16 year old daughter received an initial contact letter help

[TjW1072]

Hi, I'm hoping someone can help. My 16 year old daughter has just started 6th form and has moved up to Greater Manchester to live with my brother whilst she studies.
She was using the train from Manchester Picadilly to Bolton and getting half fare not realising you need a rail pass to qualify for the cheaper price. She grew up on the Isle of Wight, so is still adjusting from quiet and laid back to the busy life up there. As soon as she told me a guard had stopped her, I bought a 16-17 Saver card but obviously too late. Is there anyway to appeal the fine at all or is it just a case of learning a lesson the hard way? Any help with the letter below would be amazing. Please let me know if you need any more information. Many thanks in advance.

 

[47434]

It reads as if there isn't a fine at this stage. I would explain exactly as you have above and submit.

 

[furlong]

Yes and of course offer to pay any fare money outstanding. If you reply properly as suggested, apologising and explaining why it won't happen again (i.e. you bought the right discount card - maybe enclose a copy if it was bought the same day or the day after) they ought to offer a settlement for a reasonably low amount of money.

 

[MichaelAMW]

Given they haven't said what the issue was or what was in the "evidential report" I would ask them for a bit more detail. You are being asked to respond about an "incident" involving someone other than yourself, but they haven't told you what that was. Your daughter has spoken to you, so you have a reasonable idea, but she may well have got some of the facts wrong and she almost certainly doesn't have much idea about the legal aspects. You need to be cooperative but you also need to know what you are being asked to respond to.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

My advice is to send a short, concise reply and include the following:

- 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

Northern are normally prepared to offer an administrative settlement (commonly known as an out of court settlement) for people who have not come to their attention before. Reports suggest these normally cost around £100 plus the outstanding fare although there have been cases where they are lower.

Good luck.

 

[185]

IIRC ...If the journey was entirely within greater Manchester, students age 16/17 are entitled to a (think it's £5 per school year) half fare TfGM pass from their home address to their place of education for five return journeys per week... although that should be done prior to purchasing reduced rate tickets.

 

[NoOnesFool]

Has she wrongly claimed a discount multiple times? If so, are Northern aware of this? This could change how they choose to go about things.

 

[skyhigh]

Has she wrongly claimed a discount multiple times? If so, are Northern aware of this? This could change how they choose to go about things.

I certainly wouldn't admit to that in the initial reply, or on here.