Thameslink prosecution response letter- help pls

[Ardengrove]

Hello- advice on response to the attached letter please. I was silly and brought a ticket from farringdon to city thameslink instead of a ticket for the full journey. I have done it a few times before (but not since i was caught and never will again).

Dear Sir/Madam,

Case ref: xx

I have recieved your letter dated xx. I would like to appologise for not having a valid ticket for my journey to City Thameslink on 15th October.
I have learnt an important lesson and promise that this will not happen again.
Please can i pay for the ticket fare and the costs you have incured as a result this.

Thank you

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Hello- advice on response to the attached letter please. I was silly and brought a ticket from farringdon to city thameslink instead of a ticket for the full journey. I have done it a few times before (but not since i was caught and never will again).

Dear Sir/Madam,

Case ref: xx

I have received your letter dated xx. I would like to apologise for not having a valid ticket for my journey to City Thameslink on 15th October.
I have learnt an important lesson and promise that this will not happen again.
Please can i pay for the ticket fare and the costs you have incurred as a result of this.

Thank you

Welcome to the forum.

I've corrected a few typos above: otherwise I think that many people here would say that your response meets the important points of being brief and constituting engagement with the railway. So it may well be successful in getting the railway to settle out of court for the fare and costs.

But to me, it doesn't read as if it's particularly sincere. It rather feels like assuming that just saying sorry will be good enough.

Others may give other advice, but if you submit this as it stands, I would be very interested to know if it led to the railway allowing you to settle out of court.

 

[Ardengrove]

Ok thank you for your feedback. Definitely not my intention, has been such a stressful experience and so disappointed in myself. I was trying to follow the advice to keep the letter short and not included irrelevant details

 

[Titfield]

I agree with @Fawkes Cat above that it is a bit short and doesnt come across as being particularly sincere.

Firstly I would thank them for sending the letter and giving you the opportunity to reply.

Secondly I would say "I apologise...." and NOT " I would like to apologise....". My view is that saying you would like to do something does not mean that you are doing that.

If you search some of the threads that @Hadders has responded to, there are some excellent examples of letters which have been "improved". The search facility is top right of the page.