Flamingo
Established Member
- Joined
- 26 Apr 2010
- Messages
- 6,810
Until he gets stopped for a broken tail-light or some such and an outstanding warrant flags up...
who is going to spend time and money trying to track him down?
Well the reality is that it often is that easy, who is going to spend time and money trying to track him down?
We wish that was the case but it isn't, if he is no longer (or never was) at the address he gave that will almost certainly be game over. Obviously it were for something more serious the police would make every effort to track him down.
OK so what do I do as I have still have no response and I can not spend my life chasing this...?
These are the reasons for the three previous fare evasions:
1. Many years ago i think it was one stop when I was not even working in London. (Maybe when i was a teenager)
2. I forgot my season ticket had to get to work got fined at the other end but paid upfront explained situation and was advised I could appeal. (effectively just gave £20.00)
3. Girlfriend no longer worked up London so gave me her ticket as last for a few weeks so did not need to renew mine. Although i picked up my expired one in a rush in morning they let me through and was not even made aware until I got the other end. Explained situation paid upfront again I could have proven this by sending in the ticket...
So before judging that I have been a relentless fare evader, please establish the facts as I am here for advice.
OK so what do I do as I have still have no response and I can not spend my life chasing this...?
How long legally do they have to bring a case to me before it is no longer valid?
Did you appeal? I did that once and so it didn't cost me anything and presumably I'm now on their system as a confirmed season ticket holder not a fare evader.These are the reasons for the three previous fare evasions:
2. I forgot my season ticket had to get to work got fined at the other end but paid upfront explained situation and was advised I could appeal. (effectively just gave £20.00)
3. Girlfriend no longer worked up London so gave me her ticket as last for a few weeks so did not need to renew mine. Although i picked up my expired one in a rush in morning they let me through and was not even made aware until I got the other end. Explained situation paid upfront again I could have proven this by sending in the ticket...
I've also emailed c2c and she took my details to contact them and said could get a call today
Yes but to be fair to me always good to ask questions before jumping to the end, when this forum is for advice.
The debt collection agency that buys the debt or possibly the Police!
Court fines aren't a civil debt. It'll go to the police.
Every now and then TOCs do stings in conjunction with the police (or vice versa) so if that happens and Mr Serial Fare Evader is stopped again, they'll likely be arrested.
I'm stunned the police don't do more of these stings, as they're always highly successful and they arrest a rather large number of people wanted for all sorts of things, and who literally walk straight into their arms.
So as long as the OP doesn't have a bank account, get a job, rent or buy a property or car, take out HP on anything, apply for a passport or driving licence (plus a few things I cant think of) they might get away with fare evasion!If the OP is found guilty in their absence and disappears the case will eventually be passed to the court's enforcement team who can track people down in ways that outside agencies such as TOCs can't (employment records, DWP records or even utility company records).
If one does however move and has no knowledge of any action having been taken against them, they can file a Statutory Declaration and have the case re-heard and start the ball rolling again. Whatever happens, the OP won't be 'getting away with it' scot free unless he dies (and if the latter, you could argue that you've earned the right to have the slate wiped clean if you're dead...). It could take time, but HMCTS takes a very dim view of non-payment of their imposed fines so they will find offenders eventually.
So, either pay your fare or buy a canoe and a plane ticket to Panama.So as long as the OP doesn't have a bank account, get a job, rent or buy a property or car, take out HP on anything, apply for a passport or driving licence (plus a few things I cant think of) they might get away with fare evasion!
So, either pay your fare or buy a canoe and a plane ticket to Panama.
In a nutshell, yesSo as long as the OP doesn't have a bank account, get a job, rent or buy a property or car, take out HP on anything, apply for a passport or driving licence (plus a few things I cant think of) they might get away with fare evasion!
Yeah I can really see people doing all that!
So, either pay your fare or buy a canoe and a plane ticket to Panama.
They wont let the canoe on the plane though!
If the OP is found guilty in their absence and disappears the case will eventually be passed to the court's enforcement team who can track people down in ways that outside agencies such as TOCs can't (employment records, DWP records or even utility company records).
If one does however move and has no knowledge of any action having been taken against them, they can file a Statutory Declaration and have the case re-heard and start the ball rolling again. Whatever happens, the OP won't be 'getting away with it' scot free unless he dies (and if the latter, you could argue that you've earned the right to have the slate wiped clean if you're dead...). It could take time, but HMCTS takes a very dim view of non-payment of their imposed fines so they will find offenders eventually.
I have family in the police and there are colossal amounts of fines that are unpaid and for far more serious offences than non payment of train fares.
I am in no way condoning what the OP did here but we have to be realistic.