Hi All,
Firstly, i know i have done something very stupid and wrong, i can't quite believe i've got into such trouble. Any help on what is likely to happen or what actions i should take would be really appreciated.
I was stopped at Liverpool St on 4th Nov, the guy (he showed me a badge so i thought some sort of Police?) asked to see my ticket and asked me where i had travelled from. I initially told him i'd travelled from the station on my ticket but he seemed to know that wasn't the case so i then admitted i had travelled further. He asked if i'd done this before and i admitted i had - several times over the past month.
I'd previously had a season ticket but since returning it during lockdown in March i'd been buying daily returns, on one occasion i'd forgotten to buy one and panicked - bought a ticket from the station we were approaching through the Greater Anglia app. Initially it was a one off but then i made the really stupid decision to do this again - i think about 23 times.
He took all my details and notes of the conversation, he told me i was under caution but also was very helpful and reassuring and said he'd be in touch.
I received a letter from Greater Anglia on Saturday saying that i "was spoken to and identified by a member of Greater Anglia staff in relation to a ticketing irregularity..." It goes on to say they are considering legal proceedings. There is an email address to contact if there are any mitigating factors about my case - i have 7 days from the date of the letter (13th) to do so. The letter says "without your input, this matter will be passed to our Prosecutions team."
What is likely to happen now? Should i use the email address to contact them and apologise? Would it be possible to ask if they would consider settling this out of court? I'm really worried about what might happen. I have previously had a Penalty Fare, about 4 years ago when i accidently travelled on a season ticket that expired the day before - is this likely to make the situation worse?
Thanks in advance for any advice, i know i've done something so wrong and i feel very ashamed as well as anxious.
Firstly, i know i have done something very stupid and wrong, i can't quite believe i've got into such trouble. Any help on what is likely to happen or what actions i should take would be really appreciated.
I was stopped at Liverpool St on 4th Nov, the guy (he showed me a badge so i thought some sort of Police?) asked to see my ticket and asked me where i had travelled from. I initially told him i'd travelled from the station on my ticket but he seemed to know that wasn't the case so i then admitted i had travelled further. He asked if i'd done this before and i admitted i had - several times over the past month.
I'd previously had a season ticket but since returning it during lockdown in March i'd been buying daily returns, on one occasion i'd forgotten to buy one and panicked - bought a ticket from the station we were approaching through the Greater Anglia app. Initially it was a one off but then i made the really stupid decision to do this again - i think about 23 times.
He took all my details and notes of the conversation, he told me i was under caution but also was very helpful and reassuring and said he'd be in touch.
I received a letter from Greater Anglia on Saturday saying that i "was spoken to and identified by a member of Greater Anglia staff in relation to a ticketing irregularity..." It goes on to say they are considering legal proceedings. There is an email address to contact if there are any mitigating factors about my case - i have 7 days from the date of the letter (13th) to do so. The letter says "without your input, this matter will be passed to our Prosecutions team."
What is likely to happen now? Should i use the email address to contact them and apologise? Would it be possible to ask if they would consider settling this out of court? I'm really worried about what might happen. I have previously had a Penalty Fare, about 4 years ago when i accidently travelled on a season ticket that expired the day before - is this likely to make the situation worse?
Thanks in advance for any advice, i know i've done something so wrong and i feel very ashamed as well as anxious.