Help needed - Travelling on an altered railcard

[iwillnotdothat]

Hello everyone,

I would really appreciate some advice in my silly situation. Sorry for my stupidity and the mess. I'm happy to pay the fine but don't want to get in trouble for it.

The accident: My railcard expired (I do not not when)
The stations where you actually started & finished: London Stansted Airport to Leicester
Ticket type: Advance single

Details:
Today, on my way home from London Stansted Airport, I was checked for my railcard. I provided a screenshot, but I didn't realize that it had been altered. My ex-boyfriend helped me with this. He only sent me the screenshot and assured me that he had bought a three-year ticket (with a discount code). I only have two bank card transfers totaling 250 pounds, but I personally don't think it is enough to prove our relationship. Back to what happened today, the ticket inspector asked me to show my railcard (After about two months of dating, I deleted his contact information after knowing that I was the third party.).
She insisted on the one on the app. I insisted on seeing the screenshot. As a result, when she scanned it, she saw a railcard that had expired for almost two years. In addition, there was another episode. When she asked for the app, because my phone had no memory at all, I bought another railcard to deal with her because I was not sure which app I had bought my railcard on before. The ticketing apps on my phone were deleted, leaving only Trainpal. Before that, I also used Trip and Trainline. Because there was no memory download to verify, I bought another one for convenience, which I relised it is not allowed now.
Then she asked for my ID and address, which I provided. But my English is not very good, so I don’t know what happened afterwards. She asked me a few questions with a recorder similar to a mobile phone, and submitted my ID, ticket and expired railcard. I also signed my name, and then she asked me to wait for something. I’m not sure what it is. It may be a letter, but is it a direct subpoena? Because she spoke very quickly and impatiently, I didn’t know what to do.

This is indeed all my problem. I even swore that I could prove my railcard to them when I went home and uploaded the photos and had space, but I confirmed that there was really nothing, probably no railcard. This was not until I went home and searched my phone.
And I signed my testimony or something - which I still don’t know what the process is.

I do not know what to do next... If there is a fine, I am very glad to pay. I am so sorry and regret.

Thank you all in advance.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jun 2025 ==

My current concerns are that I will be prosecuted directly without any negotiation, and what problems will it bring to my life if I have a criminal record (I am on a student visa, and so is my ex-boyfriend, but he has graduated and left the UK for a year and a half). Of course, I understand that it is my fault in the end, and I need to bear all the consequences myself. What I want to ensure most at the moment is that they will only intend to prosecute and let me pay a fine, but assuming the worst case, I want to know how it will develop (whether I will be deported).
Additional: 1. Because it was tampered with by others, I don’t know how long it has expired, because I only have a screenshot, and the expiration date is October 25. When I was asked to do a statment, I was asked if I changed it myself, and I answered no. If I knew it was expired, I answered that I didn’t know. When asked why the other party could use my phone, I answered "we can access each other's phone"
2. I took the Cross Country, and I searched previous posts and didn’t see too many details about the attitude of this company.
3. It will be a problemto provide evidence about my ex. Because I was too angry at the time and deleted all the records (chat, photos, etc.). I even complained to my friends before, but because I had no memory, I deleted a lot of chat records. The only evidence is a record in February 2023 that mentioned "something unpleasant happened with a friend."

 

[Kilopylae]

Can you confirm that I've understood the timeline of events correctly:

- In October 2022, your then-boyfriend bought you a Railcard. This was a one-year Railcard, but he lied and told you it was a three-year Railcard. He sent you an edited screenshot with the expiry date changed to October 2025.
- You downloaded the Railcard into either the Trainline or the Trip app.
- To save on storage space on your phone, you deleted the Trainline and Trip apps.
- When you recently travelled by CrossCountry, you showed the guard the screenshot, as you didn't have it in the app. She scanned the screenshot and it told her the Railcard had expired in 2023.
- A few minutes later, you bought a new Railcard in the Trainpal app. This was on the same train where you were challenged.
- You told the guard that you had forgotten to bring your Railcard with you but that you could prove you had one. You signed a witness statement after this conversation.
- When you got home, you realised you didn't have an active Railcard at all (presumably except for the one you had just bought).

Others will need to ask you several clarifying questions about this, but I just wanted to check the basic timeline of events.

 

[Pushpit]

I do not know what to do next... If there is a fine, I am very glad to pay. I am so sorry and regret.

This is a fairly convuluted story, in terms of background, but I am not sure it really matters: what it boils down to is that you did not have the correct ticket and railcard combination when challenged, with the complication that the railcard presented may have been altered. Now in theory that complication moves you to a more serious area, particularly if there are other tickets purchased on that railcard. However the usual process is that Crosscountry should write to you and until they have written to you there is nothing you can or should do. One exception relates to you providing a false or incorrect address. Apart from that, when the letter comes through you need to share it here, with personal details redacted, and then you can receive targeted and specific advice.

CC do have the right to just take you to court without further discussion. This probably won't happen, particularly if you engage constructively with CC to resolve the matter. The back story concerning your ex is irrelevant.

 

[iwillnotdothat]

Can you confirm that I've understood the timeline of events correctly:

- In October 2022, your then-boyfriend bought you a Railcard. This was a one-year Railcard, but he lied and told you it was a three-year Railcard. He sent you an edited screenshot with the expiry date changed to October 2025.
- You downloaded the Railcard into either the Trainline or the Trip app.
- To save on storage space on your phone, you deleted the Trainline and Trip apps.
- When you recently travelled by CrossCountry, you showed the guard the screenshot, as you didn't have it in the app. She scanned the screenshot and it told her the Railcard had expired in 2023.
- A few minutes later, you bought a new Railcard in the Trainpal app. This was on the same train where you were challenged.
- You told the guard that you had forgotten to bring your Railcard with you but that you could prove you had one.
- When you got home, you realised you didn't have an active Railcard at all (presumably except for the one you had just bought).

Others will need to ask you several clarifying questions about this, but I just wanted to check the basic timeline of events.

Hi,

Thank you for your reply.
1. Yes. He bought me a 3 year card.
2. No. He assured me that using a screenshot would be fine. I didn't doubt it, since the 16-25 Railcard is always coming with booking tickets. I thought he had linked it properly for me.
3. Yes. I only had Trainpal and there is no railcard information.
4. Yes. But I only know it is expired. I do not know the expired time.
5.6.7 No. When the train guard asked to see my Railcard, I told her I had a screenshot. She insisted it had to be shown through the official app, but I didn’t have enough storage to download it. I believed she just needed to see some kind of proof, so I quickly purchased a new Railcard via the Trainpal app, thinking that would resolve the issue. She then asked if I had just bought it, and I said yes. She told me that wasn't acceptable and said she needed to see the original one. I told her again I was happy to show the screenshot. After some back and forth, she agreed to look at it, and when she scanned it, I be told it was expired.

I admit that I was ignorant and careless, and I’m willing to take full responsibility for my mistake. Right now, my main concern is whether there is any room for explanation that might help me avoid a criminal record. I would be more than willing to pay any fine necessary.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jun 2025 ==

This is a fairly convuluted story, in terms of background, but I am not sure it really matters: what it boils down to is that you did not have the correct ticket and railcard combination when challenged, with the complication that the railcard presented may have been altered. Now in theory that complication moves you to a more serious area, particularly if there are other tickets purchased on that railcard. However the usual process is that Crosscountry should write to you and until they have written to you there is nothing you can or should do. One exception relates to you providing a false or incorrect address. Apart from that, when the letter comes through you need to share it here, with personal details redacted, and then you can receive targeted and specific advice.

CC do have the right to just take you to court without further discussion. This probably won't happen, particularly if you engage constructively with CC to resolve the matter. The back story concerning your ex is irrelevant.

Thank you for your relpy.

I understand that my story may not be very useful in the end, but I still want to explain everything as clearly as I can. To be honest, when I was first challenged, my attitude wasn’t great — I genuinely believed I had a valid Railcard. But once I realised it was expired, I cooperated fully and provided my passport and a valid address.

My biggest concern now is: if this does go to court and I'm formally charged, could I be at risk of deportation due to having a criminal record? And before it gets to that stage, is there any chance I can engage with CrossCountry to settle the matter and avoid a criminal record? I'm more than willing to pay a fine or cooperate in any way necessary.

Of course, if I receive any updates or a letter from them, I will post it here (with personal details removed). But since this only happened at around 4pm yesterday, I’m not sure how long it will take to hear from them.

 

[ohnoes]

You should be aware they will look at your ticket purchasing history for all tickets purchased with a railcard discount. If you did not have a valid railcard for these journeys they will usually probably offer you a settlement - each journey will be priced using anytime day single (two singles for a return journey) plus an admin fee of around £150.

They will not offer any discount for the tickets you purchased originally as they are invalid.


They will likely offer to settle out of court without criminal action if you engage with them when they write to you. Be aware if this has been going on for two years and you use the trains regularly then the settlement amount is likely to be high.

 

[Kilopylae]

Is this your first time having your Railcard checked since he bought it for you in 2022?

 

[iwillnotdothat]

Is this your first time having your Railcard checked since he bought it for you in 2022?

Yes. And I do not want to play the system at all.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jun 2025 ==

You should be aware they will look at your ticket purchasing history for all tickets purchased with a railcard discount. If you did not have a valid railcard for these journeys they will usually probably offer you a settlement - each journey will be priced using anytime day single (two singles for a return journey) plus an admin fee of around £150.

They will not offer any discount for the tickets you purchased originally as they are invalid.


They will likely offer to settle out of court without criminal action if you engage with them when they write to you. Be aware if this has been going on for two years and you use the trains regularly then the settlement amount is likely to be high.

Thank you so much for the information — I’ve seen similar cases on the forum, but my main concern, as you said, is the time period — this has unknowingly gone on for quite a long time, and I’m genuinely worried they might take me straight to court instead of offering a settlement.

 

[duffield]

My biggest concern now is: if this does go to court and I'm formally charged, could I be at risk of deportation due to having a criminal record?

On this specific point, it is illegal for anyone on this forum to give you immigration advice. Only qualified and regulated persons are allowed to do this.

 

[AlterEgo]

You should be aware they will look at your ticket purchasing history for all tickets purchased with a railcard discount.

They might not, if the OP has been buying tickets on TrainPal or Trip.com.

As far as I can tell only Trainline or a TOC site has so far given up data to a TOC’s prosecution request.

 

[iwillnotdothat]

They might not, if the OP has been buying tickets on TrainPal or Trip.com.

As far as I can tell only Trainline or a TOC site has so far given up data to a TOC’s prosecution request.

Thank you! This is a new information I get. I only used TrainPal.

 

[WesternLancer]

I think it is worth mentioning at this stage that if this is Cross Country Trains then there is the possibility that the OP will be dealing with their enforcement contractor IRCAS about all this - as we see IRCAS handling cases like this on here regarding other people.

Unfortunately IRCAS are more difficult to deal with to reach out of court settlements with than other railway companies tend to be - often requiring two or three attempts to avoid court proceedings, despite people offering to pay the sums owed for new tickets etc

I think it is thus very important that @iwillnotdothat gets clear advice from here on exactly how to reply when they receive their letter from Cross Country Trains / IRCAS to seek to best try to prevent this escalating to court action.

Actions of the ex boyfriend:

It's a separate issue but it occurs to me that the OP has been a victim of her ex boyfriends actions here too, in as much as he provided her with a forged Railcard that she was unaware of until it was checked on the train, which has then put her in a position of being at risk of prosecution, as I see it. If the OP paid the ex boyfriend back for this Railcard she has been cheated out of money by him as well. Whether that gives grounds for her to report her ex boyfriend to the police is another matter. I can see that reporting him to the police may not be an easy decision for the OP to decide on.

 

[iwillnotdothat]

I think it is worth mentioning at this stage that if this is Cross Country Trains then there is the possibility that the OP will be dealing with their enforcement contractor IRCAS about all this - as we see IRCAS handling cases like this on here regarding other people.

Unfortunately IRCAS are more difficult to deal with to reach out of court settlements with than other railway companies tend to be - often requiring two or three attempts to avoid court proceedings, despite people offering to pay the sums owed for new tickets etc

I think it is thus very important that @iwillnotdothat gets clear advice from here on exactly how to reply when they receive their letter from Cross Country Trains / IRCAS to seek to best try to prevent this escalating to court action.

Actions of the ex boyfriend:

It's a separate issue but it occurs to me that the OP has been a victim of her ex boyfriends actions here too, in as much as he provided her with a forged Railcard that she was unaware of until it was checked on the train, which has then put her in a position of being at risk of prosecution, as I see it. If the OP paid the ex boyfriend back for this Railcard she has been cheated out of money by him as well. Whether that gives grounds for her to report her ex boyfriend to the police is another matter. I can see that reporting him to the police may not be an easy decision for the OP to decide on.

Thank you for your reply.

There are two questions:

At this stage, is it correct that I should not reach out proactively to Cross Country or IRCAS, but instead just wait for their letter before taking any action?

Based on your experience, do you think it is very likely that they will go straight to prosecution, with little or no room for negotiation — even if I am willing to pay for all the fare differences and admin fees?

 

[SuspectUsual]

At this stage, is it correct that I should not reach out proactively to Cross Country or IRCAS, but instead just wait for their letter before taking any action?

As long as you're sure they have the correct address for you, wait for their letter

 

[WesternLancer]

Thanks you for your questions

Thank you for your reply.

There are two questions:

At this stage, is it correct that I should not reach out proactively to Cross Country or IRCAS, but instead just wait for their letter before taking any action?

Yes, do not contact them until they contact you is the general advice given - this is mostly for practical reasons as they may not even be able to match your case up until the staff load it up on the system.

Were you given any paperwork on the train by the way? - anything with a reference number for example.

Based on your experience, do you think it is very likely that they will go straight to prosecution, with little or no room for negotiation — even if I am willing to pay for all the fare differences and admin fees?

No they will write to you first asking you to explain what happened, which is your chance to set out your side of the story and ask to resolve the matter out of court.

They will use the postal address you gave them so it's important you look out for hard copy post and if you move address that you put in place arrangements to continue to get your post (eg a Royal Mail postal re-direction)

The only cases where people get taken straight to court prosecution (well that is how it looks from the persons point of view) seems to be when letters get lost in the post that they have been sent before.

 

[iwillnotdothat]

Were you given any paperwork on the train by the way? - anything with a reference number for example.

No. I didn’t receive any paperwork or reference number. The inspector just typed down my responses, asked me to sign at the end in a digtial device like a phone, and told me to wait for further contact. Thank you again for your help.

 

[WesternLancer]

No. I didn’t receive any paperwork or reference number. The inspector just typed down my responses, asked me to sign at the end in a digtial device like a phone, and told me to wait for further contact. Thank you again for your help.

OK thanks

I can't find the best example of the sort of letter they are likely to send you about this on another thread. The circumstances of this case are rather different so don't really apply to you - but the letter attached in post #1 might give you a general idea at this stage

when you get your own letter it will be important for you to get more advice here.

It may take a few weeks (or even months) before you get the letter

Crosscountry unexpected settlement demand

On the 28th July my girlfriend and I needed to travel from Newcastle upon Tyne to Darlington following a cycle ride from Haltwhistle. I'm not a regular train user so do find navigation of the rail and associated ticketing systems a little daunting especially when tired from a lot of physical...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[iwillnotdothat]

when you get your own letter it will be important for you to get more advice here.

Thank you. I got it. If I receive any letters, I will update here for further instructions.

 

[iwillnotdothat]

It may take a few weeks (or even months) before you get the letter

It’s already been a loooong time and I still haven’t received anything. At this point, I’m concerned the letter may have been lost in transit. Do you know if there’s a way to deal with the situation? Any guidance would be really helpful!

 

[AlterEgo]

It’s already been a loooong time and I still haven’t received anything. At this point, I’m concerned the letter may have been lost in transit. Do you know if there’s a way to deal with the situation? Any guidance would be really helpful!

It may take several weeks or even months to arrive; it's only been a few weeks so far.

 

[iwillnotdothat]

It may take several weeks or even months to arrive; it's only been a few weeks so far.

Thank you so much for telling!