Hi All,
Firstly, i have been reading a few other threads and wanted to say that the advice here and the manner in which these thread are handled is incredibly admirable and very cool that people give their time helping others with these matters.
That being said, here is mine...
On the 26th of feb 2025 i received a "single justice procedure notice" from SWR through the court.
This is in connection to the below events:
In november last year, i was on my way from home into london for work one morning from Hersham station into Waterloo. I usually buy my tickets via the SWR app and do not have any railcard and buy adhoc as i am only in the office 2-3 days a week. On this day, i was late as explained below and was planning to buy my ticket once boarded. (i understand tickets should always be purchased before boarding)
I boarded the 08:09 (or 08:10 as it was a little late) with seconds to spare as i had left home a little late so practically made it into the train just before it left.
The train as to be expected was extremely full with people already standing everywhere as all seats were taken. The car i got into had a 1st class area and a couple seats were available. I sat down caught my breath and assumed all would be well as i could now purchase my ticket as usual as well as although i was in 1st class, i had on multiple occasions asked the train guard if this was acceptable with a std ticket and they had always said that morning services when full, were declassified and did not require a 1st class ticket. i had sat in 1st class when the train was full with no issue a few times before this.
About a minute after we left, the swr revenue protection person walked into the 1st class cab. I was asked for my ticket..... I explained to the gentlemen my predicament and he then said he would have to note the incident. I explained i was about to purchase the ticket, and he said, not to worry, he was just going to note incident and i could use the report printed out to exit at waterloo. I assume even though the train was full, they were looking at first class cabs specifically to see if people had valid tickets? The officer mentioned that 1st class was not declassified on this train and i explained how i had previously asked train guards before boarding if this was allowed. This includes the train before the 08:09 ( the 07:46) and the one following (the 08:19). He said that if the ticket can purchased on the app, 1st class is not declassified and when i offered my train guard retort, he said he could not speak with the guard now and had to note the incident.
Side note here, while this happened another passenger in the 1st class cab mentioned that its usually declassified, and he mentioned it as he only had a std ticket in aid of my defence, which was very kind. He never got asked for his ticket as the officer only focused on me, and consequently got off at surbiton which was the next stop about a minute or so later.
I assumed i would get. a penalty fare or something similar for this and assumed the report the officer typed up would lead to this as he said swr would be in contact.
I still purchased my ticket via the app on the train as normal after all of this and traveled to waterloo and got on with my day.
I then received the attached single justice notice and now i both shocked and slightly worried about this. I assumed a fine would be in order but according to this its basically already with the court?
In the forms it offers only 3 options Guilty, no court appearance, not guilty, with appearance, or not guilty with the trial executed without you using info provided.
I undetsnad if plead or founf guilty, this could go on your criminal record as well as having to pay the fine?
I have seen in other threads advice was given to reply with an apologetic note but in this case the reply to these papers goes directly to a magistrates court. SO how would this be settled without a cse in this instance?
Would the option be to write to SWR fraud and prosecutions apologising and asking to pay the ticket and legal costs?
I would ideally be happy to pay the legal costs and orignal ticket price (although i bought one on the day) to make this go away. i really dont need a day where i was late for teh train and as a good paying customer every other time end in me having this on record....
Hope this was not too much detail but any guidance here would be great. TIA
Firstly, i have been reading a few other threads and wanted to say that the advice here and the manner in which these thread are handled is incredibly admirable and very cool that people give their time helping others with these matters.
That being said, here is mine...
On the 26th of feb 2025 i received a "single justice procedure notice" from SWR through the court.
This is in connection to the below events:
In november last year, i was on my way from home into london for work one morning from Hersham station into Waterloo. I usually buy my tickets via the SWR app and do not have any railcard and buy adhoc as i am only in the office 2-3 days a week. On this day, i was late as explained below and was planning to buy my ticket once boarded. (i understand tickets should always be purchased before boarding)
I boarded the 08:09 (or 08:10 as it was a little late) with seconds to spare as i had left home a little late so practically made it into the train just before it left.
The train as to be expected was extremely full with people already standing everywhere as all seats were taken. The car i got into had a 1st class area and a couple seats were available. I sat down caught my breath and assumed all would be well as i could now purchase my ticket as usual as well as although i was in 1st class, i had on multiple occasions asked the train guard if this was acceptable with a std ticket and they had always said that morning services when full, were declassified and did not require a 1st class ticket. i had sat in 1st class when the train was full with no issue a few times before this.
About a minute after we left, the swr revenue protection person walked into the 1st class cab. I was asked for my ticket..... I explained to the gentlemen my predicament and he then said he would have to note the incident. I explained i was about to purchase the ticket, and he said, not to worry, he was just going to note incident and i could use the report printed out to exit at waterloo. I assume even though the train was full, they were looking at first class cabs specifically to see if people had valid tickets? The officer mentioned that 1st class was not declassified on this train and i explained how i had previously asked train guards before boarding if this was allowed. This includes the train before the 08:09 ( the 07:46) and the one following (the 08:19). He said that if the ticket can purchased on the app, 1st class is not declassified and when i offered my train guard retort, he said he could not speak with the guard now and had to note the incident.
Side note here, while this happened another passenger in the 1st class cab mentioned that its usually declassified, and he mentioned it as he only had a std ticket in aid of my defence, which was very kind. He never got asked for his ticket as the officer only focused on me, and consequently got off at surbiton which was the next stop about a minute or so later.
I assumed i would get. a penalty fare or something similar for this and assumed the report the officer typed up would lead to this as he said swr would be in contact.
I still purchased my ticket via the app on the train as normal after all of this and traveled to waterloo and got on with my day.
I then received the attached single justice notice and now i both shocked and slightly worried about this. I assumed a fine would be in order but according to this its basically already with the court?
In the forms it offers only 3 options Guilty, no court appearance, not guilty, with appearance, or not guilty with the trial executed without you using info provided.
I undetsnad if plead or founf guilty, this could go on your criminal record as well as having to pay the fine?
I have seen in other threads advice was given to reply with an apologetic note but in this case the reply to these papers goes directly to a magistrates court. SO how would this be settled without a cse in this instance?
Would the option be to write to SWR fraud and prosecutions apologising and asking to pay the ticket and legal costs?
I would ideally be happy to pay the legal costs and orignal ticket price (although i bought one on the day) to make this go away. i really dont need a day where i was late for teh train and as a good paying customer every other time end in me having this on record....
Hope this was not too much detail but any guidance here would be great. TIA
