Accidentally gave old address when questioned with no ticket

[Jennie15]

Hi, hoping someone can advise me on my best course of action.

I made a short train journey yesterday in Lancashire and did not have a ticket (there as a huge queue at the station I was travelling from meaning I would have missed the train if I bought one). I went to leave the station and was stopped and asked to produce a ticket, which I of course couldn't.

He then took my name and address and said that he was going to write down that I could not find my ticket. I asked what would happen next and he just said I'd receive a letter.

The main problem is that I think I might have accidentally given my old address. It was early, I hadn't slept, I was very very anxious and late for work. I moved from my previous address 6 weeks ago, but I had lived there for 3 years, so I'm still in the habit of saying it (they only asked for postcode and door number).

Now I don't know what to do. I don't know who I need to call as I'm not sure exactly who stopped me. My friend was stopped last week by some people under cover and was read a caution and told they will receive a letter. I wasn't read a caution and the people who stopped me were wearing high-vis jackets. I think they might have had the National Rail logo on, but I was so shaky and scared (and already late for work) that I didn't even ask.

I'm terrified that if I get in touch and tell them I gave the wrong address, they might accuse me of doing it on purpose and I'll be prosecuted for providing false information (as well as not being able to produce a ticket). I still haven't changed my address with the bank / provisional driving license (I'm not using it to drive), and my landlord's are forwarding my mail to me. So I don't know whether I should just ask them to forward any letters to me. Then again, they may soon get a new tenant and they might not do the same.

Any advice would be great. Do you think that, as my landlord's are currently forwarding other mail to me, and that I recently moved, they might be more lenient? Or do you think they will prosecute me? I would be happy to pay any fine I really don't care how much it is. I just don't want it to go to court as I will probably get sacked (my employer is very strict and I am still on 12 month probationary period).

Many thanks

 

[furlong]

What is essential is: if they send a letter to the address you provided, you will receive it promptly. So make sure the person forwarding your mail continues to do that. Once you've got a letter you can give them your new address when replying to it. You could also (pay to) set up forwarding at the Post Office.

 

[Jennie15]

Thank you for your reply. I wasn't actually aware that I was able to pay to have my mail directed. I have paid to have that done but it takes 5 working days, so my mail will be redirected as of Friday. I have spoken to my ex landlords and there aren't any new tenants in there, which is good. But they are going away on holiday for a week :/ I'll just have to hope that they send the letter after Friday or that the reply by deadline is long enough.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Many people set up mail re-direction orders when they move home.

 

[gray1404]

Or you could call Northern and tell them that you've moved house and ask them to update their records.

 

[greatkingrat]

Thank you for your reply. I wasn't actually aware that I was able to pay to have my mail directed. I have paid to have that done but it takes 5 working days, so my mail will be redirected as of Friday. I have spoken to my ex landlords and there aren't any new tenants in there, which is good. But they are going away on holiday for a week :/ I'll just have to hope that they send the letter after Friday or that the reply by deadline is long enough.

The chances of them sending a letter before Friday are virtually zero. It could easily be a couple of months before you hear anything.