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Okay so! Finally got the letter, turns out it arrived yesterday so I'll be writing this letter tomorrow and sending it off ASAP
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For some reason attaching my files are not working.
But it basically lets me talk and explain my events. I have drafted up a letter and would appreciate any pointers!
They haven't really said how long I have to reply though.
Dear Govia Thameslink Railway,
On the 19th March I was caught with an invalid railcard at Falmer Railway station, there is no excuse for this and I take full responsibility for not checking the validity of my railcard before travel. I understand the impact my actions and fare dodging on the railway industry.
I am deeply regretful for my actions and have ensured that this will never happen again. I take full responsibility for my actions and have been traveling with full fare tickets. I will always make sure that I am paying the correct fare on Thameslink and all other railways.
I would be grateful for the opportunity to resolve this without court action. I am willing to pay any costs incurred, including outstanding fares and administrative costs.
Once again, I would like to apologise and I await your response for further action.
Yours sincerely,
[My name]
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Also I can't be trusted with railcards and paying them on time so I've mentioned that I just pay full price tickets instead of buying a new one. Saves the hassle of this happening again tbh
Your original post indicates you let your railcard expire without noticing. Ie by mistake. Your draft here talks about fare dodging which is deliberate evasion. Which was it?
Don’t mention fare dodging if you didn’t deliberately evade!
Your original post indicates you let your railcard expire without noticing. Ie by mistake. Your draft here talks about fare dodging which is deliberate evasion. Which was it?
Don’t mention fare dodging if you didn’t deliberately evade!
Yeah I didn't realize it expired by mistake, I guess I thought that would count as fare dodging unintentionally?
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Okay I have rewritten it, please check it out.
Dear Govia Thameslink Railway,
On the 19th March I was caught with an invalid railcard at Falmer Railway station. I would never purposefully fare evade, and therefore, was fully prepared to show my railcard, only to realise it was no longer valid. There is no excuse for this and I take full responsibility for not checking the validity of my railcard before travel. I understand the impact of my actions on the railway industry.
I am deeply regretful for my actions and have ensured that this will never happen again. I take full responsibility and have been traveling with full fare tickets. I will always make sure that I am paying the correct fare on Thameslink and all other railways.
I would be grateful for the opportunity to resolve this without court action. I am willing to pay any costs incurred, including outstanding fares and administrative costs.
Once again, I would like to apologise and I await your response for further action.
Also I can't be trusted with railcards and paying them on time so I've mentioned that I just pay full price tickets instead of buying a new one. Saves the hassle of this happening again tbh
Not with neurodiversity.
Anyway is the letter fine now?
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@Hadders Would you mind checking over the letter. I'd like to write it today and send it off
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Okay hopefully these letters should now work and be visible.
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Okay I have tweaked and rewritten my letter some. It is likely that they'll probably date my trips but I will not incriminate myself and will only respond to this one instance as stated in my letter.
If someone could please give this a one last look over and I will be writing it today and sending it off!
Dear Govia Thameslink Railway,
I am writing in response to the Notice of Intention to prosecute dated 10th July, Reference [number here].
On the 19th March I was caught with an invalid railcard at Falmer Railway station travelling from Brighton. I would never purposefully fare evade, and therefore, was fully prepared to show my railcard, only to realise it was no longer valid. There is no excuse for this and I take full responsibility for not checking the validity of my railcard before travel. I understand the impact of my actions on the railway industry.
I am deeply regretful for my actions and have ensured that this will never happen again. I have been traveling with full fare tickets since the 19th March, and I will always make sure that I am paying the correct fare on Thameslink and all other railways.
I would be grateful for the opportunity to resolve this without court action. I am willing to pay costs incurred, including the outstanding fare and administrative costs.
Once again, I would like to apologise and I await your response for further action.
Yours sincerely,
[My name]
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Hiya!
Could someone review my letter response so I can write it on Monday and send it off please?
Not with neurodiversity.
Anyway is the letter fine now?
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@Hadders Would you mind checking over the letter. I'd like to write it today and send it off
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Okay hopefully these letters should now work and be visible.
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Okay I have tweaked and rewritten my letter some. It is likely that they'll probably date my trips but I will not incriminate myself and will only respond to this one instance as stated in my letter.
If someone could please give this a one last look over and I will be writing it today and sending it off!
Dear Govia Thameslink Railway,
I am writing in response to the Notice of Intention to prosecute dated 10th July, Reference [number here].
On the 19th March I was caught with an invalid railcard at Falmer Railway station travelling from Brighton. I would never purposefully fare evade, and therefore, was fully prepared to show my railcard, only to realise it was no longer valid. There is no excuse for this and I take full responsibility for not checking the validity of my railcard before travel. I understand the impact of my actions on the railway industry.
I am deeply regretful for my actions and have ensured that this will never happen again. I have been traveling with full fare tickets since the 19th March, and I will always make sure that I am paying the correct fare on Thameslink and all other railways.
I would be grateful for the opportunity to resolve this without court action. I am willing to pay costs incurred, including the outstanding fare and administrative costs.
Once again, I would like to apologise and I await your response for further action.
Yours sincerely,
[My name]
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Hiya!
Could someone review my letter response so I can write it on Monday and send it off please?
I’d say your draft looks ok. They won’t have anyone in office at weekends so you can afford to wait till Monday to send it in case anyone else has further thoughts.
I’d say your draft looks ok. They won’t have anyone in office at weekends so you can afford to wait till Monday to send it in case anyone else has further thoughts.
Thank you so much, really appreciate it!
Thing is they didn't really say in the letter how long I had to send it. And the only consequence they mentioned was a criminal record. But I've seen other letters and it details more consequences?
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I suppose my other concern is that they could access my trainline and I'm slightly worried I won't be able to afford what they're asking for. I won't get paid until the end of the month. I'm hoping it won't be too much.
They will probably check your Trainline account although it'll probably take a couple of weeks for them to reply (depending in their workload) so you you pay day is likely to come before the need to part with the money.
They will probably check your Trainline account although it'll probably take a couple of weeks for them to reply (depending in their workload) so you you pay day is likely to come before the need to part with the money.
Okay great thank you, yeah I had a feeling they'd have a look through my trainline. Few weeks is reassuring.
I'm also glad that this arrived before I leave America!
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Oh! And when I send the letter back, should I send back the written letter only or with the notice of prosecution first page too. I know it's like a stupid question but I messed up enough lol
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Hey! Sorry to ask again but I'm sending the letter today. Should I send the NIP and the mitigation letter together or do they just want the mitigation letter.
Might be an obvious answer but please let me know ASAP
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Right that's now been written up.
Hope that's okay for them!
The writing isn't perfect but it should hopefully be legible.
I will send both the original NIP letter and mitigation letter since apparently that's what Google says to do?
Doesn't make sense to send the og letter but..
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Hey so I've already sent this off. Not that it matters now. But was I meant to send the mitigation letter with the NIP? Cause I've sent the completed mitigation that I've written and their original NIP letter together. No one responded whether or not I was meant to do that so
Okay great thank you, yeah I had a feeling they'd have a look through my trainline. Few weeks is reassuring.
I'm also glad that this arrived before I leave America!
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Oh! And when I send the letter back, should I send back the written letter only or with the notice of prosecution first page too. I know it's like a stupid question but I messed up enough lol
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Hey! Sorry to ask again but I'm sending the letter today. Should I send the NIP and the mitigation letter together or do they just want the mitigation letter.
Might be an obvious answer but please let me know ASAP
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Right that's now been written up.
Hope that's okay for them!
The writing isn't perfect but it should hopefully be legible.
I will send both the original NIP letter and mitigation letter since apparently that's what Google says to do?
Doesn't make sense to send the og letter but..
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Hey so I've already sent this off. Not that it matters now. But was I meant to send the mitigation letter with the NIP? Cause I've sent the completed mitigation that I've written and their original NIP letter together. No one responded whether or not I was meant to do that so
Sorry. Only just seen this. It’s fine to send them both so long as everything you send has the ref numbers and your name and address so they can match up stuff if paperwork gets separated in their office.
Keep copies of everything and ideally you should have posted it tracked so you now they have got it but if you didn’t it will hopefully still be ok.
Sorry. Only just seen this. It’s fine to send them both so long as everything you send has the ref numbers and your name and address so they can match up stuff if paperwork gets separated in their office.
Keep copies of everything and ideally you should have posted it tracked so you now they have got it but if you didn’t it will hopefully still be ok.
Yeah no stress I sent both letters cause it made sense to send them together ig.
Also yeah I did send it next day tracked!
And yeah I scanned everything so I had copies.
Do you know how long it would take for them to come back about their response about, hopefully, an out of court settlement?
Yeah no stress I sent both letters cause it made sense to send them together ig.
Also yeah I did send it next day tracked!
And yeah I scanned everything so I had copies.
Do you know how long it would take for them to come back about their response about, hopefully, an out of court settlement?
Yeah I've been told they might have a big workload. I've a feeling they might go through my trainline and it might take them some time.
Could they run out of time for prosecution though?
This made me laugh though: "Compared to other countries such as France, they still use 30 year old commuter trains on the RER, which are really in need of replacement, I think London and South-East England are quite fortunate to have sleek, modern, reliable commuter trains!"
We have seen cases where train companies have run out of time. It doesn't stop them trying to prosecute, there'll not normaly be anyone in the court checking for this sort of thing, if it happens you've got to do the leg work yourself to get the case dismissed.
It is very unusual though. In your case there's still plenty of time.
We have seen cases where train companies have run out of time. It doesn't stop them trying to prosecute, there'll not normaly be anyone in the court checking for this sort of thing, if it happens you've got to do the leg work yourself to get the case dismissed.
It is very unusual though. In your case there's still plenty of time.
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Hi all!
Got my letter back and it says they've agreed to an out of court settlement (huge relief!)
£68.80 is quite low, does that not include their administrative fees or have they not bothered with it?
Also without prejudice? Can anyone explain that?
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