tough lesson surely learnt.

The revenue inspector did add that he will include in his notes that I am willing to pay.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

Hopefully you are given some allowance for the fares you paid, which should make any settlement more manageable.

If the OP was on a stopping service and wasn't claiming for a invalid railcard, isn't it only the Slough to Twyford part not being paid for?

 

[pink_90]

The revenue inspector did mention the portion I have had no ticket for is from slough to twyford.

 

[WesternLancer]

Have a look at the gwr revenue protection leaflet pdf on their website for useful explanation of their approach to things.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

To be blunt, you've told us that you've been evading you fares on an industrial scale for several months. If a case like this doesn't end up in court then you have to wonder just how serious it has to be to end up in court.

That said GWR are one of the more pragmatic train companies to deal with in situations like this. What happens next is that GWR will write to you saying that they have received a report and are considering prosecuting you. The letter will use quite threatening language and ask for your version of events before they decide how to proceed. I suggest you mention the following in your reply:

- 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

GWR are usually prepared to offer an out of court settlement to people who co-operate with their investigation and who haven't come to their attention before. We cannot guarantee this, GWR are entitled to prosecute you in the Magistrates Court if they want to. If you are offered a settlement expect to have to pay the cost of all the fares avoided at the full Anytime rate with no credit given for the invalid tickets you did purchase. In addition you will have to pay an admin fee of around £150 to reflect the cost of GWR's investigation into your case. You will need to be in a position to pay the settlement in full within a few days of it being offered - payment in installments isn't normally allowed.

A potential complication is the officer took details of you old address. Have you still got access to this address because it's possible that the letter will get sent there. Did you give the officer your current address and is your current address in your Trainline account? Although I don't normally recommend this, if you don't hear from GWR within, say, 4 weeks then it's probably worth reaching out to them. Given the level of evasion involved there is no way they are going to drop the case and if they send a letter to your old address and they don't get a reply they will simply send the case to court (an example of this has been posted on the forum today).

When the letter comes from GWR post a redacted copy of it in this thread, along with your draft reply and forum members will proof read it for you.

 

[Haywain]

If the OP was on a stopping service and wasn't claiming for a invalid railcard, isn't it only the Slough to Twyford part not being paid for?

I think it's rather optimistic to think that GWR will look at it that way, and the OP is in no position to argue if they don't.

 

[pink_90]

Welcome to the forum!

To be blunt, you've told us that you've been evading you fares on an industrial scale for several months. If a case like this doesn't end up in court then you have to wonder just how serious it has to be to end up in court.

That said GWR are one of the more pragmatic train companies to deal with in situations like this. What happens next is that GWR will write to you saying that they have received a report and are considering prosecuting you. The letter will use quite threatening language and ask for your version of events before they decide how to proceed. I suggest you mention the following in your reply:

- 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

GWR are usually prepared to offer an out of court settlement to people who co-operate with their investigation and who haven't come to their attention before. We cannot guarantee this, GWR are entitled to prosecute you in the Magistrates Court if they want to. If you are offered a settlement expect to have to pay the cost of all the fares avoided at the full Anytime rate with no credit given for the invalid tickets you did purchase. In addition you will have to pay an admin fee of around £150 to reflect the cost of GWR's investigation into your case. You will need to be in a position to pay the settlement in full within a few days of it being offered - payment in installments isn't normally allowed.

A potential complication is the officer took details of you old address. Have you still got access to this address because it's possible that the letter will get sent there. Did you give the officer your current address and is your current address in your Trainline account? Although I don't normally recommend this, if you don't hear from GWR within, say, 4 weeks then it's probably worth reaching out to them. Given the level of evasion involved there is no way they are going to drop the case and if they send a letter to your old address and they don't get a reply they will simply send the case to court (an example of this has been posted on the forum today).

When the letter comes from GWR post a redacted copy of it in this thread, along with your draft reply and forum members will proof read it for you.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. My old address is an address I still use, my family live there. I’m not too sure where my Trainline account is registered most likely my new address. I am prepared to settle at any cost outside of any court proceedings. Once the letter is received I’ll post on the forum.