Hi,
I recently wrote another thread, which is here: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=127977
In short, I boarded a train that day, passing a ticket office, intending to get a ticket on the train. Noone was selling them on the train that day, so I queued at the destination station, Manchester Piccadilly, to buy one, and they took my details. It was the second time it happened. The previous time was about 3/4 months earlier.
People said in that thread that that was probably the last I'd hear about it, but I've now had this letter. Now the guard at the time said I'd be able to appeal, and my girlfriend says I can, but I cant see any mention of an appeal in the letter, so can anyone advise please?
FIXED PENALTY NOTICE
This office acts an an agent on behalf of Northern Rail; we have evidence that indicates that on 11 Mar 2016 you were reported by an authorised member of staff and it is alleged that you have committed an offence under Railway Byelaw 18.1.
The circumstances alleged to constitute the offence are as follows: you travelled from Hattersley to Manchester Piccadilly without paying the fare for your journey prior to boarding........ Your matter is in process of being prepared for disposal at the Magistrates Court.
Our records show that you have paid the outstanding fare of £4.20 however you have also been issued a previous Failed To Purchase Notice. As stated, any further offences of a similar nature incur a Fixed Penalty of £80. This letter offers you the opportunity of discharging any liability to conviction for that offence by payment of a Fixed Penalty of £80 in addition to the outstanding fare.
No proceedings will be taken for this offence before the expiration of 14 days from the date of this letter. You will not be liable to conviction for the offence if you pay the Fixed Penalty during this period. In addition to the Fixed Penalty the payment of the fare avoided of £4.20 brings the total amount payable to £80.
Whilst we hope that you will satisfactorily conclude this matter, failure to respond to this reasonable request within 14 days from the date of this letter will result in legal action being taken. I must inform you that should legal proceedings be invoked, in addition to any fines imposed by the Court there will be an application for £150 as a contribution to our costs.
The rest just says I can pay online or by post, and I cut the wording down a bit as its quite long. As you can see, there is no mention of appeal, so is this something I can appeal or not? If so, how would I appeal?
I have left this late as I only got paid the other day and couldnt afford it until then. The date of the letter is Friday March 11. This is the date it happened on so they got it written and said very fast. I received it the following tuesday.
On a seperate note, I feel really really annoyed this morning and I think that is what got me to write this, which I had been putting off. I have until tomorow to pay the fine.
Reason I'm annoyed this morning is, I was on a train this morning, for the first time since the incident (I've cycled the rest of the time). And there were two chavvy girls on the train (not kids, they were about 30). One of them said something like "I've only paid once this year, haha". And then something like "do you go up and over too?". They were talking about the trains and not something else. Up and over quite obviously meant they were going to go up a bridge at Piccadilly which takes you to other platforms, which is also a way to avoid the ticket guards.
I'm annoyed that I have to pay a fine for naiviety. I didnt try to dodge a fare, I queued up at Piccadilly that day, intending to buy a ticket. Whereas people like that get away with it.
I told the ticket guards about them when I got off. And to be fair, I saw him have a look around to see if they'd come down another platform with no ticket guards But I bet they got away with it.
Sorry for going off on one but I needed to get that out. To finish, the questions I'd like to ask are: Can I appeal this? If so, how do you I appeal? And if so... is there any point in appealing if I can?
Thanks
I recently wrote another thread, which is here: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=127977
In short, I boarded a train that day, passing a ticket office, intending to get a ticket on the train. Noone was selling them on the train that day, so I queued at the destination station, Manchester Piccadilly, to buy one, and they took my details. It was the second time it happened. The previous time was about 3/4 months earlier.
People said in that thread that that was probably the last I'd hear about it, but I've now had this letter. Now the guard at the time said I'd be able to appeal, and my girlfriend says I can, but I cant see any mention of an appeal in the letter, so can anyone advise please?
FIXED PENALTY NOTICE
This office acts an an agent on behalf of Northern Rail; we have evidence that indicates that on 11 Mar 2016 you were reported by an authorised member of staff and it is alleged that you have committed an offence under Railway Byelaw 18.1.
The circumstances alleged to constitute the offence are as follows: you travelled from Hattersley to Manchester Piccadilly without paying the fare for your journey prior to boarding........ Your matter is in process of being prepared for disposal at the Magistrates Court.
Our records show that you have paid the outstanding fare of £4.20 however you have also been issued a previous Failed To Purchase Notice. As stated, any further offences of a similar nature incur a Fixed Penalty of £80. This letter offers you the opportunity of discharging any liability to conviction for that offence by payment of a Fixed Penalty of £80 in addition to the outstanding fare.
No proceedings will be taken for this offence before the expiration of 14 days from the date of this letter. You will not be liable to conviction for the offence if you pay the Fixed Penalty during this period. In addition to the Fixed Penalty the payment of the fare avoided of £4.20 brings the total amount payable to £80.
Whilst we hope that you will satisfactorily conclude this matter, failure to respond to this reasonable request within 14 days from the date of this letter will result in legal action being taken. I must inform you that should legal proceedings be invoked, in addition to any fines imposed by the Court there will be an application for £150 as a contribution to our costs.
The rest just says I can pay online or by post, and I cut the wording down a bit as its quite long. As you can see, there is no mention of appeal, so is this something I can appeal or not? If so, how would I appeal?
I have left this late as I only got paid the other day and couldnt afford it until then. The date of the letter is Friday March 11. This is the date it happened on so they got it written and said very fast. I received it the following tuesday.
On a seperate note, I feel really really annoyed this morning and I think that is what got me to write this, which I had been putting off. I have until tomorow to pay the fine.
Reason I'm annoyed this morning is, I was on a train this morning, for the first time since the incident (I've cycled the rest of the time). And there were two chavvy girls on the train (not kids, they were about 30). One of them said something like "I've only paid once this year, haha". And then something like "do you go up and over too?". They were talking about the trains and not something else. Up and over quite obviously meant they were going to go up a bridge at Piccadilly which takes you to other platforms, which is also a way to avoid the ticket guards.
I'm annoyed that I have to pay a fine for naiviety. I didnt try to dodge a fare, I queued up at Piccadilly that day, intending to buy a ticket. Whereas people like that get away with it.
I told the ticket guards about them when I got off. And to be fair, I saw him have a look around to see if they'd come down another platform with no ticket guards But I bet they got away with it.
Sorry for going off on one but I needed to get that out. To finish, the questions I'd like to ask are: Can I appeal this? If so, how do you I appeal? And if so... is there any point in appealing if I can?
Thanks
