Correct Route, wrong date

[30907]

Hi all, no updates on this yet, but I do have a few questions if anyone can shed some light that would be great thanks.

1. Why were my details taken and not given a penalty fare?

The most likely explanation is that you might (or might plan) to use the ticket repeatedly, and the train company now have the opportunity to look at your travel history and see if it shows anything suspicious.

 

[jamesrrrrrr]

The most likely explanation is that you might (or might plan) to use the ticket repeatedly, and the train company now have the opportunity to look at your travel history and see if it shows anything suspicious.

Ohh, I thought when you scan a ticket through the route it became used and gone. That's probably why yeah. They won't find anything else so all good there. I am assuming if I don't use the ticket I bought wrong again that helps my case?

 

[30907]

Ohh, I thought when you scan a ticket through the route it became used and gone.

Yes, but tickets don't always get scanned

That's probably why yeah. They won't find anything else so all good there. I am assuming if I don't use the ticket I bought wrong again that helps my case?

If you haven't used it at all, then it is perfectly valid.

 

[jamesrrrrrr]

Hi, I haven't recieved any correspondence yet. Should I be worried?

At what point would it be worth emailing to check they have the right details? Because my only worry is what if the man somehow put down the address which was on my ID at the time (old one I hadn't updated at the time), instead of the one I actually gave him and saw him write down. I definitely gave the man the right address (he took a photo of my ID then typed out my current address on top of the photo in a text box).

 

[jamesrrrrrr]

Hi all, just received the letter today attached.


For reference. Here is my current draft, I will leave it until tomorrow to email it over for any final comments that anyone could kindly suggest. I've included the fact that I didn't use the ticket I accidently bought any more times- as it could reassure them that they didn't lose any money- it expired yesterday. Also, would it be good to include an attachment of the incorrectly bought ticket?

Dear Chiltern Railway Economic Crime, Fraud and Prosecutions Team,

Customer Reference Number: xxxxxx

I am writing this letter to address the incident at Leamington Spa train station on the 3rd of March 2025. I presented an off-peak open return (from Leamington Spa to Northampton) at the gates to exit the station which I accidently purchased to start from the 29th of March, when I intended to purchase the same route to begin on the 1st of March. I was confronted by a Chiltern rail staff member where the report was taken upon revealing my administrative error.

I was not aware of the incorrect date on my ticket until stopped by the officer at Leamington, other officers and rail staff on the route had looked at the same ticket and had not pointed the administrative error out, so it was a shock. This was a slip of attention to detail when booking on trainline, it was not malicious or an attempt to exploit the system. Although the dating on the ticket was incorrect, the price would have been the same, thus has not caused financial loss for Chiltern Railways. Furthermore, the ticket which had been bought at the incorrect date has not been used since the 3rd of March incident and has now expired.

This was an administrative error on my part, and I profusely apologise for the inconvenience caused. In the future I will be more diligent in ensuring the validity of my train tickets for the route I have taken, making sure I double check all details.

I would be very grateful if this matter could be resolved amicably. I have travelled on your railway for multiple years with no issues and would like to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.

I look forward to your response.

Kind Regards,

(full name)

 

[jfollows]

I’d suggest you expand a little on “amicably” by saying instead something like “out of court including payment of your costs” if this is what you mean, obviously if you want them to let you off for nothing instead you wouldn’t say this.

 

[jamesrrrrrr]

I’d suggest you expand a little on “amicably” by saying instead something like “out of court including payment of your costs” if this is what you mean, obviously if you want them to let you off for nothing instead you wouldn’t say this.

I'm not sure, I would like them to let me off for nothing but from what I've read that isn't particularly common- so thought I'd hedge my bets and see if they give me a warning first then if they offer a ooc settlement just pay it.

 

[jfollows]

I'm not sure, I would like them to let me off for nothing but from what I've read that isn't particularly common- so thought I'd hedge my bets and see if they give me a warning first then if they offer a ooc settlement just pay it.

So if you don’t ask for an out of court settlement they may simply take you to court. Not having a valid ticket is akin to speeding on the road, not knowing or not intending will not be valid defences. So do you want to risk a (minor) criminal record?
But it’s your call!
Others will comment before you make up your mind.

 

[WesternLancer]

I'm not sure, I would like them to let me off for nothing but from what I've read that isn't particularly common- so thought I'd hedge my bets and see if they give me a warning first then if they offer a ooc settlement just pay it.

actually given the circs in this case (genuine booking error, no loss of income to the railway) I agree with this approach - see if they just might let you off.

I would certainly include a copy of the ticket(s) - as you mention (they could then, if they were so minded) check for example that it had not been refunded / used etc.

So if you don’t ask for an out of court settlement they may simply take you to court. Not having a valid ticket is akin to speeding on the road, not knowing or not intending will not be valid defences. So do you want to risk a (minor) criminal record?
But it’s your call!
Others will comment before you make up your mind.

I tend to think (and obv this is just my personal view) that the OP asking for it to be 'resolved amicably' is akin to asking for a settlement without actually offering to pay one. And if they reply to say 'we're minded to take this to court' then I think / hope the OP would have another chance to offer to pay an OOC settlement.

Of course the risk could be the other way - they don't realise you are hoping they will let you off with a warning

I suggest the OP waits 24 hours if they are not against the deadline to see what others think of this approach so @jamesrrrrrr can make a judgment call on this.

 

[AlterEgo]

They probably won't let you off with a warning, but I also agree there's no harm in trying. This is a much less egregious case than, say, short faring, or claiming discounts to which one is not entitled.

 

[Titfield]

I would not use the expression "I was confronted by a Chiltern rail staff member...".

"confronted" seems a bit aggressive in tone imho.

 

[jamesrrrrrr]

Thank you to everyone for your inputs so far, I have only just recieved the letter so will leave it until tomorrow evening for any more thoughts.

In terms of whether I should say I want a settlement or a warning I could say something like 'I would be very grateful if this incident could be resolved amicably and without court action' this way it covers both bases and leaves the chances of being let off while hinting more explicitly towards an out of court settlement.

My risk appetite is fairly low due to career ramifications (going into a fairly regulated industry so may cause problems) so would be happy with either result.

I would not use the expression "I was confronted by a Chiltern rail staff member...".

"confronted" seems a bit aggressive in tone imho.

I agree with that, will say "I was made aware of this by a Chiltern rail staff member" or something less aggressive- the officer himself was quite nice. Thanks.

 

[Hadders]

Thank you to everyone for your inputs so far, I have only just recieved the letter so will leave it until tomorrow evening for any more thoughts.

In terms of whether I should say I want a settlement or a warning I could say something like 'I would be very grateful if this incident could be resolved amicably and without court action' this way it covers both bases and leaves the chances of being let off while hinting more explicitly towards an out of court settlement.

My risk appetite is fairly low due to career ramifications (going into a fairly regulated industry so may cause problems) so would be happy with either result.


I agree with that, will say "I was made aware of this by a Chiltern rail staff member" or something less aggressive- the officer himself was quite nice. Thanks.

I think this approach is ok.

 

[jamesrrrrrr]

Here is my updated letter if anyone has any final comments, will send off late evening. Appreciate everyone's input so far.

Dear Chiltern Railway Economic Crime, Fraud and Prosecutions Team,

Customer reference number: xxxxxxx
I am writing this letter to address the incident at Leamington Spa train station on the 3rd of March 2025. I presented an off-peak open return (from Leamington Spa to Northampton) at the gates to exit the station which I accidently purchased to start from the 29th of March, when I intended to purchase the same route to begin on the 1st of March. I was made aware of this error by a Chiltern rail staff member where the report was taken upon revealing my administrative error.

I was not aware of the incorrect date on my ticket until stopped by the officer at Leamington, other officers and rail staff on the route had looked at the same ticket and had not pointed the administrative error out, so it was a shock. This was a slip of attention to detail when booking on trainline, it was not malicious or an attempt to exploit the system. Although the dating on the ticket was incorrect, the price would have been the same, thus has not caused financial loss for Chiltern Railways. Furthermore, the ticket which had been bought at the incorrect date has not been used since the 3rd of March incident- and has expired. I have attached the ticket bought in this email.

This was an administrative error on my part, and I profusely apologise for the inconvenience caused. In the future I will be more diligent in ensuring the validity of my train tickets for the route I have taken, making sure I double check all details.

I would be very grateful if this matter could be resolved amicably and without court action. I have travelled on your railway for multiple years with no issues and would like to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.

I look forward to your response.

Kind Regards,

(full name)

 

[WesternLancer]

Here is my updated letter if anyone has any final comments, will send off late evening. Appreciate everyone's input so far.

Dear Chiltern Railway Economic Crime, Fraud and Prosecutions Team,

Customer reference number: xxxxxxx
I am writing this letter to address the incident at Leamington Spa train station on the 3rd of March 2025. I presented an off-peak open return (from Leamington Spa to Northampton) at the gates to exit the station which I accidently purchased to start from the 29th of March, when I intended to purchase the same route to begin on the 1st of March. I was made aware of this error by a Chiltern rail staff member where the report was taken upon revealing my administrative error.

I was not aware of the incorrect date on my ticket until stopped by the officer at Leamington, other officers and rail staff on the route had looked at the same ticket and had not pointed the administrative error out, so it was a shock. This was a slip of attention to detail when booking on trainline, it was not malicious or an attempt to exploit the system. Although the dating on the ticket was incorrect, the price would have been the same, thus has not caused financial loss for Chiltern Railways. Furthermore, the ticket which had been bought at the incorrect date has not been used since the 3rd of March incident- and has expired. I have attached the ticket bought in this email.

This was an administrative error on my part, and I profusely apologise for the inconvenience caused. In the future I will be more diligent in ensuring the validity of my train tickets for the route I have taken, making sure I double check all details.

I would be very grateful if this matter could be resolved amicably and without court action. I have travelled on your railway for multiple years with no issues and would like to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.

I look forward to your response.

Kind Regards,

(full name)

Looks OK to me. Good luck and keep us posted.