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m under 18 and been reported to prosecution dept with swr what do I do and how likely is it that I'll be convinced
Info: helping a mate move and I bought a child ticket because legally I'm still a child and it was a 1 pound difference between a adult and a child and I had barley enough for a child
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And yes ik that a child is 15 under I js need info on what to do forward and expectations
Have a read through this "sticky" thread at the top of this Disputes forum section. A lot of information in there, plus what you'll need to provide us in your post, before we can offer any steer
Guidance for those asking for advice: Please bear in mind the following, when asking for advice in this section: We need to know all relevant facts in order to assist you, including, for example: The stations* where you actually started & finished your journey The stations* where you changed...
Hi, I am a 17 year old who went from Bracknell (BCE) to Reading (RDG) on a a child off peak ticket, I was asked at the ticket gate to prove I was a child thus I was honest and said I wasn't a child HOWEVER my friend was there talking abt somthing to do with his ticket making me loose focus (I'm autistic so I can't rlly cope in those environments) and I made out I was 2 years older than I actually was and the recipes for prosecution say that I'm awaiting a letter from SWR and I just need advice on what to do.
I have a parent who knows and unsure if I need legal representation as I'm under 18
My hopeful outcome is a out of court settlement however idk if I can write handwritten letters as correspondence to SWR as we are Financially struggling and thus do not have a PC nor a printer either way I don't know what to write in my correspondence letter
This is my first offence and I have bought tickets on my gfs behalf (she's currently 15 turning 16) and thus it's on record of me buying the tickets and not using them for myself
The RPO said I'd only need to pay the difference however that's not the case I'm hearing from reading other threads
I purchased the ticket prior to commencing the journey and thus I am guilty.
As you have told your parent, then I hope they will help you. If you told the inspector you are 19 then the railway will write to you. One approach would be for your parent to respond to the letter, confirming that you are under 18, providing some evidence of that, and apologising for your error of judgement, as you thought that you could use a child ticket under 18.
They could confirm that you now completely understand that adult fares apply from age 16, and you will not make the same mistake again.
If your parent isn't able to help you, then you could respond along those lines yourself.
If an adult commits this crime the railway will usually settle out of court for a payment of the fare plus their administration fee, but for a child they may be more lenient.
In addition to the sound advice above, if you do end up writing to the railway you could do with being a bit clearer and more honest than I suspect you have been with us.
Look at the two statements I've quoted:
1 - implies you thought you were a child in railway ticketing terms
2 - implies you knew you weren't, couldn't afford an adult ticket, and anyway the difference in price was small
You should be able to avoid any serious consequences but you have to be honest and consistent
I am no expert and someone better able to help will come along shortly. However, you purchased a child ticket and the letter says you didn’t purchase a ticket so technically their letter is wrong.
I am no expert and someone better able to help will come along shortly. However, you purchased a child ticket and the letter says you didn’t purchase a ticket so technically their letter is wrong.
No, I suspect you’ll want to reply with an apology and a screen shot of your ticket if you reply by email, say that you believed you were classed as a child as you are under 18, that you now know this is incorrect and offer to pay the difference and any admin fees.
No, I suspect you’ll want to reply with an apology and a screen shot of your ticket if you reply by email, say that you believed you were classed as a child as you are under 18, that you now know this is incorrect and offer to pay the difference and any admin fees.
There are examples of the kind of letter to send if you read around this forum. Maybe you could make a start on a letter as you know your story best and then we can help you to tweak it so it reads well to the rail company.
There are examples of the kind of letter to send if you read around this forum. Maybe you could make a start on a letter as you know your story best and then we can help you to tweak it so it reads well to the rail company.
That looks like a letter normally only sent to people 18 and over.
A parent should reply with proof of your date of birth. They might also say something about their discussions about the incident with you and your medical condition. (e.g. use of parental discipline, assurances it won't happen again and offer to put things right financially.)
Under 18s are not normally prosecuted but the train company will still expect to receive any outstanding fares.
That looks like a letter normally only sent to people 18 and over.
A parent should reply with proof of your date of birth. They might also say something about their discussions about the incident with you and your medical condition. (e.g. use of parental discipline, assurances it won't happen again and offer to put things right financially.)
Under 18s are not normally prosecuted but the train company will still expect to receive any outstanding fares.
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Here is my draft for email to the department
Prosecution Department
30 Stamford Street
London
SE19LQ
REF: (redacted)
Dear Mrs Susan Gray,
I am writing to you as you have sent me a letter regarding the incident on Friday, 22 August 2025.
I would like to explain that yes I did buy a ticket however that ticket was a child return and that the letter you sent me stated I did not previously pay a fare. I willingly had a lapse in my judgement and due to autism did not think that my actions has consequences. On the report it states that I am 19 however I would like to clarify I am 17, born on March 4th 2008.
I am sorry for my actions and I would love to settle this out of court and I thank you for your time.
Prosecution Department
30 Stamford Street
London
SE19LQ
REF: (redacted)
Dear Mrs Susan Gray,
I am writing to you as you have sent me a letter regarding the incident on Friday, 22 August 2025.
I would like to explain that yes I did buy a ticket however that ticket was a child return and that the letter you sent me stated I did not previously pay a fare. I willingly had a lapse in my judgement and due to autism did not think that my actions has consequences. On the report it states that I am 19 however I would like to clarify I am 17, born on March 4th 2008.
I am sorry for my actions and I would love to settle this out of court and I thank you for your time.
Do not send this. Your parent needs to respond to the letter, but with different wording to this. And it would be a good idea to edit out the reference number.
Do not send this. Your parent needs to respond to the letter, but with different wording to this. And it would be a good idea to edit out the reference number.
well it does not make any sense then because it says 'I' (which if you parent is sending it means they themselves were buying a child ticket!)
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It needs to be more like this sort of thing - of course others can suggest changes and you and your mum need to be happy with what you send and that most importantly it is all true - do not lie to them at this stage:
If you can't print it off or e-mail it, it needs to be neatly handwritten and posted to them at the freepost address given in an envelope (no stamp needed) -
keep a copy eg a photo of what is sent to them for your records
Prosecution Department South Western Railway
FREEPOST SWR Prosecutions Department
30 Stamford Street
London
SE19LQ
REF: xxxxxx
Dear Mrs Susan Gray,
I am writing in respect of the letter of 24 September 2025 that you have sent to my son (INSERT SONs name) regarding the incident on Friday, 22 August 2025.
I am replying because my son is under 18 years of age. I have attached proof of my son's date of birth of March 4th 2008.
I understand that my son travelled by train using a child rate ticket when over the age of 16. My son had a lapse in judgement and due to autism did not properly understand the consequences of the action of not buying the correct ticket for their travel between Bracknell and Reading. The ticket used was retained by the ticket Inspector.
My son is sorry for what has happened and now understands that the correct ticket should be bought for rail travel at all times.
I would be grateful if this could be resolved by paying any fare owed. Please let us know if there is any further information about this that you need.
I thank you for your time and for considering this.
well it does not make any sense then because it says 'I' (which if you parent is sending it means they themselves were buying a child ticket!)
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It needs to be more like this sort of thing - of course others can suggest changes and you and your mum need to be happy with what you send and that most importantly it is all true - do not lie to them at this stage:
If you can't print it off or e-mail it, it needs to be neatly handwritten and posted to them at the freepost address given in an envelope (no stamp needed) -
keep a copy eg a photo of what is sent to them for your records
Prosecution Department South Western Railway
FREEPOST SWR Prosecutions Department
30 Stamford Street
London
SE19LQ
REF: xxxxxx
Dear Mrs Susan Gray,
I am writing in respect of the letter of 24 September 2025 that you have sent to my son (INSERT SONs name) regarding the incident on Friday, 22 August 2025.
I am replying because my son is under 18 years of age. I have attached proof of my son's date of birth of March 4th 2008.
I understand that my son travelled by train using a child rate ticket when over the age of 16. My son had a lapse in judgement and due to autism did not properly understand the consequences of the action of not buying the correct ticket for their travel between Bracknell and Reading. The ticket used was retained by the ticket Inspector.
My son is sorry for what has happened and now understands that the correct ticket should be bought for rail travel at all times.
I would be grateful if this could be resolved by paying any fare owed. Please let us know if there is any further information about this that you need.
I thank you for your time and for considering this.
You really want the letter to be from her - essentially you want the company to treat you as a child who had made an error of judgement rather than treating you as an adult (ie court involvement).
We are aware of an issue with emails from the Forum to Microsoft-based email accounts (hotmail/outlook/live.com email addresses). This is being looked into currently, thanks for your patience meanwhile.
