Witness statement

[Slim]

Hello, I just got a witness statement receipt at st pracas station. Traveling with a 16-17 discount saver. I’m older than the discount saver. The officer got my details and issued a witness statement receipt. He said I will get a letter. What should I expect

 

[island]

Welcome to the forum!

I have blatantly stolen the below excellent advice from @Hadders because it is excellent.

Travelling with an invalid ticket is a criminal offence and GTR are within their rights to prosecute you in the Magistrates Court should they wish to do so. The good news for you is they are usually prepared to offer and out of court settlement to people who co-operate with them and who haven't come to their attention before.

What will happen is that GTR will write to you asking for your version of events. It is very important that you reply to this letter. You might want to mention the following in your reply:

- That you are sorry for what has happened
- What you have learned from the incident
- That you are keen to settle the matter without the need for court action
- Offer to pay the outstanding fare and the train company's administrative costs in dealing with the matter

If you have done this before, particularly using the same "Trainline" or other account. GTR will be able to search your online ticket purchase history and see it. You will need to be careful how you reply to their letter. You should answer the questions they ask for truthfully but you are not required to incriminate yourself either.

If you are offered a settlement the cost tends to be around £150 plus the outstanding fare. Expect the outstanding fare to be charged at the full Anytime fare with no account made for what has alredy been paid. An out of court settlement might appear to be a fine, but it isn't and you won't have a criminal record as a result of accepting one.

Feel free to post a copy of the letter once it arrives (with personal details redacted) along with your draft reply in this thread and forum members will be happy to proof read it for you.

 

[spag23]

Discount saver = Railcard?
If so, did you apply the wrong discount for the Railcard you possess?
Or do you not qualify for the Railcard you do possess?
Or do you not have any Railcard?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@Slim. Welcome to the forum.

When you say you were travelling with a "16-17 discount saver" when you shouldn't, was the time you were caught the only time you've been using such tickets; since if you've been purchasing similar tickets online using the likes of Trainline, it'll be easy for the train company's investigation team to check through your ticket purchasing history.

Also, where did the recent journey into St. Pancras start from?

 

[Slim]

From Luton been like 5 times… not always

 

[WesternLancer]

Hello, I just got a witness statement receipt at st pracas station. Traveling with a 16-17 discount saver. I’m older than the discount saver. The officer got my details and issued a witness statement receipt. He said I will get a letter. What should I expect

You' see extras of various such letters on other threads on the forum. This was presumably issued by one of the train operates at St Pancras (Thameslink / Southeastern or East Midland railway) - it will look like a thread to prosecute you but will be an invitation for you to say what happened from your point of view. This is your chance to try to persuade them to offer you an out of court settlement instead of prosecuting you in court - with the advice given above as to what to write.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@Slim. Noted what you say.

If you are able to negotiate a so-called "out of court settlement" (almost certainly a better option than being taken to Court where there's every chance you'll be found guilty), you can perhaps expect to pay £150 (as mentioned upthread by @island) this towards the train company's investigation fees and admin expenses, plus a multiple of £21.20 in unpaid fares, being the undiscounted Anytime Day Single fare for each and every one-way journey that they reckon you've made from Luton to/from London using inappropriately discounted tickets, and with no allowance made for what you've already paid.

So, an expensive lesson, but not financially crippling. You will, however, be expected to pay the amount requested in one, lump sum.

 

[Haywain]

Fortunately, GTR (Thameslink) seem to be willing to settle for lower amounts than other TOCs, so the admin fee may well be lower than the figure of £150 suggested above.