Caught short faring

[mangomoo]

Hi

I was caught short faring once and gave the following explanation to the officer. I cooperated with details and then received a letter whereby they had found 13 other short faring times due to my Trainline account.

Please could I have any advice on the response? I understand paying a fine but I would like an estimate and to keep it as low as possible.

Their letter:
An Officer from South Western Railway spoke to you August 2023 at London Waterloo railway station regarding your rail travel on that day. Further information is required from you to ensure that South Western Railway have all the facts and information at hand before coming to a decision regarding your case.

You were asked to show a 16-17 Saver Railcard in order to validate the ticket on which you were travelling. You were unable to do this and you showed a valid 16-25 Young Persons Railcard instead.

The ticket that you showed was a single from Vauxhall to London Waterloo. This ticket was not scanned in at Vauxhall and is was noted that the train that you alighted from had stopped at Hampton which you gave to the Officer as your home address.

Please see the attached spreadsheet of your ticket purchase history. The ticket line highlighted in blue is the ticket you showed on August 2023.

Our records show that there are 13 similar journeys (lines 1-10 and 13-15) which were only scanned in at one end of the journey. All of the stations involved have automatic ticket barriers. Please explain these journeys.

There are 2 journeys (lines 11 and 12) between Twickenham and Richmond which were only scanned at Richmond. Twickenham is also a station with automatic ticket barriers. Please explain these journeys.

If you fail to respond, this matter may proceed to Court and formal proceedings may follow.

My drafted letter:
Thank you for your letter of XXXX date, reference XX.

You have asked me several questions that I have responded to below.

On August I was asked to show a 16-17 Saver Railcard to validate the ticket I was travelling on. I was unable to do this and showed my valid 16-25 Young Persons Railcard (number XXXXX, photo attached, valid dates XXX). I was entitled to buy tickets with that Railcard. However, on this occasion, I have selected the incorrect railcard on Trainline. Please accept my sincere apologies for selecting the incorrect railcard for this journey and I will ensure that I select the correct railcard in future. Your point that the ticket was not scanned at Vauxhall, I walked through the open barriers.

Concerning your question relating to similar journeys shown on the spreadsheet, …..automatic ticket barriers … only scanned at Richmond not Twickenham I cannot recall specific details about these journeys.

The spreadsheet also details numerous correct fares using a 16-25 Railcard for journeys made over the last five years, which illustrates my usual behaviour.

Again, please accept my sincere apologies, I fully understand the importance of travelling with the correct ticket and paying the correct fare.

I would hope that it will be possible to resolve this issue and would be grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter by making a payment in respect of the unpaid fares and your costs in handling the investigation.

 

[trebor79]

So you accidentally selected the wrong Railcard for your short fare?
Are we to assume "Your point that the ticket was not scanned at Vauxhall, I walked through the open barriers." is a fib? If so I would advise thinking again as they will easily be able to prove or disprove this from logs and CCTV.

This is your one chance to avoid prosecution. If you lie to them they aren't going to be minded to settle.

Assuming they have correctly identified your short faring history, your best option is to confess, apologise and offer to settle out of court. It will be expensive but less so than court.

 

[Haywain]

I understand paying a fine but I would like an estimate and to keep it as low as possible.

You don't want to pay what SWR rightfully feel they are owed? They will be happy to see you in court. Your proposed letter reads as you are trying to fob them off, and that is how they will see it too. "Sincere apologies" mean nothing when there is an obvious lack of sincerity in everything else you have written.

 

[John R]

Agree with @Haywain that a response like that will most likely lead to prosecution which is likely to lead to greater costs (as well as a criminal conviction) if found guilty, which is highly likely given the facts.

It's all very well saying that previous purchases have been above board, but there is clearly a pattern of transactions which will be regarded as highly dubious, so that won't cut much, if any ice with the investigator or the magistrate if it comes to court. It's a bit like being caught shoplifting and saying you don't shoplift every time you go in that shop.

It's not clear to me whether the use of a 16-17 railcard was a one-off. Given the discount you get on that card is higher than you would get on a 16-25 card, particularly in the morning peak where the £12 cap applies to the latter card, did you not question why the fare quoted was lower than usual?

Your best bet is to rewrite the letter being completely truthful about the transactions they have highlighted, and being suitably contrite about what you have done. You may then be offered an out of court settlement, which given the low value of each fare evaded, shouldn't break the bank - you can calculate the likely upper limit by looking at the anytime single fare for each journey (and taking each return journey as two singles), and then add in the order of £200 for SWR's administration costs.

 

[AlterEgo]

You have asked me several questions that I have responded to below.

On August I was asked to show a 16-17 Saver Railcard to validate the ticket I was travelling on. I was unable to do this and showed my valid 16-25 Young Persons Railcard (number XXXXX, photo attached, valid dates XXX). I was entitled to buy tickets with that Railcard. However, on this occasion, I have selected the incorrect railcard on Trainline. Please accept my sincere apologies for selecting the incorrect railcard for this journey and I will ensure that I select the correct railcard in future. Your point that the ticket was not scanned at Vauxhall, I walked through the open barriers.

You want them to believe you didn't actually short fare at all, and just walked through open barriers at Vauxhall? Is this really what you're saying here?

 

[FatContr0ller]

You want them to believe you didn't actually short fare at all, and just walked through open barriers at Vauxhall? Is this really what you're saying here?

Someone's going to have a shock when in fact they don't believe that! Especially when gateline logs exist...

 

[mangomoo]

Thanks for your responses. I have rewritten this. Please let me know your thoughts and how this will affect my case. I am really stressed.

I was asked to show a 16-17 Saver Railcard to validate the ticket I was travelling on. I was unable to do this and showed my valid 16-25 Young Persons Railcard (number XXXXX, photo attached, valid dates XXX). I was entitled to buy tickets with that Railcard. However, I have selected the incorrect railcard on Trainline. Please accept my sincere apologies for selecting the incorrect railcard and I will ensure that I select the correct railcard in future.

Regarding the ticket not being scanned at Vauxhall, I had boarded the train at Hampton and deeply regret this. I can ensure you this behaviour will not be repeated. Concerning your question relating to similar journeys shown on the spreadsheet, this was regretfully the same.

Again, please accept my sincere apologies, I fully understand the importance of travelling with the correct ticket and paying the correct fare.

I would hope that it will be possible to resolve this issue and would be grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter by making a payment in respect of the unpaid fares and your costs in handling the investigation.

Yours sincerely

 

[Haywain]

Thanks for your responses. I have rewritten this. Please let me know your thoughts and how this will affect my case. I am really stressed.

I was asked to show a 16-17 Saver Railcard to validate the ticket I was travelling on. I was unable to do this and showed my valid 16-25 Young Persons Railcard (number XXXXX, photo attached, valid dates XXX). I was entitled to buy tickets with that Railcard. However, I have selected the incorrect railcard on Trainline. Please accept my sincere apologies for selecting the incorrect railcard and I will ensure that I select the correct railcard in future.

Regarding the ticket not being scanned at Vauxhall, I had boarded the train at Hampton and deeply regret this. I can ensure you this behaviour will not be repeated. Concerning your question relating to similar journeys shown on the spreadsheet, this was regretfully the same.

Again, please accept my sincere apologies, I fully understand the importance of travelling with the correct ticket and paying the correct fare.

I would hope that it will be possible to resolve this issue and would be grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter by making a payment in respect of the unpaid fares and your costs in handling the investigation.

Yours sincerely

That's more like it.

 

[Kilopylae]

Thanks for your responses. I have rewritten this. Please let me know your thoughts and how this will affect my case. I am really stressed.

I was asked to show a 16-17 Saver Railcard to validate the ticket I was travelling on. I was unable to do this and showed my valid 16-25 Young Persons Railcard (number XXXXX, photo attached, valid dates XXX). I was entitled to buy tickets with that Railcard. However, I have selected the incorrect railcard on Trainline. Please accept my sincere apologies for selecting the incorrect railcard and I will ensure that I select the correct railcard in future.

Regarding the ticket not being scanned at Vauxhall, I had boarded the train at Hampton and deeply regret this. I can ensure you this behaviour will not be repeated. Concerning your question relating to similar journeys shown on the spreadsheet, this was regretfully the same.

Again, please accept my sincere apologies, I fully understand the importance of travelling with the correct ticket and paying the correct fare.

I would hope that it will be possible to resolve this issue and would be grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter by making a payment in respect of the unpaid fares and your costs in handling the investigation.

Yours sincerely

That's a much better response from a content perspective, but you may want to edit for grammar and style. I have had a go below.

Dear Sir, Madam, or Otherwise, [Or Dear Sir or Madam,]

On XX August 2023, I was asked to show a 16-17 Saver Railcard for the ticket I was travelling on. I was unable to do this and showed my valid 16-25 Young Persons Railcard (number XXXXX, photo attached, valid dates XXX). I was entitled to buy tickets with that Railcard. However, I have selected the incorrect railcard on Trainline. Please accept my sincere apologies for selecting the incorrect railcard. I will ensure that I select the correct railcard in future.

I can confirm that the ticket was not scanned at Vauxhall because I had boarded the train at Hampton, which I now deeply regret. I can assure you that this behaviour will not be repeated. Concerning your questions regarding similar tickets shown on the spreadsheet, I can confirm that these tickets were also being used for short faring. Please accept my sincere apologies for this behaviour. I now recognise the importance of travelling with the correct ticket and paying the correct fare.

I would be grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter by making a payment in respect of the unpaid fares and your costs in handling the investigation.

Yours faithfully, [Note that 'Yours sincerely' is only for where a name has been provided]

 

[Haywain]

I can confirm that these tickets were also being used for short faring.

I wouldn't use this form of words, but stick with the original form. To use this says (to me) 'I know what I was doing', which isn't going to be helpful.

 

[mangomoo]

Thank you everybody.

 

[butterworkdksk]

What was the outcome of this

 

[30907]

What was the outcome of this

The OP has hardly had time to reply to their letter yet!

I see you have your own thread - just be patient

 

[mangomoo]

Hi

I have just received a response. Two options - settle out of court with £271 total, paying £121 for fare avoided and £150 for admin costs. Or request court hearing.

Of course I am going to pay to settle the case and never repeat this behaviour.

Thank you all for your help!

 

[75A]

Hi

I have just received a response. Two options - settle out of court with £271 total, paying £121 for fare avoided and £150 for admin costs. Or request court hearing.

Of course I am going to pay to settle the case and never repeat this behaviour.

Thank you all for your help!

Correct answer

 

[John R]

That's a good result under the circumstances. Don't forget to tell all your friends the risks if they are inclined to do something similar!

 

[trebor79]

They appear to have let you off the previous short faring too. Result!

 

[30907]

They appear to have let you off the previous short faring too. Result!

I think the £121 covers that - Hampton isn't that far from London

 

[trebor79]

I think the £121 covers that - Hampton isn't that far from London

Ah!

 

[MotCO]

You must now do everything to ensure that the TOC has no cause to question any future journeys, i.e. make sure you buy the correct ticket from and to the correct station and buy before you board.
You must also ensure that your 16-25 Railcard has not expired - maybe put a note in your phone's calendar a few week's before the expiry date to remind you to renew.