Caught With Multiple Fare Evasion

[joe29465johnst]

Hi all,

I recently got caught buying a Reading to Reading West Ticket and then going to Winnersh Triangle by a railway officer. I'd been doing this since last year to try and save a pound each day, as money's been abyssmally tight this last year, and he saw the repeat offence of this by checking my Trainline history. I'm not proud of it, and had never considered the consequences of what felt like a small act, but I see now was a large one.

The officer told me he had to give me an official caution and conducted an interview that he made me sign before he let me buy a new ticket and get on the next train.

He told me I could expect a fine in the post that would be the difference of the tickets I avoided, plus an administration fee, and that if I don't pay it in 21 days, I will be summoned to court and could be prosecuted. We spoke politely, I complied with everything asked, and shook his hand at the end.

I was reasonably happy with this result, as I clearly deserve the fine as I am in the wrong. However, reading about multiple fare evasion online has made me panic about being summoned to court and getting a criminal record, as the internet seems confident that people with repeat offences will be prosecuted.

I really want to settle this out of court and just pay whatever I need to pay. How likely is it I'll be able to do this?

Cheers!

 

[gray1404]

At what point in your journey where you stopped as you say that he let you buy a new ticket and then get on the next train?

 

[joe29465johnst]

At what point in your journey where you stopped as you say that he let you buy a new ticket and then get on the next train?

He caught me coming through the gate at Reading Station, I scanned my ticket then went to get on the Winnersh train, he stopped me before I could get on and said I had the wrong ticket

 

[furlong]

What the inspector said, basically. He discovered all the facts, wrote up the incident, so you just have to wait for the letter.
Someone in a back office reads the report and actually decides what to do.

If they think they've got all the information they need, they may send you a letter threatening prosecution but offering a settlement if you pay them some stated amount of money. That's the situation that was described to you. (People have previously posted copies of this type of letter on old forum threads.)

If the person making the decision wants to know more before deciding what to do, they'll send you a letter asking you to tell them more about what happened, and this is where you would apologise again.

Most of the cases GWR actually takes to court in this area seem to be ones where the person caught does not co-operate or there are aggravating factors. You can read their prosecution policy on the GWR website if you want more reassurance.

 

[Hadders]

Welwome to the forum!

We are seeing lots of these incidents at the moment, travelling without the correct ticket is a serious matter and can result in a criminal prosecution.

In terms of what happens next I expect you will receive a letter from the train company or an investigation company acting on their behalf. The letter will typically take a couple of months to arrive and can be sooner but shouldn't take longer than six months. The letter will say that they have received a report, are considering prosecuting you and asking for your version of events. It is important that you engage with and reply to this letter. You might want to include 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

Make sure your reply is short and concise, don't give a sob story - they've heard it all before. Most train companies are usually prepared to offer an administrative settlement (commonly known as an out of court settlement) for people who engage with the process and who haven't come to their attention before. There is no guarantee of this and the train company would be well within their rights to prosecute you in the magistrates court. A complication in your case is that you have done this multiple times before so it isn't an 'innocent mistake', and the train company may decide that they want to make an example and send your case to the Magistrates Court.

If you are offered a settlement the amount varies depending on the train company and circumstances but tend to be a few hundred pounds plus the outstanding fare. 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 I'm sure forum members will be happy to proof read it for you.

 

[WesternLancer]

Hi all,

I recently got caught buying a Reading to Reading West Ticket and then going to Winnersh Triangle by a railway officer. I'd been doing this since last year to try and save a pound each day, as money's been abyssmally tight this last year, and he saw the repeat offence of this by checking my Trainline history. I'm not proud of it, and had never considered the consequences of what felt like a small act, but I see now was a large one.

The officer told me he had to give me an official caution and conducted an interview that he made me sign before he let me buy a new ticket and get on the next train.

He told me I could expect a fine in the post that would be the difference of the tickets I avoided, plus an administration fee, and that if I don't pay it in 21 days, I will be summoned to court and could be prosecuted. We spoke politely, I complied with everything asked, and shook his hand at the end.

I was reasonably happy with this result, as I clearly deserve the fine as I am in the wrong. However, reading about multiple fare evasion online has made me panic about being summoned to court and getting a criminal record, as the internet seems confident that people with repeat offences will be prosecuted.

I really want to settle this out of court and just pay whatever I need to pay. How likely is it I'll be able to do this?

Cheers!

Further to other good advice here have a full read of the GWR revenue protection policy including the pdf document at the bottom of this page. This will help prepare you for what to expect

GWR penalties and enforcements | Policies and procedures | Great Western Railway | Great Western Railway

Understand penalties at GWR and our enforcement policies, including fare evasion and travel regulations.

www.gwr.com

 

[joe29465johnst]

What the inspector said, basically. He discovered all the facts, wrote up the incident, so you just have to wait for the letter.
Someone in a back office reads the report and actually decides what to do.

If they think they've got all the information they need, they may send you a letter threatening prosecution but offering a settlement if you pay them some stated amount of money. That's the situation that was described to you. (People have previously posted copies of this type of letter on old forum threads.)

If the person making the decision wants to know more before deciding what to do, they'll send you a letter asking you to tell them more about what happened, and this is where you would apologise again.

Most of the cases GWR actually takes to court in this area seem to be ones where the person caught does not co-operate or there are aggravating factors. You can read their prosecution policy on the GWR website if you want more reassurance.

Ah ok well that makes sense, and is reassuring. I'll be sure to be very apologetic. I cooperated and fully with the officer and was honest, so hopefully that will swing them towards an out of court settlement. Thanks for the breakdown!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Oct 2022 ==

Welwome to the forum!

We are seeing lots of these incidents at the moment, travelling without the correct ticket is a serious matter and can result in a criminal prosecution.

In terms of what happens next I expect you will receive a letter from the train company or an investigation company acting on their behalf. The letter will typically take a couple of months to arrive and can be sooner but shouldn't take longer than six months. The letter will say that they have received a report, are considering prosecuting you and asking for your version of events. It is important that you engage with and reply to this letter. You might want to include 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

Make sure your reply is short and concise, don't give a sob story - they've heard it all before. Most train companies are usually prepared to offer an administrative settlement (commonly known as an out of court settlement) for people who engage with the process and who haven't come to their attention before. There is no guarantee of this and the train company would be well within their rights to prosecute you in the magistrates court. A complication in your case is that you have done this multiple times before so it isn't an 'innocent mistake', and the train company may decide that they want to make an example and send your case to the Magistrates Court.

If you are offered a settlement the amount varies depending on the train company and circumstances but tend to be a few hundred pounds plus the outstanding fare. 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 I'm sure forum members will be happy to proof read it for you.

It would be my first time ever being prosecuted for anything, but like you say, because I was doing it for a pound a day for a long while, that might make them want to make an example out of me.

At least when the letter comes I'll know what to send back, so thank you for detailing that for me, very helpful thanks!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Oct 2022 ==

Further to other good advice here have a full read of the GWR revenue protection policy including the pdf document at the bottom of this page. This will help prepare you for what to expect

GWR penalties and enforcements | Policies and procedures | Great Western Railway | Great Western Railway

Understand penalties at GWR and our enforcement policies, including fare evasion and travel regulations.

www.gwr.com

Thanks for the resource

 

[Iamconfused123]

Ah ok well that makes sense, and is reassuring. I'll be sure to be very apologetic. I cooperated and fully with the officer and was honest, so hopefully that will swing them towards an out of court settlement. Thanks for the breakdown!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Oct 2022 ==


It would be my first time ever being prosecuted for anything, but like you say, because I was doing it for a pound a day for a long while, that might make them want to make an example out of me.

At least when the letter comes I'll know what to send back, so thank you for detailing that for me, very helpful thanks!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Oct 2022 ==


Thanks for the resource

How has it gone? Did you get the letter?