West Midlands fare dodge potential prosecution

[rgtkd]

Hi all, I am looking for some advice please.
Not me as I don’t use trains
Someone I know was stopped today in Birmingham by a man checking tickets.
There ticket didn’t cover the whole journey and they were honest when questioned.
There records show they have potentially been doing this for a few months.
They ticket checker told them they would be arrested and cautioned them and recorded the questioning.
No previous offences at all.
They are absolutely devastated.
What might the out be and what should they do

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Hi all, I am looking for some advice please.
Not me as I don’t use trains
Someone I know was stopped today in Birmingham by a man checking tickets.
There ticket didn’t cover the whole journey and they were honest when questioned.
There records show they have potentially been doing this for a few months.
They ticket checker told them they would be arrested and cautioned them and recorded the questioning.
No previous offences at all.
They are absolutely devastated.
What might the out be and what should they do

Welcome to the forum.

Your friend won't be going to prison - but it will cost them to sort it out.

The railway have the right to take your friend to court, where the railway would probably win, which would mean that your friend would have to pay a fine, plus costs, plus compensation (the fares they should have paid). Broadly, think around £500.

But it's quite likely that the railway will write to your friend. The letter will look as if it's threatening prosecution, but if your friend writes back, and makes it clear that they know that they have done wrong and they are prepared to cover the cost of the tickets they should have paid plus the cost of the investigation, then the railway may agree to settle out of court for maybe £200 or £300.

And of course it's important that your friend makes sure they get the right fare from now on - otherwise the railway won't think that they have learnt to behave on the railway.

 

[AlterEgo]

If you have been short faring for some time and you admitted to this, you can expect the train company to write to you soon - within a few weeks usually. They will also audit your ticket purchasing accounts. No credit can assumed to be given for the tickets you did buy, and the company usually settles for the Anytime fare for every single instance plus about £100 in administration fees. They will only settle (that is, agree for you to pay your way out of trouble, rather than being prosecuted) if you apologise, take responsibility, and ask not to be prosecuted, and show that you have learned your lesson.

Evading fares is a criminal offence for which you can be prosecuted, but if you post the letter here with your details removed, once it comes, more specific advice can be given.

 

[rgtkd]

Thank you for your advice so far.
Very appreciated and passed on.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Oct 2024 ==

My friend has decided to try a solicitor ASAP, they are using Reeds .
My friend is training to be a solicitor so any conviction would absolutely devastate them.
Hope it works out.
There train records could potentially show over 100 journeys where they could have been short