Stopped at Bath Spa

[SAM0J]

i was stopped on Thursday 13 june, at the bath spa. i never knew i was using 16-17 instead of 16-25. immediately the officer looked into my record and see that my last booking was with 16-17. in summary, when I checked all my bookings i had wrongly used the rail card three times in total. during the interview under caution, I told him it wasn't intentional. he advised I wait for the letter and ensure I reply immediately after i get the letter from the prosecution team. That failure to do so, I might end up in court. I gave him my correct name and address. and he offered me a new free ticket. please someone should advise. infact i was so bold when he was checking the rail card and my ticket because i couldn't imagine myself walking up to him if i am really aware of my ticket to tag in at the gate.... i can't sleep nor eat since then, i am sick.

 

[John R]

Provided you respond to the letter when received, and are cooperative and apologetic, then it is very likely that this can all be sorted out without you being prosecuted. (There is never any guarantee, but GWR are usually good at offering what is known as “out of court settlements”.

It is likely to cost you though, in terms of paying the correct fares for the journeys identified, together with an admin cost of around £150. When you get the letter, come back here and post it, and we can help you ensure that you reply in the right manner.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Were the three occasions when you used the incorrect railcard successive, or were they interspersed with purchases using the correct railcard?

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

We see lots of cases like this on the forum. GWR are geberally one of the better train companies to deal with when it comes to this sort of thing, as long as you co-operate with them. They will send you a letter in the next few weeks saying that they have received a report and are considering prosecuting you but asking you for your version of events before they decide how to proceed. I suggest a short, concise reply that includes the following points:

- 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 usually offer an administrative settlement (commonly known as an out of court settlement) for this sort of thing to people who engage with the process and who haven't come to their attention before. We cannot guarantee this - GWR could prosecute you in the magistrates court if they want to.

If you are offered a settlement expect to have to pay the outstanding fare at the full Anytime rate with no credit given for the tickets you did purchase plus an admin fee of around £150. You will need to be in a position to pay the settlement in full within a few days of it being offered. An out of court settlement might appear to be a fine, but it isn't and you won't have a criminal record as a result of accepting one.

Feel free to post a copy of the letter once it arrives (with personal details redacted) along with your draft reply in this thread and forum members will be happy to proof read it for you.

 

[SAM0J]

Provided you respond to the letter when received, and are cooperative and apologetic, then it is very likely that this can all be sorted out without you being prosecuted. (There is never any guarantee, but GWR are usually good at offering what is known as “out of court settlements”.

It is likely to cost you though, in terms of paying the correct fares for the journeys identified, together with an admin cost of around £150. When you get the letter, come back here and post it, and we can help you ensure that you reply in the right manner.

thanks, i will do has you have said.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jun 2024 ==

Were the three occasions when you used the incorrect railcard successive, or were they interspersed with purchases using the correct railcard?

the first one was, last two months, and it was a short journey which is in between all my correct usage of the rail card, i think it happened when i updated my phone and some app needed to be updated which I think made me input the wrong rail card then, which was corrected immediately I noticed. the last two were last week when I mistakenly input it as a result of my bad phone that is having a screen problem that was when I was stopped. others have been correctly used. plss what do you think will be the outcome i am really sad.

 

[SuspectUsual]

plss what do you think will be the outcome i am really sad

As others have said the chances are that if you cooperate once GWR get in touch you'll be able to resolve it without it getting as far as court.

The thing that confuses me slightly about your reply to my question is that as I understand it (others may be able to advise more) the ticket apps remember the last railcard used - for example we see a lot of cases of out of date railcards where the holder hasn't realised its expired and the app doesn't remind/prompt them and leaves the discount applied. If your three instances using the wrong card aren't successive that makes me wonder if you've applied the wrong card (with bigger discount than you're allowed), then reverted to the correct one, then changed it back and so on. If so this might suggest a degree of premeditation to GWR

 

[FenMan]

As others have said the chances are that if you cooperate once GWR get in touch you'll be able to resolve it without it getting as far as court.

The thing that confuses me slightly about your reply to my question is that as I understand it (others may be able to advise more) the ticket apps remember the last railcard used - for example we see a lot of cases of out of date railcards where the holder hasn't realised its expired and the app doesn't remind/prompt them and leaves the discount applied. If your three instances using the wrong card aren't successive that makes me wonder if you've applied the wrong card (with bigger discount than you're allowed), then reverted to the correct one, then changed it back and so on. If so this might suggest a degree of premeditation to GWR

The GWR app does not remember the last railcard used - users must select the relevant railcard each time a purchase is made (if they hold one of course).

 

[SuspectUsual]

The GWR app does not remember the last railcard used - users must select the relevant railcard each time a purchase is made (if they hold one of course).

Ah right. Most often people with these issues seem to use Trainline, and theirs does remember

 

[SAM0J]

As others have said the chances are that if you cooperate once GWR get in touch you'll be able to resolve it without it getting as far as court.

The thing that confuses me slightly about your reply to my question is that as I understand it (others may be able to advise more) the ticket apps remember the last railcard used - for example we see a lot of cases of out of date railcards where the holder hasn't realised its expired and the app doesn't remind/prompt them and leaves the discount applied. If your three instances using the wrong card aren't successive that makes me wonder if you've applied the wrong card (with bigger discount than you're allowed), then reverted to the correct one, then changed it back and so on. If so this might suggest a degree of premeditation to GWR

the first occasion was when I updated my phone, and most apps needed an upgrade which I think I temper with the settings... just once... and recently the last two were successive and it was due to my bad phone. I usually check if all is intact as I always check if a rail card is applied just to get the discount. here I selected the wrong one.. I have good record of using the correct rail card all the time On my app.