Stopped at London Waterloo from Hither Green

[blessing]

Hello All

I need an urgent advice. I was stopped at London Waterloo, because I didn't have the valid ticket from Hither Green. I admitted to the officer, he then issued MG11. I moved house and I went back last night to check for letters and I saw a court summon for next week. I can't afford to go to court, and I don't know how to contact the prosecution team and I'm not sure of how long it will take for them to reply as the court date is next week. how can I settle out of court please. I have drafted a letter to be sent to the prosecution team at southeastern. My concern is, how quickly will they reply

 

[WesternLancer]

Hello All

I need an urgent advice. I was stopped at London Waterloo, because I didn't have the valid ticket from Hither Green. I admitted to the officer, he then issued MG11. I moved house and I went back last night to check for letters and I saw a court summon for next week. I can't afford to go to court, and I don't know how to contact the prosecution team and I'm not sure of how long it will take for them to reply as the court date is next week. how can I settle out of court please. I have drafted a letter to be sent to the prosecution team at southeastern. My concern is, how quickly will they reply

There are other threads on here where you will find copies of letters with SE Trains prosecutions unit e mail and postal address that you could use.

At the old address was there not an earlier letter from them asking you about this before they sent the court papers? Which would have that address on it.

You might want to post your draft to them here now so people can check it before you send it a bit later today.

 

[blessing]

URGENT RESPONSE TO RECEIPT OF COURT PAPERS – REQUESTED TO RESOLVE ISSUE.



Dear Prosecutions Officer at Southeastern



Thank you for the letter advising me of the authorisation to prosecute for the incident on Southeastern and for the opportunity to provide comments regarding this matter.



First, allow me to express my deepest apologies to Southeastern for the financial losses I have caused the company.



I admit that I had a significant error of judgement in not purchasing tickets in full for my journeys between Hither Green and London Waterloo on the 26th of February 2025. There are no excuses for my behaviour, but I can try to explain my situation.



I cut corners, which I never do, and in the end, I got caught. I’m glad I did, I was in the wrong and now I am willing to pay the consequences.



I am single mother and student trying to find a balance in life, my future and the future of my child is at stake if this gets to court. I am a midwifery student, struggling with life and I really cannot be at risk of losing my future please. I would be extremely grateful if you would consider an out of court settlement and I am willing to pay in full every penny I owe Southeastern for the period I have avoided the full fares, plus administrative costs and any additional charges.



To demonstrate my determination of not letting this happen again, I have purchased the correct fares every single day since the incident at London Waterloo which you can see in my account. I am deeply sorry for what I have done and vow to never make this error of judgement again.



I called southeastern on Monday 2nd of June, not realising that the letter had been sent, as I have moved out of the house, hence the reason for the late reply.

I sincerely hope we can settle this quickly out of court, I am ready to make the full settlement payment and willing to collaborate fully and sincerely with Southeastern on this matter.

 

[WesternLancer]

See post 17 and 20 of this thread for their e mail address and postal address.

Use both. Send the postal one gauranteed next day delivery.

Ensure your letter clearly explains you moved address and states your new address and their reference numbers.

Southeastern reply time after initial fare evasion letter

Hello all, I was hoping to get some advice on next steps. I have been reading some forum threads on here of others who's gone through similar scenarios with southeastern and I have followed prior guidance, sent a letter off and got confirmation of a signature from someone called "Sharon" and...

www.railforums.co.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jun 2025 ==

URGENT RESPONSE TO RECEIPT OF COURT PAPERS – REQUESTED TO RESOLVE ISSUE.



Dear Prosecutions Officer at Southeastern



Thank you for the letter advising me of the authorisation to prosecute for the incident on Southeastern and for the opportunity to provide comments regarding this matter.



First, allow me to express my deepest apologies to Southeastern for the financial losses I have caused the company.



I admit that I had a significant error of judgement in not purchasing tickets in full for my journeys between Hither Green and London Waterloo on the 26th of February 2025. There are no excuses for my behaviour, but I can try to explain my situation.



I cut corners, which I never do, and in the end, I got caught. I’m glad I did, I was in the wrong and now I am willing to pay the consequences.



I am single mother and student trying to find a balance in life, my future and the future of my child is at stake if this gets to court. I am a midwifery student, struggling with life and I really cannot be at risk of losing my future please. I would be extremely grateful if you would consider an out of court settlement and I am willing to pay in full every penny I owe Southeastern for the period I have avoided the full fares, plus administrative costs and any additional charges.



To demonstrate my determination of not letting this happen again, I have purchased the correct fares every single day since the incident at London Waterloo which you can see in my account. I am deeply sorry for what I have done and vow to never make this error of judgement again.



I called southeastern on Monday 2nd of June, not realising that the letter had been sent, as I have moved out of the house, hence the reason for the late reply.

I sincerely hope we can settle this quickly out of court, I am ready to make the full settlement payment and willing to collaborate fully and sincerely with Southeastern on this matter.

You need to inform them if your change of address in your reply. And your ref number that is probably on the MG11 and perhaps the court letter.

It would also help if you can upload copies of the paperwork with your personal details removed in case people here can check that for you.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jun 2025 ==

You can add that you only learned about the court action very recently because the information went to your old address but you are anxious to resolve this before the court date on xx June.

 

[Hadders]

URGENT RESPONSE TO RECEIPT OF COURT PAPERS – REQUESTED TO RESOLVE ISSUE.



Dear Prosecutions Officer at Southeastern



Thank you for the letter advising me of the authorisation to prosecute for the incident on Southeastern and for the opportunity to provide comments regarding this matter.



First, allow me to express my deepest apologies to Southeastern for the financial losses I have caused the company.



I admit that I had a significant error of judgement in not purchasing tickets in full for my journeys between Hither Green and London Waterloo on the 26th of February 2025. There are no excuses for my behaviour, but I can try to explain my situation.



I cut corners, which I never do, and in the end, I got caught. I’m glad I did, I was in the wrong and now I am willing to pay the consequences.



I am single mother and student trying to find a balance in life, my future and the future of my child is at stake if this gets to court. I am a midwifery student, struggling with life and I really cannot be at risk of losing my future please. I would be extremely grateful if you would consider an out of court settlement and I am willing to pay in full every penny I owe Southeastern for the period I have avoided the full fares, plus administrative costs and any additional charges.



To demonstrate my determination of not letting this happen again, I have purchased the correct fares every single day since the incident at London Waterloo which you can see in my account. I am deeply sorry for what I have done and vow to never make this error of judgement again.



I called southeastern on Monday 2nd of June, not realising that the letter had been sent, as I have moved out of the house, hence the reason for the late reply.

I sincerely hope we can settle this quickly out of court, I am ready to make the full settlement payment and willing to collaborate fully and sincerely with Southeastern on this matter.

Welcome to the forum!

Don't send this, it requires amendment.

If you've been sent a court summons you need to state this in the letter, tell them why you didn't reply to their initial letter and ask them (very nicely) if they will consider settling out of court. You aren't entitled to an out of court settlement.

If Southeastern do not give you a favourable answer then you will need to attend court on the day and seek out the prosecutor before the case and ask if they will consider settling out of court.

 

[blessing]

thank you. will they get back to me before the court date?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jun 2025 ==

URGENT RESPONSE TO RECEIPT OF COURT PAPERS – REQUESTED TO RESOLVE ISSUE.



Dear Prosecutions Officer at Southeastern



Thank you for the letter advising me of the authorisation to prosecute for the incident on Southeastern and for the opportunity to provide comments regarding this matter.



First, allow me to express my deepest apologies to Southeastern for the financial losses I have caused the company.



I admit that I had a significant error of judgement in not purchasing tickets in full for my journeys between Hither Green and London Waterloo on the 26th of February 2025. There are no excuses for my behaviour, but I can try to explain my situation.



I cut corners, which I never do, and in the end, I got caught. I’m glad I did, I was in the wrong and now I am willing to pay the consequences. I am single mother and student trying to find a balance in life, my future and the future of my child is at stake if this gets to court. I am a midwifery student, struggling with life and I really cannot be at risk of losing my future please. I would be extremely grateful if you would consider an out of court settlement and I am willing to pay in full every penny I owe Southeastern for the period I have avoided the full fares, plus administrative costs and any additional charges.


To demonstrate my determination of not letting this happen again, I have purchased the correct fares every single day since the incident at London Waterloo which you can see in my account. I am deeply sorry for what I have done and vow to never make this error of judgement again.


I called southeastern on Monday 2nd of June, not realising that the letter had been sent, as I have moved out of the house, hence the reason for the late reply.

I sincerely hope we can settle this quickly out of court, I am ready to make the full settlement payment and willing to collaborate fully and sincerely with Southeastern on this matter. I have been summoned to court next week, this is the only letter I have received so far, and I’ve had to go back to the old address to check for letters before getting this. I am very anxious and pleading to please settle this out of court. The court date is scheduled for 11th June, which is next week.

My new address is

 

[WesternLancer]

thank you. will they get back to me before the court date?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jun 2025 ==

URGENT RESPONSE TO RECEIPT OF COURT PAPERS – REQUESTED TO RESOLVE ISSUE.



Dear Prosecutions Officer at Southeastern



Thank you for the letter advising me of the authorisation to prosecute for the incident on Southeastern and for the opportunity to provide comments regarding this matter.



First, allow me to express my deepest apologies to Southeastern for the financial losses I have caused the company.



I admit that I had a significant error of judgement in not purchasing tickets in full for my journeys between Hither Green and London Waterloo on the 26th of February 2025. There are no excuses for my behaviour, but I can try to explain my situation.



I cut corners, which I never do, and in the end, I got caught. I’m glad I did, I was in the wrong and now I am willing to pay the consequences. I am single mother and student trying to find a balance in life, my future and the future of my child is at stake if this gets to court. I am a midwifery student, struggling with life and I really cannot be at risk of losing my future please. I would be extremely grateful if you would consider an out of court settlement and I am willing to pay in full every penny I owe Southeastern for the period I have avoided the full fares, plus administrative costs and any additional charges.


To demonstrate my determination of not letting this happen again, I have purchased the correct fares every single day since the incident at London Waterloo which you can see in my account. I am deeply sorry for what I have done and vow to never make this error of judgement again.


I called southeastern on Monday 2nd of June, not realising that the letter had been sent, as I have moved out of the house, hence the reason for the late reply.

I sincerely hope we can settle this quickly out of court, I am ready to make the full settlement payment and willing to collaborate fully and sincerely with Southeastern on this matter. I have been summoned to court next week, this is the only letter I have received so far, and I’ve had to go back to the old address to check for letters before getting this. I am very anxious and pleading to please settle this out of court. The court date is scheduled for 11th June, which is next week.

My new address is

There is a good chance they will. If not you may need to go to court on the day to find their prosecutor and ask if the will withdraw the court action and settle then and there.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jun 2025 ==

Perhaps wait until lunch time today before sending your revised draft to give others here a chance to check it first you.

 

[johnny_t]

My advice, and bear in mind that I am not one of the experts in this, is that the most urgent thing you need to communicate to them is that you haven't seen the summons before and the reasons behind that. I think you need to move that bit much higher up the letter, otherwise there is a danger that they will glaze over after the (usual) regrets, lessons learnt, etc. paragraphs.

 

[Hadders]

My advice, and bear in mind that I am not one of the experts in this, is that the most urgent thing you need to communicate to them is that you haven't seen the summons before and the reasons behind that. I think you need to move that bit much higher up the letter, otherwise there is a danger that they will glaze over after the (usual) regrets, lessons learnt, etc. paragraphs.

Agreed. The letter as it's written seems more like a normal 'standard' reply to an initial letter asking for your version of events. It needs to clearly state:

1. That you've been sent a summons for next week
2. That you didn't receive the initial letters due to moving house
3. Apologise (briefly)
4. Ask if they will settle in return for withdrawing the court case

 

[blessing]

do I need to get a solicitor involved

 

[Hadders]

do I need to get a solicitor involved

Only you can decide this. What you need to do is straightforward, the facts of the case are not disputes but you need to make sure you clearly comminucate to SOutheastern what has happened and what you want.

 

[island]

It is unlikely that a solicitor will get a better outcome. Southeastern are almost always willing to settle, including on the day in court.

 

[blessing]

Hello All, I know you said to wait for others to see it, but I was too anxious and had to sent it via email. they have replied my now agreeing to settle out of court

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jun 2025 ==

I have made the payment
Should I call the court to check if they've withdrawn the case?

 

[WesternLancer]

Hello All, I know you said to wait for others to see it, but I was too anxious and had to sent it via email. they have replied my now agreeing to settle out of court

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jun 2025 ==

I have made the payment
Should I call the court to check if they've withdrawn the case?

Well done

There is no point in calling the court today as it wont have been actioned yet, that may take a day or so - but you should do that 2 or 3 days before the court date or on Monday - and you should follow that up with an e-mail to the court to ask them to confirm it in writing. This is important to do

What you can also do later today or tomorrow first thing would be to e-mail again to SE Trains and

- Thank them for allowing you to settle it out of court
- Say that you have paid the settlement and enclose proof of your payment that you just made
- ask SE Trains if they can reply to confirm in writing that they have informed the court that the prosecution is withdrawn and that you thus have no need to respond to the court papers that you have received nor attend the court on the day requested

Keep your e-mail brief but polite

Then you can check with the court next week that this has indeed happened.

 

[island]

You can call Bromley Magistrates Court on 0330 808 4407. As others mention, this is best done no earlier than Monday. You can also check the court listings on CourtServe next week (free registration required) to see whether your name has been taken off the list.