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I recently received a letter from the West Midlands. I boarded a train from London to Northampton with my seasonal ticket, which is valid for travel from Northampton to Birmingham, and I was issued a fine of £195.90. I was asked if I have any mitigating circumstances, I don't intend to contest it, I want to clear the claim. My enquiry is whether I can ask for an instalment payment as I don't have the financial capacity to pay in full?
Certainly be interesting to see how exactly the amount of £195.90 has been calculated/determined. An Anytime Day Single from London Terminals to Northampton (one way) is currently £45.70, if it's meant to be that plus a £150.00 admin charge added on top.
The problem is that what you are being offered here is essentially an out of court settlement AIUI. If you don't pay this they will take you to court - which will cost you a lot more as well as result in a criminal record which most people want to avoid.
Train companies do not usually allow people to pay these sums in installments (basically they want to run a railway, not act as debt collectors to ensure regular payments of relatively small sums of money)
However, you could ask them if they would permit payment by installments. Occasionally we do see this granted. You might find they would only accept payment over a small number of instalments eg 2 or 3 paid over a relatively short period of time - but I can't see any harm in you at least asking them if it is possible. Keep your request polite and explain in brief why it's not easy for you to pay the whole sum in one go.
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If there is any way you can borrow the money from a trusted friend or family member that might be an easier option?
Don’t go to dodgy money lenders however.
The problem is that what you are being offered here is essentially an out of court settlement AIUI. If you don't pay this they will take you to court - which will cost you a lot more as well as result in a criminal record which most people want to avoid.
Train companies do not usually allow people to pay these sums in installments (basically they want to run a railway, not act as debt collectors to ensure regular payments of relatively small sums of money)
However, you could ask them if they would permit payment by installments. Occasionally we do see this granted. You might find they would only accept payment over a small number of instalments eg 2 or 3 paid over a relatively short period of time - but I can't see any harm in you at least asking them if it is possible. Keep your request polite and explain in brief why it's not easy for you to pay the whole sum in one go.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
If there is any way you can borrow the money from a trusted friend or family member that might be an easier option?
Don’t go to dodgy money lenders however.
Even if the interest is high, a short-term loan is almost certainly still preferable to going to court... The fact OP mentions he’s got a season ticket suggests he does it regularly and that will almost certainly get uncovered if it goes to court. Then the fine may end up into the thousands not to mention the near-certain conviction.
.. The fact OP mentions he’s got a season ticket suggests he does it regularly and that will almost certainly get uncovered if it goes to court. Then the fine may end up into the thousands not to mention the near-certain conviction.
Could be a typo for the Super Off-peak Day single London to Northampton which is £20.60. But as this is an offer of an out of court settlement I doubt if this is a technicality worth disputing.
Could be a typo for the Super Off-peak Day single London to Northampton which is £20.60. But as this is an offer of an out of court settlement I doubt if this is a technicality worth disputing.
You could be right. BTW, is the admin fee of £175 being asked for by West Midlands Trains, up there as seeming relatively quite high, if this indeed was a single incidence of fare avoidance (was the OP perhaps wanting to use their Northampton to Birmingham Stns season ticket to get through the barriers at Northampton, despite having alighted from a train coming from LondonEuston)?
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