leithg1987
Member
- Joined
- 7 Jun 2012
- Messages
- 8
Hello!
I'm new to this forum, on the weekend I received a prosecution letter for traveling without a valid ticket and anti-social behaviour.
Here is the story -
I boarded a train from Adlington (Cheshire) Cheadle Hulme on 25/04/2012. I got on the train at my usual stop Adlington (Cheshire) at 18.27. The station is an unmanned station; therefore Im required to purchase a ticket on the train.
I was approached by the ticket conductor and showed my railcard asking for a ticket to Cheadle Hulme station under 16-25 young persons discount. My railcard is valid until 21June11 and I have a receipt to validate this.
The conductor stated he could not read the date on the railcard (the year on the card had been smudged after wear of taking the card out of my wallet numerous times) and proceeded not to offer me the discount. I did explain that the railcard had been smudged and that it was definitely valid - holding a lighter under the card would actually have easily resolved the debate in order to show the date. However, he left to go to the other side of the train for some reason? (Thinking he was off to get a lighter) I stayed seated.
Eventually, the train arrived at Cheadle Hulme, I quickly rushed to the back of the train and found the conductor, and he refused to give me back my railcard because he thought I was trying to con him! I explained it was still valid and demanded for him to hand me the card back. He kept saying no....At this point I was tired of the arguing so I offered to just pay the full fare in order to get my card back. He still refused.
We argued outside the train as I continued to demand for the card back as this was still valid, I explained that I would report him for theft and he stated that in fact the card was National Rail's property, so he could confiscate it if he wished. I said that all he needs is a lighter and that a rail conductor had tried this before, he still refused. At this point I walked off in anger as I could see I was holding up the train.
A week after I sent an email to Northern Rail explaining the situation and my disgust at the way I was treated on the train, I received a reply 3 weeks later just asking for my address. I gave it to the customer relations officer and was told I would receive a letter in the post when their investigations were complete.
Lone behold, a week later I received a prosecutions letter, accusing me of anti-social behaviour and refusing to pay for a valid ticket! Both of which are entirely false.
Where do I stand and what should I do about the situation?
They have asked for my response to the matter, threatening to take me to court if I do not respond.
I'm new to this forum, on the weekend I received a prosecution letter for traveling without a valid ticket and anti-social behaviour.
Here is the story -
I boarded a train from Adlington (Cheshire) Cheadle Hulme on 25/04/2012. I got on the train at my usual stop Adlington (Cheshire) at 18.27. The station is an unmanned station; therefore Im required to purchase a ticket on the train.
I was approached by the ticket conductor and showed my railcard asking for a ticket to Cheadle Hulme station under 16-25 young persons discount. My railcard is valid until 21June11 and I have a receipt to validate this.
The conductor stated he could not read the date on the railcard (the year on the card had been smudged after wear of taking the card out of my wallet numerous times) and proceeded not to offer me the discount. I did explain that the railcard had been smudged and that it was definitely valid - holding a lighter under the card would actually have easily resolved the debate in order to show the date. However, he left to go to the other side of the train for some reason? (Thinking he was off to get a lighter) I stayed seated.
Eventually, the train arrived at Cheadle Hulme, I quickly rushed to the back of the train and found the conductor, and he refused to give me back my railcard because he thought I was trying to con him! I explained it was still valid and demanded for him to hand me the card back. He kept saying no....At this point I was tired of the arguing so I offered to just pay the full fare in order to get my card back. He still refused.
We argued outside the train as I continued to demand for the card back as this was still valid, I explained that I would report him for theft and he stated that in fact the card was National Rail's property, so he could confiscate it if he wished. I said that all he needs is a lighter and that a rail conductor had tried this before, he still refused. At this point I walked off in anger as I could see I was holding up the train.
A week after I sent an email to Northern Rail explaining the situation and my disgust at the way I was treated on the train, I received a reply 3 weeks later just asking for my address. I gave it to the customer relations officer and was told I would receive a letter in the post when their investigations were complete.
Lone behold, a week later I received a prosecutions letter, accusing me of anti-social behaviour and refusing to pay for a valid ticket! Both of which are entirely false.
Where do I stand and what should I do about the situation?
They have asked for my response to the matter, threatening to take me to court if I do not respond.