Thameslink notice to prosecute

[alfred]

Hi all,

I received a notice to prosecute after I accidentally travelled with my railcard 5 days out of date. Obviously a massive oversight by myself that I should not have made but was in a rush to catch a train. At the time I was made aware of my mistake the inspector didn't issue a penalty fare but instead insisted that I had some sort of grace period to renew my railcard. So I promptly renewed it the same day and sent evidence of this to a website he had suggested. To my shock having not heard anything for months I've just received a notice to prosecute. My girlfriend was the only witness to the interaction. I'm assuming I am a bit screwed and need to attempt to settle outside of court but it feels a bit unfair considering the lack of penalty fare and the inspectors advice to just renew? Should I include this information in my letter to the train line.

 

[AlterEgo]

Could you post the correspondence you’ve received please with your details blacked out?

 

[alfred]

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Mar 2025 ==

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Mar 2025 ==

 

[WesternLancer]

View attachment 175697

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Mar 2025 ==



== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Mar 2025 ==

View attachment 175699

Don’t panic. It’s a bit small to view on my phone but I don’t think that’s a notice to prosecute. I think It’s the standard threatening letter telling you they might prosecute if you don’t reply with a good excuse etc (see other threads)

People here will advise you what to do to get the least worst outcome and hopefully avoid prosecution.

Sadly there is no grace period to renew railcards. It has to be valid when you travel before you board the train.

 

[alfred]

Don’t panic. It’s a bit small to view on my phone but I don’t think that’s a notice to prosecute. I think It’s the standard threatening letter telling you they might prosecute if you don’t reply with a good excuse etc (see other threads)

People here will advise you what to do to get the least worst outcome and hopefully avoid prosecution.

Sadly there is no grace period to renew railcards. It has to be valid when you travel before you board the train.

That's good news, thanks for the reassurance!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Mar 2025 ==

That's good news, thanks for the reassurance!

Ah so the inspector made that up? That doesn't seem very fair but assume it's a technique to avoid confrontation with rowdier customers.

 

[WesternLancer]

Ah so the inspector made that up? That doesn't seem very fair but assume it's a technique to avoid confrontation with rowdier customers.

Well maybe. There is a grace period if you have a in date railcard but leave it at home or can’t show it. Once per year grace but that’s different. Maybe inspector confused or you misunderstood what was being explained.

 

[alfred]

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing in response to the notice of prosecution dated x regarding my travel on the x without a valid railcard.

I greatly regret my oversight in this situation, I was in a rush in the morning to catch a train to my girlfriend's pottery studio and did not thoroughly check my railcard prior to purchasing my ticket. My railcard had in this situation expired by 5 days. Once I was notified of my mistake by the ticket inspector I immediately purchased a new railcard and attempted to submit it against this journey. I have included email receipts for my railcard purchases in this letter along with email confirmation of my submission of the new railcard. Obviously this does not rectify my oversight at the time and I will ensure that I thoroughly check my railcard details before submitting it against future journeys.

I was not offered the opportunity to pay a penalty fare but would have gladly accepted this offer for my mistake at the time.

I have learnt from my mistake and how it affects the Thameslink service. I will not repeat my mistake as I do not wish to provide a disservice to other paying customers.

I would appreciate the opportunity to pay any outstanding along with administrative fees in an out of court settlement. I look forward to hearing your response on the matter and once again apologize for my error.


Any thoughts on my letter response to thameslink! Feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Hadders]

Thameslink will almost certainly offer you a settlement as you are co-operating.

Your letter looks ok but some mminor amendments:

It's a notice of intention to prosecute - maybe just refer to it as your letter
You railcard expired 5 days ago
You want the opportunity to pay the outstading fare

I'd wait and see if anyone else has any feedback to add before sending.

 

[alfred]

Thameslink will almost certainly offer you a settlement as you are co-operating.

Your letter looks ok but some mminor amendments:

It's a notice of intention to prosecute - maybe just refer to it as your letter
You railcard expired 5 days ago
You want the opportunity to pay the outstading fare

I'd wait and see if anyone else has any feedback to add before sending.

Hi thanks for the feedback in this situation it's much appreciated.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Mar 2025 ==

Hi all, so have sent off my letter to thameslink explaining my side and apologizing for my mistake. The tracking says they have received the letter. But I am still a bit spooked by the whole situation as the professional body for my career requires a clean record for my enrollment. Does anyone have any idea how long it will be before I get a reply?