WMR Fare evasion

[belum]

Hello!
So on the 25th of July I got caught by a revenues officer in New Street. I didnt have a 16-17 railcard (or any railcard for that matter), which I told him. This lead to hiim switching on his camera, asking me a bunch of questions that I answered honestly.
I have since received a letter saying that I may be prosecuted for fraud.
I have taken trains with the 16-17 discount, including GWR, CrossCountry and SWR rail companies, but never WMR. However, this fraud letter is being sent on behalf of WMR.

• In the fraud investigation, will this investigation look into train tickets purchased on GWR trains, or just CrossCountry trains?

The train I was catching in Birmigham New Street was a CrossCountry train.
I have only ever taken 1 SWR train, 3 CC trains, but have taken 20+GWR trains using the discounted ticket.
Any advice would be helpful!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Aug 2024 ==

This is my drafted response so far:
Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this email to express my sincerest apologies and admittance to the incident that occurred on 25th July.

Firstly, I now appreciate the severity of fare evasions and acknowledge my fault in this matter: I recognise how not paying the pull travel fare directly impacts the taxpayer, ultimately leading to the loss in millions of revenue to subsidise the short fares. This does not reflect my own personal values and morals as a law abiding citizen with no criminal convictions.

I appeal towards your leniency and kindness whilst also admitting my ignorance of the severity of the crime I was partaking in. I truly regret using a railcard discount incorrectly on the 25th of July, and the times preceding.

As a university student from an impoverished area, these fare evasions were not committed with malice, but instead so that I could visit home whilst away at university. Irrespective of my personal circumstances, I understand this is no excuse. However, I implore you to recognise that a criminal charge at this point in my life would be severely damaging and entreat you to consider the foundations of my fare evasions with clemency.

Once again, I am deeply apologetic and regrettable of my actions. My fare evasions were not committed with a full understanding of its consequences, and I am henceforth dedicated to righten my faults by purchasing a correct railcard so that I may never commit fare evasions again.

I hope we may resolve this matter such that the threatened route of a prosecution is not taken. I would be more than grateful to pay any fines and outstanding amounts rightfully due.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

 

[AlterEgo]

Hello!
So on the 25th of July I got caught by a revenues officer in New Street. I didnt have a 16-17 railcard (or any railcard for that matter), which I told him. This lead to hiim switching on his camera, asking me a bunch of questions that I answered honestly.
I have since received a letter saying that I may be prosecuted for fraud.
I have taken trains with the 16-17 discount, including GWR, CrossCountry and SWR rail companies, but never WMR. However, this fraud letter is being sent on behalf of WMR.

• In the fraud investigation, will this investigation look into train tickets purchased on GWR trains, or just CrossCountry trains?

It’ll be an audit of your purchasing accounts and it will include any train company.

The train I was catching in Birmigham New Street was a CrossCountry train.
I have only ever taken 1 SWR train, 3 CC trains, but have taken 20+GWR trains using the discounted ticket.
Any advice would be helpful!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Aug 2024 ==

This is my drafted response so far:
Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this email to express my sincerest apologies and admittance to the incident that occurred on 25th July.

Firstly, I now appreciate the severity of fare evasions and acknowledge my fault in this matter: I recognise how not paying the pull travel fare directly impacts the taxpayer, ultimately leading to the loss in millions of revenue to subsidise the short fares. This does not reflect my own personal values and morals as a law abiding citizen with no criminal convictions.

I appeal towards your leniency and kindness whilst also admitting my ignorance of the severity of the crime I was partaking in. I truly regret using a railcard discount incorrectly on the 25th of July, and the times preceding.

As a university student from an impoverished area, these fare evasions were not committed with malice, but instead so that I could visit home whilst away at university. Irrespective of my personal circumstances, I understand this is no excuse. However, I implore you to recognise that a criminal charge at this point in my life would be severely damaging and entreat you to consider the foundations of my fare evasions with clemency.

Once again, I am deeply apologetic and regrettable of my actions. My fare evasions were not committed with a full understanding of its consequences, and I am henceforth dedicated to righten my faults by purchasing a correct railcard so that I may never commit fare evasions again.

I hope we may resolve this matter such that the threatened route of a prosecution is not taken. I would be more than grateful to pay any fines and outstanding amounts rightfully due.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

You should rewrite that email but without using AI like ChatGPT. Comes across as flowery and insincere, and runs the risk of being flagged as junk mail in any case. Don’t use the passive voice, and “fare evasions” is not good grammar.

 

[belum]

OK thank you!

I havent written this using AI, but less flowery is a good point, thank you! Would you be able to point out where I have used a passive voice so that I can edit it out?

 

[ikcdab]

Good advice is to use everyday language. For example, rather than "I implore" just say "I ask" etc. Imagine you were in the same room talking to the person you are writing to. What would you say?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@belum. Welcome to the forum. Reckon that this could prove to be rather expensive. If you get offered an 'out of court settlement', which means you avoid being taken to court and ending up with a conviction/fine, reckon you'll likely get asked to pay the full, undiscounted fare(s) for each and every occasion when you bought and travelled using inappropriately discounted tickets, almost certainly with no allowance made for what you've already paid.

You've not said what the typical journeys were, but, in total, they're quite likely to add up to several hundred pounds. In addition, the investigating train company will add on a three figure sum towards their investigation and admin costs. And you'll be expected to pay up in one go.

 

[notmyrealname]

Would you be able to point out where I have used a passive voice so that I can edit it out?

There are plenty of examples on Google if you do a quick check.

 

[Idon'tKnow]

Whole letter is over the top imo.

 

[AlterEgo]

OK thank you!

I havent written this using AI

If you haven’t then your writing style probably ought to change!

but less flowery is a good point, thank you! Would you be able to point out where I have used a passive voice so that I can edit it out?

Rewrite the whole thing. It’s OTT. Passive voice is, for example, “these fare evasions were not committed with malice” is passive voice. “I did not commit these offences…etc” is the active voice. Nobody says “implore” or “impoverished” either. Just use plain English!

 

[Iggy12a]

"This does not reflect my own personal values and morals as a law abiding citizen with no criminal convictions."

By your own admission, you are not a law abiding citizen.

 

[30907]

I would cut the whole paragraph beginning "As a university student:" the train company isn't interested in your excuses for not paying, or your worries about the future. They have heard it all before!

That said, the impact on your future is unlikely to be that severe even if you are taken to court. The impact on your finances, sadly, will be significant either way.

 

[John R]

and I am henceforth dedicated to righten my faults by purchasing a correct railcard so that I may never commit fare evasions again.

As others have said the letter is far too over the top in its language. So for example, how about "I have now purchased the correct railcard" (assuming you have, and if you haven't yet, you really ought to), rather than being henceforth dedicated to righten my faults.

And also, using the correct railcard doesn't in itself mean that you won't commit rail ticketing fraud again - there are lots of ways of not purchasing the correct ticket without using railcard discounts - you only have to peruse this forum for a few minutes to see that. So the statement isn't even logical anyway.

 

[belum]

Hello everyone! Thanks for your input...ive edited my email so it looks like this now. Any final thoughts before I send it off? Thanks again!

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this email to express my sincerest apologies and admittance to the incident that occurred on 25th July.

Firstly, I now appreciate the severity of fare evasions and acknowledge my fault in this matter. I appeal towards your leniency and kindness whilst also admitting my ignorance of the severity of the crime I was partaking in. I truly regret using a railcard discount incorrectly on the 25th of July, and the times preceding. However, I ask you to recognise that a criminal charge at this point in my life would be severely damaging.

Once again, I am deeply apologetic and regrettable of my actions. I did not commit these fare evasions with a full understanding of its consequences and have since purchased the correct railcard.

I hope we may resolve this matter such that the threatened route of a prosecution is not taken. I would be more than grateful to pay any fines and outstanding amounts rightfully due.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

 

[Elecman]

Hello everyone! Thanks for your input...ive edited my email so it looks like this now. Any final thoughts before I send it off? Thanks again!

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this email to express my sincerest apologies and admittance to the incident that occurred on 25th July.

Firstly, I now appreciate the severity of fare evasions and acknowledge my fault in this matter. I appeal towards your leniency and kindness whilst also admitting my ignorance of the severity of the crime I was partaking in. I truly regret using a railcard discount incorrectly on the 25th of July, and the times preceding. However, I ask you to recognise that a criminal charge at this point in my life would be severely damaging.

Once again, I am deeply apologetic and regrettable of my actions. I did not commit these fare evasions with a full understanding of its consequences and have since purchased the correct railcard.

I hope we may resolve this matter such that the threatened route of a prosecution is not taken. I would be more than grateful to pay any fines and outstanding amounts rightfully due.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

Remove you name from the bottom of the letter on here

 

[ikcdab]

This is far better but still not written in everyday language. But it's ok. I would just change "of the crime I was partaking in." to read "of the offence I committed".

 

[belum]

thank you...would you be able to delete your response too?

Remove you name from the bottom of the letter on here

 

[Elecman]

thank you...would you be able to delete your response too?

Done

 

[AlterEgo]

Hello everyone! Thanks for your input...ive edited my email so it looks like this now. Any final thoughts before I send it off? Thanks again!

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this email to express my sincerest apologies and admittance to the incident that occurred on 25th July.

Firstly, I now appreciate the severity of fare evasions and acknowledge my fault in this matter. I appeal towards your leniency and kindness whilst also admitting my ignorance of the severity of the crime I was partaking in. I truly regret using a railcard discount incorrectly on the 25th of July, and the times preceding. However, I ask you to recognise that a criminal charge at this point in my life would be severely damaging.

Once again, I am deeply apologetic and regrettable of my actions. I did not commit these fare evasions with a full understanding of its consequences and have since purchased the correct railcard.

I hope we may resolve this matter such that the threatened route of a prosecution is not taken. I would be more than grateful to pay any fines and outstanding amounts rightfully due.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

This still reads terribly. “Express my sincerest apologies and admittance” doesn’t make much sense, and it’s still quite passive. Say “I am writing to admit and apologise for the incident…”. That is how normal people write.

Fare evasion is clunky as a plural, as evasion here is more usually read as an uncountable noun. So you don’t say “fare evasions” but rather “instances of fare evasion”, or even, in the sentence you first use it, just “fare evasion”.

“Whilst also admitting” nobody says this. “…and I admit” is plain English.

“Crime I was partaking in” horribly passive and indirect, say “the offence”.

*You* cannot be “regrettable” of your actions, you either regret them or the actions were regrettable. The former is preferable to use in an apology letter as it is direct and active, the latter is passive.

Think about how your letter comes across. If someone has done the wrong thing to you, there are two ways they can apologise and ask for forgiveness:

“The actions that I did were regrettable and I express my apologies for them. They will not happen again”

“I am very sorry that what I did hurt you. I will not do them again”

Which is the better and more sincere apology?

 

[belum]

Hello again, so i recieved this response from the digital fraud team and wanted to ask if anyone knows what will entail with IRCAS contacting me!

Thank you for your response.



We appreciate your willingness to resolve this matter.



At this stage there is nothing further we need for our investigation, and we can confirm your case with the Digital Fraud team will be closed.



Please note – the original report under caution is with a third-party team ICRAS. We advise you comply with their letters you will now receive and make payment to them if they request for it.


Do i still have a chance of being prosecuted? Thanks for all the help!!

 

[WesternLancer]

Hello again, so i recieved this response from the digital fraud team and wanted to ask if anyone knows what will entail with IRCAS contacting me!

Thank you for your response.



We appreciate your willingness to resolve this matter.



At this stage there is nothing further we need for our investigation, and we can confirm your case with the Digital Fraud team will be closed.



Please note – the original report under caution is with a third-party team ICRAS. We advise you comply with their letters you will now receive and make payment to them if they request for it.


Do i still have a chance of being prosecuted? Thanks for all the help!!

I think the work may be contracted out to IRCAS. They operate on behalf of several railway companies. You need to watch out for something from them eg hard copy post or e mail and check spam.

When you get something ask here on how best to reply.

I don’t think it makes it any more or less likely that you would be prosecuted if IRCAS are handling it however.

 

[Hadders]

It sounds to me as though they've closed the investigation into other ticketing irregularities on your account but IRCAS will deal with the incident on the day you were stopped.

 

[riya]

Hello again, so i recieved this response from the digital fraud team and wanted to ask if anyone knows what will entail with IRCAS contacting me!

Thank you for your response.



We appreciate your willingness to resolve this matter.



At this stage there is nothing further we need for our investigation, and we can confirm your case with the Digital Fraud team will be closed.



Please note – the original report under caution is with a third-party team ICRAS. We advise you comply with their letters you will now receive and make payment to them if they request for it.


Do i still have a chance of being prosecuted? Thanks for all the help!!

Hi Belum,

I have been caught up in a similar situation and was stopped by GWR staff today. I have always travelled by GWR and have multiple tickets for which unfortunately i have taken a similar route.
Just wondering if they have quoted you a fine amount to pay?
Have you been asked to present yourself in court?

 

[Hadders]

Hi Belum,

I have been caught up in a similar situation and was stopped by GWR staff today. I have always travelled by GWR and have multiple tickets for which unfortunately i have taken a similar route.
Just wondering if they have quoted you a fine amount to pay?
Have you been asked to present yourself in court?

Please can you start your own thread if you are in need of assistance and forum members will be happy to help.

It is our policy to only discuss one case in each thread because cases are almost always different, however similar they might appear to be at first.

 

[riya]

Please can you start your own thread if you are in need of assistance and forum members will be happy to help.

It is our policy to only discuss one case in each thread because cases are almost always different, however similar they might appear to be at first.

Hi Hadders,

I wasnt aware, thanks for this. I have created a new thread now and would really appreciate any guidance i can receive as the letter has stressed me out a lot.