Southern rail

[Nik1997_]

On December 18, 2024, I was travelling from Heathrow Airport to Clapham Junction. To save money, I bought a ticket from Heathrow Airport to Horley. My plan was to use this ticket to enter through the barriers at Heathrow, and then continue my journey home without tapping out at my actual destination.

However, just after East Croydon station, a ticket inspector began checking tickets. At that moment, I quickly bought a ticket from Heathrow Airport to East Croydon using the Trainline app, while the inspector was approaching.

When he checked my ticket, he noticed that I had just purchased it moments before. He was curious how I had entered the station at Heathrow, so he asked to see my Trainline app. After checking my account, he discovered what I had done. He then asked me for ID, and I gave him my provisional driving licence.

We both got off the train at Clapham Junction, where he asked me a few questions. He asked if I had enough money to buy a ticket, and I said yes. Then he asked whether I thought what I had done was okay, and because I was very nervous and scared, I said yes. After that, he let me go and told me the company would contact me by post.

I kept waiting for a reply and checked their website, where it said they were currently busy and that it might take a while to get a response. Then, on May 27, 2025, I finally received a letter from them. It said I needed to respond within 14 days. However, I noticed that the date written on the letter was March 10, 2025.

I cant afford to go for prosecution, i want to sort it out before the court please suggest me how to reply even after this late letter receiving.

Thank you

 

[yorkie]

Do you mean Gatwick, not Heathrow?

It's likely that GTR (Govia Thameslink Railway, who operate trains branded Southern) will settle out of court.

 

[Nik1997_]

Thank you for the reply, yes i mean Gatwick airport. even now i am so stressed that i am writing it wrong.

 

[WesternLancer]

On December 18, 2024, I was travelling from Heathrow Airport to Clapham Junction. To save money, I bought a ticket from Heathrow Airport to Horley. My plan was to use this ticket to enter through the barriers at Heathrow, and then continue my journey home without tapping out at my actual destination.

However, just after East Croydon station, a ticket inspector began checking tickets. At that moment, I quickly bought a ticket from Heathrow Airport to East Croydon using the Trainline app, while the inspector was approaching.

When he checked my ticket, he noticed that I had just purchased it moments before. He was curious how I had entered the station at Heathrow, so he asked to see my Trainline app. After checking my account, he discovered what I had done. He then asked me for ID, and I gave him my provisional driving licence.

We both got off the train at Clapham Junction, where he asked me a few questions. He asked if I had enough money to buy a ticket, and I said yes. Then he asked whether I thought what I had done was okay, and because I was very nervous and scared, I said yes. After that, he let me go and told me the company would contact me by post.

I kept waiting for a reply and checked their website, where it said they were currently busy and that it might take a while to get a response. Then, on May 27, 2025, I finally received a letter from them. It said I needed to respond within 14 days. However, I noticed that the date written on the letter was March 10, 2025.

I cant afford to go for prosecution, i want to sort it out before the court please suggest me how to reply even after this late letter receiving.

Thank you

Have you on other occasions used this tactic to evade paying the correct fare for your travel. It’s usually called short faring? Either on this or other journeys.

Be aware that they will probably look at your on line booking records to look for anything they think might be suspicious and may ask you about it.

You’ll find other examples on the forum of the sort of response you need to send to try and avoid prosecution and obtain an out of court settlement offer in exchange for offering to pay the fare(s) you owe.

You probably have a few days leeway on the 14 day reply deadline but obviously you need to draft your response asap. Post it here for checking before you send it to the railway and people will help with getting the wording right if that would be of help.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

It's likely that GTR will offer an out of court settlement. In your reply I would mention that you have only just received their letter.

If you are offerd a settlement expect to have to pay the cost of the fare avoided at the full Anytime rate with no credit given for the invalid ticket you did purchase. In addition they will charge an admin fee, typically £150. They might also search your online ticket purchase history and if this shows you have done this before they might factor the cost of these other journeys into the settlement cost.

If you pop your draft reply in this thread then forum members will proof read it for you.

 

[Haywain]

Then, on May 27, 2025, I finally received a letter from them. It said I needed to respond within 14 days. However, I noticed that the date written on the letter was March 10, 2025.

Is the letter really dated March 10th?

 

[Nik1997_]

Thank you all for reply, i am about to write this today, i want to be honest with them please check and suggest

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing in response to your letter dated 10 March 2025, which I received on 27 May 2025. I apologize for the delayed reply; the letter’s late arrival prevented me from responding within the specified 14-day period.

On 18 December 2024, I traveled from Gatwick Airport to Clapham Junction. In an attempt to economize, I purchased a ticket from Gatwick Airport to Horley, intending to use this ticket to enter through the barriers at Gatwick and then continue my journey home without tapping out at my actual destination.

After East Croydon station, a ticket inspector began checking tickets. At that moment, I quickly bought a ticket from Gatwick Airport to East Croydon using the Trainline app, while the inspector was approaching. When he checked my ticket, he noticed that I had just purchased it moments before. He inquired how I had entered the station at Gatwick, so I showed him my Trainline app. After checking my account, he discovered what I had done. I provided my provisional driving licence upon request.

We both got off the train at Clapham Junction, where he asked me a few questions. He inquired if I had enough money to buy a ticket, and I said yes. Then he asked whether I thought what I had done was okay, and because I was very nervous and scared, I said yes. After that, he let me go and told me the company would contact me by post.

I deeply regret my actions and understand the seriousness of fare evasion. I assure you this was an isolated incident, and I am committed to ensuring it does not happen again. I am willing to pay the outstanding fare and any administrative costs incurred.

I hope you will consider allowing me to settle this matter without court proceedings. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jun 2025 ==

Have you on other occasions used this tactic to evade paying the correct fare for your travel. It’s usually called short faring? Either on this or other journeys.

Be aware that they will probably look at your on line booking records to look for anything they think might be suspicious and may ask you about it.

You’ll find other examples on the forum of the sort of response you need to send to try and avoid prosecution and obtain an out of court settlement offer in exchange for offering to pay the fare(s) you owe.

You probably have a few days leeway on the 14 day reply deadline but obviously you need to draft your response asap. Post it here for checking before you send it to the railway and people will help with getting the wording right if that would be of help.

I did do it few times earlier as well but as they have asked me to write down my response on what happend that day so i am replying them only for that day.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jun 2025 ==

Welcome to the forum!

It's likely that GTR will offer an out of court settlement. In your reply I would mention that you have only just received their letter.

If you are offerd a settlement expect to have to pay the cost of the fare avoided at the full Anytime rate with no credit given for the invalid ticket you did purchase. In addition they will charge an admin fee, typically £150. They might also search your online ticket purchase history and if this shows you have done this before they might factor the cost of these other journeys into the settlement cost.

If you pop your draft reply in this thread then forum members will proof read it for you.pl

Welcome to the forum!

It's likely that GTR will offer an out of court settlement. In your reply I would mention that you have only just received their letter.

If you are offerd a settlement expect to have to pay the cost of the fare avoided at the full Anytime rate with no credit given for the invalid ticket you did purchase. In addition they will charge an admin fee, typically £150. They might also search your online ticket purchase history and if this shows you have done this before they might factor the cost of these other journeys into the settlement cost.

If you pop your draft reply in this thread then forum members will proof read it for you.

please checkout my draft and suggest

 

[Haywain]

on May 27, 2025, I finally received a letter from them.

Was the delay in you seeing this letter because it hadn't been delivered by Royal Mail, or some other reason? I would be very concerned that after such a delay court proceeding have already been issued, and possibly have happened without you being aware of them. In any event, you should get your letter off to GTR without delay as you appear to have wasted a week already.

 

[SickyNicky]

Can you check the postmark on the original letter to check the date it was actually posted? It may make a difference.

 

[Nik1997_]

Was the delay in you seeing this letter because it hadn't been delivered by Royal Mail, or some other reason? I would be very concerned that after such a delay court proceeding have already been issued, and possibly have happened without you being aware of them. In any event, you should get your letter off to GTR without delay as you appear to have wasted a week already.

No i have recieved the letter on 27 may only. I hope this is not the case that they have already start the court proceedings. But anyways the letter is asking response from the passenger so do you think without my response they will issue court proceeding?

 

[Haywain]

do you think without my response they will issue court proceeding?

Yes. They have 6 months from the date of the original incident to 'lay papers before the court' in order to prosecute, and they rarely leave it right to the last minute. I am concerned that you don't appreciate the urgency of this matter.

 

[Hadders]

Your saving grace is that GTR has a backlog of cases at the momnent so they might not have realised they haven't yet had a reply.

You really need to get something sent today. GTR will prosecute if you don't reply.

 

[brightonbususe]

i want to be honest with them

I assure you this was an isolated incident

I did do it few times earlier as well but as they have asked me to write down my response on what happend that day so i am replying them only for that day.

Forgive me if I'm not following correctly, but you said above you want to be honest, explain in your letter that it was an isolated incident, but then in reply to WesternLancer say you have done it a few more times? It's almost certain they will check your travel history and see you are lying which the experts here will always advise against as it will work against you. It's one thing to withold information, but another to categorically say it was an isolated incident when it wasn't. Once again, sorry if I misread.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you all for reply, i am about to write this today, i want to be honest with them please check and suggest

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing in response to your letter dated 10 March 2025, which I received on 27 May 2025. I apologize for the delayed reply; the letter’s late arrival prevented me from responding within the specified 14-day period.

On 18 December 2024, I traveled from Gatwick Airport to Clapham Junction. In an attempt to economize, I purchased a ticket from Gatwick Airport to Horley, intending to use this ticket to enter through the barriers at Gatwick and then continue my journey home without tapping out at my actual destination.

After East Croydon station, a ticket inspector began checking tickets. At that moment, I quickly bought a ticket from Gatwick Airport to East Croydon using the Trainline app, while the inspector was approaching. When he checked my ticket, he noticed that I had just purchased it moments before. He inquired how I had entered the station at Gatwick, so I showed him my Trainline app. After checking my account, he discovered what I had done. I provided my provisional driving licence upon request.

We both got off the train at Clapham Junction, where he asked me a few questions. He inquired if I had enough money to buy a ticket, and I said yes. Then he asked whether I thought what I had done was okay, and because I was very nervous and scared, I said yes. After that, he let me go and told me the company would contact me by post.

I deeply regret my actions and understand the seriousness of fare evasion. I assure you this was an isolated incident, and I am committed to ensuring it does not happen again. I am willing to pay the outstanding fare and any administrative costs incurred.

I hope you will consider allowing me to settle this matter without court proceedings. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jun 2025 ==


I did do it few times earlier as well but as they have asked me to write down my response on what happend that day so i am replying them only for that day.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jun 2025 ==

I would mark your letter ‘Urgent’ in bold and state at the start. ‘I am writing urgently because I only received your letter dated xx March on xx May and I am anxious to resolve this without court action.’

Then insert a paragraph break and continue with the rest of the letter.

Then take it to a post office and send it gauranteed next day delivery. Do this tomorrow Wednesday.

Keep copies of everything.

Head back here for further advice as things develop.

It’s vital you do this asap.