Hi, just so you are aware, I have no reason to lie on here. At no point did I cover up my season ticket.
For what it is worth I do not think you are lying too.
Sometimes on this forum we have the tendency to circle the wagons, form square, and defend an entrenched position regardless of the facts. This can somewhat confuse the OP (you) and for that I will apologise on behalf of us all.
To let you know where you stand at this time you have not been accused of anything but the details of the incident should have been passed to the guard's manager for review and in time they will end up at the prosecutions dept.. You will then be contacted for your side of the story so I would advise that you note down all that you can remember about the day in question, it may also help if you can collect details of your payment records for other days of travel. NB you are under no obligation to do so but it may help you (NNB this can sometimes be a double edged sword?)
Just a thought - do you have a record of paying at Victoria on the days when you have been unable to purchase prior to boarding and the guard has not got to you in time as I feel that this may help your case, notwithstanding that it also proves that you did not pay prior to boarding.
The guard in this case may have jumped the gun but on the other hand....
Personally I work on the "three strikes and you're out" principle unless there are strong reasons to jump straight in. This means that I have usually dealt with the person four times viz:-
1) Sell ticket requested.
2) Sell ticket requested but inform about passenger obligations &c..
3) Sell "Anytime Ticket"
4) Submit Travel Irregularity Report
Now because we do not work the same shifts or lines on a daily basis if I've dealt with someone three or four times then they have probably done whatever it is that's bad at least twenty times or so - most of these persons become known characters and again other colleagues discuss them in the "bothy".
There may have been something in your body language, it could even be something completely innocent that you are unaware of, it could be you fit the description of a "known character", it could be the guard's gut feeling......we will probably never know and in any case it really does not matter why because ultimately you will be judged on your actions.
Personal view: I do not think that this will come to a court case but what may happen is that Northern could write to you, after you have submitted your side, offering an administrative penalty + the fare due with a formal reminder that you
must use the ticket facilities where provided prior to travel. There is no guarantee though but we can advise better when the letter from Northern arrives.
Good luck and keep us informed. If you are requested to provide a written statement there are folk on the forum who will proof read your deposition.
p.s. Try not to be distracted by any side or technical issues that go off on a tangent most deal in the generic or abstract and may not refer to you specifically.
Cheers.
.... he said I covered my ticket up the day before....
Sorry, I had misunderstood this part - apologies too to
Gray1404 for my previous point of order. Don't worry my other points still stand.