SWR Report for Prosecution: learnt my lesson...but anxious

[Sillylittlekid]

Hi All,

Similar to many other posters in this forum, I have been reported for prosecution after short-faring.

For context, I was stopped on the 12th March by a Revenue Protection Officer with a ticket from Vauxhall - Waterloo (My actual journey is Byfleet & New Haw - Waterloo), and gave the explanation that I was travelling from a girlfriends (I did used to do this from Vauxhall to Waterloo but honestly not for at least a year now). I have subsequently received a letter / email noting that further investigation of my online account has highlighted other potential inconsistencies in my ticket purchase history, and they have taken the step to contact me and initiate a resolution prior to escalation to the case management team.

I am fully aware of not only my ignorance to the issue that this causes for tax-payers (including myself...) but also just how stupid it is to take the risk. After being stopped I checked and found that my Railcard had been expired since July of 2025, I then purchased it straight away so for my next journeys starting from March 15th it would be valid and the discount would apply

Literally since the day I got stopped, I of course made sure my railcard is valid as well as only purchasing the correct tickets, so my lesson is definitely learnt even if this letter had never come, I just hope this is taken into account?

I have a few questions -

1. The short-faring specifically took place from Jan-Mar, with some legitimate journeys from Surbiton (can back this up with parking receipts), I am assuming they will be looking specifically at this time period as that is when the journeys from Vauxhall - Waterloo and vice versa are present? (this totals 45 journeys)

2. For the expired railcard, this was a genuine mistake as I believed I had purchased the 3-year card (not sure as to why I didn't? But regardless its negligence from my side, I just have not been asked to present my Railcard at all during the period it was expired) - will this play into my short-faring? It seems from what I have looked at that the ticket prices for a Single were the same regardless of railcard application, meaning no discount was applied.

3. I am attaching my response to the original email below, please let me know if there is anything I should watch out for mentioning etc in subsequent comms with SWR and if my original email is ok? They mention potential inconsistencies so I wonder how far they will go back / confident they will be to mention a certain number of journeys

I also suffer from anxiety and depression (medicated for both) and due to a basic rate tax code applying on my new job, was pretty low in funds and that definitely contributed to me short-faring from Jan-Mar. I have now adjusted things I needed to, including asking my parents for a reduced rate of rent for the current period, to ensure I always pay my way, as I should, to travel to work. Is it worth mentioning these things in subsequent emails?

ALSO WORTH NOTING THIS IS MY FIRST TIME EVER BEING STOPPED / CAUGHT

MY FIRST RESPONSE:

Dear Mr XXX

I am writing in response to your letter regarding the incident on 12 March 2026.

Firstly, I would like to sincerely apologise for my actions. I accept that I did not hold a valid ticket for my full journey and I take responsibility for this.

I would also like to apologise for the explanation I gave at the time, which I recognise was not accurate. I was caught off guard and did not handle the situation as I should have. Having reflected on this, I understand that this was wrong, and I am not only disappointed in myself but also embarrassed of my actions.

I genuinely regret my actions. This situation has made me fully appreciate the importance of purchasing the correct ticket, and I can assure you that this will not happen again.

I would be very grateful if you would consider allowing me to resolve this matter without court proceedings. I am more than willing to pay any outstanding fares and administrative costs required to settle this.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my response, and I sincerely apologise again.

Yours sincerely,
XXX

Sorry for the really long post, I am genuinely embarrassed of myself even doing this let alone getting caught, it's been a wake up call for a lot of aspects in my life tbh.

Thanks all

 

[30907]

First, your reply needs to include the case reference.

Second, I wouldn't bother to apologise for lying - they are used to it - so long as you tell the truth now (without incriminating yourself). Focus on the cheating, and don't make excuses (such as you have mentioned on here).

They have plausible evidence of short-faring; do they know about the expired railcard? - if not, don't mention it (a 16-25 Railcard fare will always be £12 or more in the morning peak).

I suggest asking them for a list of the fares they believe you have avoided so you can confirm or deny each (SW will accept genuine denials).

The amount they ask for will normally be the full one-way fare for each occasion, not deducting what you have already paid, plus a low 3-figure sum for admin. However, that will be the end of it (assuming of course that you are now paying the correct fare!).

 

[Kite159]

with some legitimate journeys from Surbiton

Assuming the tickets were purchased online as e-tickets and have entry (or exit) scans at Surbiton, then you shouldn't need to worry about those as they would likely not get flagged. The ones which will get highlighted are the short Vauxhall - Waterloo tickets which don't have entry (or exit) scans at Vauxhall, only at Waterloo.

 

[eleganturtle]

Assuming the tickets were purchased online as e-tickets and have entry (or exit) scans at Surbiton, then you shouldn't need to worry about those as they would likely not get flagged. The ones which will get highlighted are the short Vauxhall - Waterloo tickets which don't have entry (or exit) scans at Vauxhall, only at Waterloo.

does it matter where you started the journey or does it just matter that they stopped you for the vauxhall and waterloo ticket. I entered from surbiton to kingston and proceeded to travel and exit with the vauxhall to waterloo, would this mean they charge form surbiton to waterloo, and what about the journeys where no start can be identified. what could be a viable reason or station to say?

 

[WesternLancer]

does it matter where you started the journey or does it just matter that they stopped you for the vauxhall and waterloo ticket. I entered from surbiton to kingston and proceeded to travel and exit with the vauxhall to waterloo, would this mean they charge form surbiton to waterloo, and what about the journeys where no start can be identified. what could be a viable reason or station to say?

It’s probably easier if you pose questions like this in your own thread, but generally speaking the route to avoiding court is to co operate with their investigation.

That means telling them the truth about what you did in terms of your Starting station. Which you presumably know.

If that station varies for genuine reasons then they might ask for some evidence to substantiate it, eg if you started your journey from a station nowhere near your home address occasionally because it was a station near your parents address, then you might need to be able to give proof of your parents address.

Basically they want an honest version of what you have been doing so they can charge you the fares for it, as part of any out of court settlement offer. If they don’t think you’re telling the truth they have enough evidence on the occasion they caught you to prosecute you successfully for that one occasion anyway.