Govia Thameslink Witness statement wrong date of birth and address

Hello I have being issues a Witness statement with Govia thameslink for a short fare. I have given wrong address but everything else valid later reading the ticket I noticed the officer wrote wrong my date of birth. She first asked me to write my name surname address and date of birth in a paper which she gave back to me. On there the name surname and date of birth are correct only address is wrong.
I fear that I may can get into trouble or the situation can escalate because of this what should I do?

It really is vital that paperwork concerning your case can reach you. We see many cases of people issued with court proceedings, or even convicted without their knowledge, due to insufficient contact details. Not for one moment suggesting that will happen to you, but if you wish to ask for a settlement, the operator must be able to contact you.

The prosecution teams are used to folk giving incorrect details. If you are honest and apologetic, it's highly likely this won't be held against you. A polite email, just giving your correct details should do the job, and put your mind at rest.

Carlo S said:

Hello I have just being issues a Witness statement with Govia thameslink for a short fare. I have given wrong address but everything else valid later reading the ticket I noticed the officer wrote wrong my date of birth. She first asked me to write my name surname address and date of birth in a paper which she gave back to me. On there the name surname and date of birth are correct only address is wrong.
I fear that I may can get into trouble or the situation can escalate because of this what should I do?

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Welcome. Can you say briefly what they gave you thus witness statement for? What did they say was wrong with your ticket for example?

WesternLancer said:

Welcome. Can you say briefly what they gave you thus witness statement for? What did they say was wrong with your ticket for example?

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I was caught with a ticket only from the semi last stop to the last. The station I get in has no barriers. Is a shorten ticket matter, this is the second time I got caught but I have done it many more times always until last month buy paper tickets not virtual tickets on the app.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 12:18 ==

Bungle158 said:

It really is vital that paperwork concerning your case can reach you. We see many cases of people issued with court proceedings, or even convicted without their knowledge, due to insufficient contact details. Not for one moment suggesting that will happen to you, but if you wish to ask for a settlement, the operator must be able to contact you.

The prosecution teams are used to folk giving incorrect details. If you are honest and apologetic, it's highly likely this won't be held against you. A polite email, just giving your correct details should do the job, and put your mind at rest.

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Ok so which email address I should send the email? and what about the officer writing my date of birth wrong?
I can prove the officer wrote it wrong I have the initial paper she gave me asking to write name surname address and date of birth

Carlo S said:

I was caught with a ticket only from the semi last stop to the last. The station I get in has no barriers. Is a shorten ticket matter, this is the second time I got caught but I have done it many more times always until last month buy paper tickets not virtual tickets on the app.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 12:18 ==


Ok so which email address I should send the email? and what about the officer writing my date of birth wrong?
I can prove the officer wrote it wrong I have the initial paper she gave me asking to write name surname address and date of birth

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Can give you the correct address later for you to use and what to say

Carlo S said:

what about the officer writing my date of birth wrong?
I can prove the officer wrote it wrong I have the initial paper she gave me asking to write name surname address and date of birth

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This won't make the matter go away. Essentially the railway have to prove that it was you who did something wrong. The easy way to prove that it was you is to have your name, address and date of birth and so on (because it's pretty unlikely that there will be two people with the same name and date of birth living in the same place) - but it's not essential. As a simple example, if the officer who stopped you can confirm that it was you (because they've seen your face, heard your voice and so on) even if the name, date of birth and address don't match what they wrote down, then the court will probably believe that it's you.

WesternLancer said:

Can give you the correct address later for you to use and what to say

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I want to give them the correct address but if I want to contact Govia Thameslink on which email address do I need to send the email? Or should I hand write a mail and sent by poste?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 12:47 ==

WesternLancer said:

Can give you the correct address later for you to use and what to say

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I just want to be sure I can settle this out of court as quickly as possible.

Carlo S said:

I want to give them the correct address but if I want to contact Govia Thameslink on which email address do I need to send the email? Or should I hand write a mail and sent by poste?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 12:47 ==


I just want to be sure I can settle this out of court as quickly as possible.

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The e mail address I can give you when I have time to look it up later today.

But you can’t be gauranteed to settle it out of court. It’s up to the railway to decide this and if you have been persistently ripping them off by fare evading then you will have to work hard to persuade them you won’t be doing it any more.

You were caught before but continued to do it. Why shouldn’t they take you to court?

WesternLancer said:

The e mail address I can give you when I have time to look it up later today.

But you can’t be gauranteed to settle it out of court. It’s up to the railway to decide this and if you have been persistently ripping them off by fare evading then you will have to work hard to persuade them you won’t be doing it any more.

You were caught before but continued to do it. Why shouldn’t they take you to court?

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Hello WesternLancer I think we had some misunderstanding, I see some friction in you last reply. I very much appreciate the help you give me. I have asked with email address to contact after you suggested that. I also had hard time understand what do you mean in this reply:

"Can give you the correct address later for you to use and what to say"
I simply did not understand what did you mean, if you were asking for some more details of what happen I will be happy to share them.

To ensure the best outcome, the operator needs correct details. It's highly unlikely though, that a wrongly written d.o.b. will weaken their case.

Could @Carlo S possibly say in more detail what happened this time and what the result of their first interaction with the Revenue team was? Thank you.

Carlo S said:

I also had hard time understand what do you mean in this reply:

"Can give you the correct address later for you to use and what to say"
I simply did not understand what did you mean,

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I think that @WesternLancer is trying to say that they will find you the right address to write to, and they will give you some helpful suggestions about how to phrase your response - but this will be in a little while. I guess that's because @WesternLancer is a bit busy at the moment (many of us have proper jobs as well as trying to be helpful on this forum) and they'll get back to you when they've got time.

Apologies to everyone if it turns out that my explanation is wrong!

Carlo S said:

I can prove the officer wrote it wrong I have the initial paper she gave me asking to write name surname address and date of birth

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Just an observation.

Yes, you can prove the officer copied your date of birth incorrectly. A mistake. Mistakes happen

You could point this out to them and use the piece of paper as evidence

But that also points out you deliberately gave a false address, in writing. That's not a mistake.

Which one do you think is the bigger issue?

Be careful what you do!

Fawkes Cat said:

I think that @WesternLancer is trying to say that they will find you the right address to write to, and they will give you some helpful suggestions about how to phrase your response - but this will be in a little while. I guess that's because @WesternLancer is a bit busy at the moment (many of us have proper jobs as well as trying to be helpful on this forum) and they'll get back to you when they've got time.

Apologies to everyone if it turns out that my explanation is wrong!

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Spot on. Thanks.

WesternLancer said:

Spot on. Thanks.

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Thank you @Fawkes Cat and also @WesternLancer

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 14:35 ==

Bungle158 said:

To ensure the best outcome, the operator needs correct details. It's highly unlikely though, that a wrongly written d.o.b. will weaken their case.

Could @Carlo S possibly say in more detail what happened this time and what the result of their first interaction with the Revenue team was? Thank you.

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Of course.
I have been caught again using a short ticket on the same route. (Covered for privacy ) - (covered for peivacy) meanwhile I was coming from (Covered). The first time the officer found out I did have a full ticket he issues a fare that I paid right away.
I never made digital ticket with trainline I always bought paper tickets. This was the second time I got caught for the same issue, having a (Covered for privacy) ticket and coming from (covered for privacy) and this time the officer issued a Witness Statement.
To be honest I have done this many times, always with paper tickets not digital tickets

Carlo S said:

Thank you @Fawkes Cat and also @WesternLancer

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 14:35 ==


Of course.
I have been caught again using a short ticket on the same route. Hatfield - Welwin Garden City meanwhile I was coming from NewSoutghate. The first time the officer found out I did have a full ticket he issues a fare that I paid right away.
I never made digital ticket with trainline I always bought paper tickets. This was the second time I got caught for the same issue, having a Hatfield-Welwin Gardern City ticket and coming from New Southgate and this time the officer issued a Witness Statement.
To be honest I have done this many times, always with paper tickets not digital tickets

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Thanks..the obvious question is: on the first occasion, did you receive a Penalty Fare, (with paperwork and a probable ID check), or did the inspector just insist you bought the correct ticket? This has a bearing on whether or not you are already in their system, which could well in turn, influence how the railway deals with your case

Bungle158 said:

Thanks..the obvious question is: on the first occasion, did you receive a Penalty Fare, (with paperwork and a probable ID check), or did the inspector just insist you bought the correct ticket? This has a bearing on whether or not you are already in their system, which could well in turn, influence how the railway deals with your case

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No he took my data and issue a fine with this long paper. I did not give him ID but he wrote Name, Surname, Date of birth and address data that on the second time were still registered.
And today the woman whom issued the Witness Statement also asked me question:
from which station to which station I travelled and which ticket I bought
if it was my intention to avoid to pay the full fare
if I had the means to pay etc
I said the true that I wanted to avoid to pay the full price and that technically I have the means, a credit card.
I am struggling with money lately so technically is a method but you know not exactly because later I have to repay the credit card

In that case, providing they had correct details from the first "stop' you are known to them. This doesn't automatically mean a prosecution, but they do have the right to do so.

Hopefully, you will be able to negotiate a settlement, but that may come at an elevated cost, depending on what level of investigation they choose to employ.

You will receive a letter asking for your version of events. Impossible to put a timeframe on that, it depends on how busy the Revenue team are. Please do come back when that arrives. There are experts here who will guide you through the process and help you towards the best solution.

There seems to be a couple of issues here we need to fully understand. If I'm reading this correctly:

• You travelled from New Southgate to Welwyn Garden City but only purchased a ticket for Hatfield to Welwyn Garden City. You were stopped but gave a false address to the inspector
• Previously you were also stopped for the same thing.

You need to contact GTR Prosecutions Department and give them your correct address. This is because they will write to you about the incident and if you fail to reply the matter will proceed in your absence to the Magistrates Court where you would be found guilty in your absence.

On the previous occasion it sounds as though you were issued with a Penalty Fare. Can you confirm exactly what happened and how long ago this was.

Hadders said:

There seems to be a couple of issues here we need to fully understand. If I'm reading this correctly:

• You travelled from New Southgate to Welwyn Garden City but only purchased a ticket for Hatfield to Welwyn Garden City. You were stopped but gave a false address to the inspector
• Previously you were also stopped for the same thing.

You need to contact GTR Prosecutions Department and give them your correct address. This is because they will write to you about the incident and if you fail to reply the matter will proceed in your absence to the Magistrates Court where you would be found guilty in your absence.

On the previous occasion it sounds as though you were issued with a Penalty Fare. Can you confirm exactly what happened and how long ago this was.

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It was the same situation, I had a ticket only for (covered for privacy) but travelled from New Southgate the officer gave me a penalty fare plus the full ride I did not pay. It happen more than 6 months ago

Carlo S said:

Hello WesternLancer I think we had some misunderstanding, I see some friction in you last reply. I very much appreciate the help you give me. I have asked with email address to contact after you suggested that. I also had hard time understand what do you mean in this reply:

"Can give you the correct address later for you to use and what to say"
I simply did not understand what did you mean, if you were asking for some more details of what happen I will be happy to share them.

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I just meant I was not in a position to look up the address you need and copy it into this thread for you to use at that time - but I now have it

The address you need to e-mail or write to is

GTR – Thameslink

Their postal address is

Prosecutions Department, Govia Thameslink Railway, Eastside Offices, Kings Cross Railway Station, London N1C 4AX.

Here is an e-mail address for them that might be of help to you to inform them of your new postal address

email: [email protected] – This mailbox cannot be used to appeal or request settlements etc - limit you message at this stage to just giving them your correct address and personal details

I suggest that at this stage (as they have not yet tried to contact you because that takes some time usually a few weeks after you were stopped) - All you should say in your e mail is something like this:

----------------------------------------------

Dear Sir/ Madam

I was stopped on x date at y location and questioned about the validity of my rail ticket.

I was given this ref number xxxxx

Unfortunately I did not give correct personal details and I would like to apologise for this.

Please note my correct name and address is: …..

My date of birth is recorded incorrectly on the paperwork I was give. The correct date of birth is:

Yours faithfully

Hello @Hadders
I would like to give a more clear explanation for my current situation. To understand which in due time will be my best course of action.
The Witness statement has been issued to me after getting caught short faring I had a paper ticket to from (Covered for privacy) but I took the train in (Covered for privacy).
I am ashamed to say I did it multiple times in the past to save money, I always travel with paper tickets, I am in a troubled financial situation.

My situation get more complicated because this is not the first time I got caught short faring. Another time occurred for the same journey. In that occasion I bought a digital ticket via trainline app and at the gates I got stopped and ultimately fines a 50£fare plug unpaid journey so a total of almost 60£.
After that I always purchased paper tickets. Only last month I started to buy again digital tickets with the same account. But from now on only paper.
I understand that now I will be sent a letter to explain my version of the story. I can imagine that they will look into my account history and see that I have short ticketed in the past. Should I mention this in the letter? Or should I not specify anything but reply to them that I am willing to pay any amount of money they will request?


Moreover I would like to add what happen when I got issues the witness statement. The officer asked me questions and wrote down my answers. She first said that I could decide not to answer and that could be used in court.
She asked me on which station I entered and on which station I exited. I said the true.
She asked me if I have willingly bought a different ticket with the intention to avoid paying the full fare. I said Yes.
She asked if I have on my the mean to pay the full fare. I answered that I have a credit card. so she marked Yes.
I have seen other posts of people with similar experiences but I did not see if these specific questions are asked all the times.
I wander if anyone knows I this is the normal procedure for the Witness statement? have honestly answered these question may be helpful for my case?


Apologies for the long post but would be really grateful for any advice you could provide.

Carlo S said:

But from now on only paper.

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From now on buy a ticket for the full journey you are making. Then it won’t matter whether it is paper or eTicket.

Carlo S said:

Moreover I would like to add what happen when I got issues the witness statement. The officer asked me questions and wrote down my answares. She first said that I could decide not to answare and that could be used in court.
She asked me on which station I entered and on which station I exited. I said the true.
She asked me if I have willingly bought a different ticket with the intention to avoid paying the full fare. I said Yes.
She asked if I have on my the mean to pay the full fare. I answered that I have a credit card. so she marked Yes.
I have seen other posts of people with similar experiences but I did not see if these specific questions are asked all the times.
I wander if anyone knows I this is the normal procedure for the Witness statement? have honestly answered these question may be helpful for my case?

Click to expand...

Just on these questions I think they are pretty standard.

What they are doing is gathering evidence from you that they could use in court, if it went to court, to help them secure a guilty verdict for fare evasion. The questions are designed to establish if you deliberately did not buy a ticket and the best time to ask you them is when you have been caught red handed - not later on when you might have had time to think up excuses etc - so this is why they ask them then and why they record your answers then and there. So if it went to court and you tried to deny it all in the court then they would be able to say 'but you told the inspector at the time "yes" when asked if you intended to avoid paying the full fare, was that a lie, or is what you are telling us now a lie?'.

None of this means it will end up in court for certain, but the Inspectors job is to secure the evidence they would need in court if it gets to that stage.

Your task now is to change your ways, buy the correct travel tickets (or not use the train if you can not afford it) and convince them you have done that - in exchange for that they will hopefully consider allowing you to settle out of court if you pay them the fares they think you have evaded. Despite your repeated evasion in the past from what we see on here there is still a good possibility you can achieve this - but the way to achieve that is to ensure they can contact you - hence getting the letter they send you at your correct address and you replying to it when it comes.

WesternLancer said:

Just on these questions I think they are pretty standard.

What they are doing is gathering evidence from you that they could use in court, if it went to court, to help them secure a guilty verdict for fare evasion. The questions are designed to establish if you deliberately did not buy a ticket and the best time to ask you them is when you have been caught red handed - not later on when you might have had time to think up excuses etc - so this is why they ask them then and why they record your answers then and there. So if it went to court and you tried to deny it all in the court then they would be able to say 'but you told the inspector at the time "yes" when asked if you intended to avoid paying the full fare, was that a lie, or is what you are telling us now a lie?'.

None of this means it will end up in court for certain, but the Inspectors job is to secure the evidence they would need in court if it gets to that stage.

Your task now is to change your ways, buy the correct travel tickets (or not use the train if you can not afford it) and convince them you have done that - in exchange for that they will hopefully consider allowing you to settle out of court if you pay them the fares they think you have evaded. Despite your repeated evasion in the past from what we see on here there is still a good possibility you can achieve this - but the way to achieve that is to ensure they can contact you - hence getting the letter they send you at your correct address and you replying to it when it comes.

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I have already taken action for this matter.
I am reshaping my expenses to make sure I can pay the regular fare every time from now on.
I appreciate all the help and support this forum has offered to me and if anyone has any other good advice please post it

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Today at 19:20 ==

Hello everyone, I have just realised this thought. Is it possible that govia Thameslink will check this forum and use the info I provided here to better search my case?
I have given the stations I have travelled and I received very good advice can I now modify those messages and hide them for my privacy? Is it possible to do the same for the other users messages?
Thank you