Hi All,
I was travelling from my home (Zone 6) to London Victoria station (Zone 1) one week ago with Southeastern Railway.
When I entered to the St Mary Cray station (there are no gates in the station) and I forgot to touch in due to limited time for me to catch the next London Victoria Train. Thus, I have entered to the station without touching in and and realized that I have forgetten my annual travel card back in home. When I have arrived to the London Victoria Station, I was checking the mobile app of Southeastern Railway to buy a ticket. At that time, I just thought it may make sense to buy a daily return ticket from the Southeastern railway app not to incur any penaly with contactless. However, the app did not show the train that I took in the morning since the time was 45 minutes ago and I thought I can maybe buy a ticket for the last train from Denmark Hill. But the mobile app did not show any tickets and there was only a white screen when I tried to buy the ticket. Then, I went to one of the Railway employees asking how can I buy a ticket from Denmark Hill. She was suspected and asked me how did I come from Denmark Hill saying that there are gates in that station and I can not enter without touching in. At that time, although I did not come from Denmark Hill, I asked how to get a ticket from there just thinking that both St Mary Cray and Denmark Hill are on the same route and Denmark Hill is close to London Victoria. However, the representative starting questioning me thinking that I was trying to evade the correct fare. I could not even explain myself clearly and I find myself accepting I deliberately tried to buy a ticket from Denmark Hill and I did this one more time before.
I was so shocked with the questions asked to me at that time as I have never experienced a situation like this. I said I was coming from Denmark Hill but later I was worried and regretful and told that I was coming from St. Mary Cray. I am so sorry for my silliness on that day and want to settle this case out of court as soon as possible. I did not know the seriosity of these cases. The representative has asked me some questions and issued an M11 witness statement. One another representative has taken a photo of my ID and personal details (name surname, home address and DoB) and they wanted my signature on some of their notes on a white paper.
I have been reading some other people's blogs about this type of incidences. It says the railway company might send a letter asking for a penalty payment or they ask some questions and if the answers are not satisfactory, they may even prosecute the offender. I have taken my lessons learnt from the case. I want to solve this issue out of court with paying the maximum fare for the travel and any additional costs the SE railway has incurred. After the revenue officers issuing the MG11, they allowed me to touch out with my contactless card. Later, I have also corrected the station that I have started my journey through my TFl online account. My bad luck is I was afraid to say I had an annual travel card and forgotten that one back in home since my wife had also used it for some time earlier and I did not know if that was allowed. If I had informed the representative about forgetting my Zone 1 to Zone 6 annual travel card (valid until the end of 2023) back at home, it might have been different. But due to the shock I had at that time, I was afraid to tell that. I have accepted things travelling deliberately without relevant ticket and doing this earlier.
I want to understand if it makes sense to wait for the train company to send a letter or should I call the prosecution department and tell that I have learnt from my mistake and I would appreciate agreeing on out of court settlement. Also, would it help if I tell that I have an annual travel card for the relevant zone until the end of the year. I am deeply regretful and worried about the situation. I will never enter without touching in and never behave irresponsibly like this again. When the revenue enforcement officer interrogated my intention to buy a ticket from Denmark Hill, I was honest and accepted that due to its being cheap in there I was planning to buy a ticket from Denmark Hill. But this was not the only reason, my train from St Mary Cray also did not appear at that time. This is the first time I am warned. Lastly, they did not offer me to pay for the full ticket price on the day instead directly taken my comments and issued an MG11 witness statement since I said I have tried to buy from Denmark Hill due to its being cheap in there and I did that one more earlier. I want to proceed wisely and solve this issue before it gets worse. I would appreciate any advise from your side.
Should I contact them before they sent any letter and tell that I am regretfull about the situation and I want to agree on a out of court settlement?
Would it also help if I tell them I have annual travel card but forgot that one on that day? I have the order details, payment proof and journey history for my travel card but unfortunately there are some times that my wife had also used it.
I was travelling from my home (Zone 6) to London Victoria station (Zone 1) one week ago with Southeastern Railway.
When I entered to the St Mary Cray station (there are no gates in the station) and I forgot to touch in due to limited time for me to catch the next London Victoria Train. Thus, I have entered to the station without touching in and and realized that I have forgetten my annual travel card back in home. When I have arrived to the London Victoria Station, I was checking the mobile app of Southeastern Railway to buy a ticket. At that time, I just thought it may make sense to buy a daily return ticket from the Southeastern railway app not to incur any penaly with contactless. However, the app did not show the train that I took in the morning since the time was 45 minutes ago and I thought I can maybe buy a ticket for the last train from Denmark Hill. But the mobile app did not show any tickets and there was only a white screen when I tried to buy the ticket. Then, I went to one of the Railway employees asking how can I buy a ticket from Denmark Hill. She was suspected and asked me how did I come from Denmark Hill saying that there are gates in that station and I can not enter without touching in. At that time, although I did not come from Denmark Hill, I asked how to get a ticket from there just thinking that both St Mary Cray and Denmark Hill are on the same route and Denmark Hill is close to London Victoria. However, the representative starting questioning me thinking that I was trying to evade the correct fare. I could not even explain myself clearly and I find myself accepting I deliberately tried to buy a ticket from Denmark Hill and I did this one more time before.
I was so shocked with the questions asked to me at that time as I have never experienced a situation like this. I said I was coming from Denmark Hill but later I was worried and regretful and told that I was coming from St. Mary Cray. I am so sorry for my silliness on that day and want to settle this case out of court as soon as possible. I did not know the seriosity of these cases. The representative has asked me some questions and issued an M11 witness statement. One another representative has taken a photo of my ID and personal details (name surname, home address and DoB) and they wanted my signature on some of their notes on a white paper.
I have been reading some other people's blogs about this type of incidences. It says the railway company might send a letter asking for a penalty payment or they ask some questions and if the answers are not satisfactory, they may even prosecute the offender. I have taken my lessons learnt from the case. I want to solve this issue out of court with paying the maximum fare for the travel and any additional costs the SE railway has incurred. After the revenue officers issuing the MG11, they allowed me to touch out with my contactless card. Later, I have also corrected the station that I have started my journey through my TFl online account. My bad luck is I was afraid to say I had an annual travel card and forgotten that one back in home since my wife had also used it for some time earlier and I did not know if that was allowed. If I had informed the representative about forgetting my Zone 1 to Zone 6 annual travel card (valid until the end of 2023) back at home, it might have been different. But due to the shock I had at that time, I was afraid to tell that. I have accepted things travelling deliberately without relevant ticket and doing this earlier.
I want to understand if it makes sense to wait for the train company to send a letter or should I call the prosecution department and tell that I have learnt from my mistake and I would appreciate agreeing on out of court settlement. Also, would it help if I tell that I have an annual travel card for the relevant zone until the end of the year. I am deeply regretful and worried about the situation. I will never enter without touching in and never behave irresponsibly like this again. When the revenue enforcement officer interrogated my intention to buy a ticket from Denmark Hill, I was honest and accepted that due to its being cheap in there I was planning to buy a ticket from Denmark Hill. But this was not the only reason, my train from St Mary Cray also did not appear at that time. This is the first time I am warned. Lastly, they did not offer me to pay for the full ticket price on the day instead directly taken my comments and issued an MG11 witness statement since I said I have tried to buy from Denmark Hill due to its being cheap in there and I did that one more earlier. I want to proceed wisely and solve this issue before it gets worse. I would appreciate any advise from your side.
Should I contact them before they sent any letter and tell that I am regretfull about the situation and I want to agree on a out of court settlement?
Would it also help if I tell them I have annual travel card but forgot that one on that day? I have the order details, payment proof and journey history for my travel card but unfortunately there are some times that my wife had also used it.
