Fare evasion- convicted without knowing 10 years ago!

[WesternLancer]

Hi thank you everyone who replied…
To answer a few questions- I found this SO ODD myself.. the train was from Huddersfield to Leeds and I gave the conductor my details, never got a fine in the mail. I did move address because I was an international student but had post forwarded.

After UNI- I got a job w a company that had government contracts therefore a dBs was done in 2018 and this didn’t come up. I also had dBs done by a school because I teach dance to kids, again I have copies of these and there was nothing there.

Again in 2019 I got a job closer to home with government contracts who also did a DBS check and nothing came up. I’ve also applied for visas in the time being and nothing about this has ever come up until now.

I was hired by a college recently to do some more teaching and they needed a new one. An enhanced DBS (so maybe this is why) The job offer I have pending is for a major airline company and they will be doing a DBS check in the next couple of months (I’m sure that will be enhanced as well). When I got the new certificate in the mail everything was clear except under the convictions it says offense: traveling railway without paying fare- Sept 03, 2014 :
In terms of fines it says

Disposal:
Fine: 400
Costs: 150
Compensation: 6.00
Victim surcharge: 40.00

I believe it was northern rail but I’m not sure.

I’ve never gotten a fine let alone a notice to be in court and as I’m on a visa, I would have taken a court appearance very seriously. Again I didn’t intend to fare evade- my credit card didn’t have chip and pin at the time and when he tried the swiping way it didn’t work. This was so long ago, and I work w children as well as being a single mother. I can’t afford to lose my job over it. Thank you all for your help and advice.

I would guess that journey could either be by Northern Trains or Trans Pennine Express.

People here will correct me if I’m wrong.

 

[fandroid]

While i dont want to be seen a promoting fare evasion, there is the point to be made that someone who comes to the UK as a simple tourist with no interest, desire or inlclination to ever become a UK resident basically has nothing to worry about should this ever happen to them.

The UK is introducing an ETA system in 2025 for all foreign passport holders wishing to arrive here. Best not to rely at all on the above advice!

 

[island]

The UK is introducing an ETA system in 2025 for all foreign passport holders wishing to arrive here. Best not to rely at all on the above advice!

All except Irish nationals and UK/Irish long term residents that is.

 

[quick question]

Ok the airline advised they will do a basic DBS - not enhanced. I wonder if it will show up or if it’s worth it to do an SD at this point.

 

[AlterEgo]

Ok the airline advised they will do a basic DBS - not enhanced. I wonder if it will show up or if it’s worth it to do an SD at this point.

It will not show on a basic DBS.

 

[Pushpit]

Ok the airline advised they will do a basic DBS - not enhanced. I wonder if it will show up or if it’s worth it to do an SD at this point.

If you don't do an SD fairly quickly after first knowing about the conviction then you may find yourself permanently saddled with the initial conviction, though it will be spent, and any unpaid fines / costs - that won't go away. And failing to pay a fine could lead to further activities to pursue and collect the debt.

 

[quick question]

I have an update.
Kirklees court couldn’t even find the file on this or any evidence because it’s that old. When they finally found the extract they said someone paid the fine on the 1st of March 2018. I’m like who?! They couldn’t even tell me who paid it cuz they didn’t keep any of the records from then…they are going to email me the extract but they said that all they have left of this case. Again I didn’t even know about this. This is so odd. Who would pay a court fine that isn’t theirs?????

They said I can’t do an SD but I can write the court and see if they will reopen it… is it even worth it?

I ordered a basic dBs to see if it comes up.

Dbs said I can only dispute it once the court situation is sorted and it would have not come up on my old dBs checks because it’s so old.


My current job wasn’t even bothered they said it was so old… but in afraid the airlines won’t be as kind.

 

[island]

If it's not on your basic DBS, will fall off a standard/enhanced DBS in the near future, and there is no fine said to be outstanding, I would be minded to let sleeping dogs lie.

 

[greatkingrat]

Do you have a reasonably common name? Maybe the fine went to debt collectors and they contacted someone else with the same name, who just panicked and paid up to make it go away?

 

[MotCO]

Is it possible that the dbs is not yours? I don't know what details you have to supply for a dbs check, so is it possible that they have mixed up someone else's record for you? That would help explain why the fine was paid.

 

[quick question]

I have a very unique name so doubt it was that. Do court fines get bought out by debt collectors here? I dunno I’ve also checked my credit and there’s nothing there but the court clerk said it’s definitely paid, done and dusted. Up to me to reopen the case or not.

 

[WesternLancer]

I have a very unique name so doubt it was that. Do court fines get bought out by debt collectors here? I dunno I’ve also checked my credit and there’s nothing there but the court clerk said it’s definitely paid, done and dusted. Up to me to reopen the case or not.

A contributor here @martinchapman8 , who gives helpful info on this sort of thing might be able to explain what typically happens as part of the process of collecting court fines.

 

[tixy]

I have a very unique name so doubt it was that. Do court fines get bought out by debt collectors here? I dunno I’ve also checked my credit and there’s nothing there but the court clerk said it’s definitely paid, done and dusted. Up to me to reopen the case or not.

Fines are not bought by debt collectors.
What happens is after conviction the court issues a collection order. If not paid then the fines officer issues a further steps notice, which then allows the court to collect the fine from other sources such as benefits or salary. If you were on benefits, you might not even know you paid the fine unless you are vigilant.

The usual route however is for the court to issue a warrant of control to the bailiffs, who collect on behalf of the court. If there are no assets, the case is returned and an arrest warrant issued and sent back to the bailiffs to execute.

If there is no luck at the arrest stage and the court can find refusal to pay or culpable neglect, they will attempt to take from benefits/salary/charge on house, and if no Joy issue a committal warrant.

It’s likely in the OPs case that either a relative has paid on his behalf to the bailiffs, or the court has collected from benefits/salary without the OP knowing

 

[WesternLancer]

Fines are not bought by debt collectors.
What happens is after conviction the court issues a collection order. If not paid then the fines officer issues a further steps notice, which then allows the court to collect the fine from other sources such as benefits or salary. If you were on benefits, you might not even know you paid the fine unless you are vigilant.

The usual route however is for the court to issue a warrant of control to the bailiffs, who collect on behalf of the court. If there are no assets, the case is returned and an arrest warrant issued and sent back to the bailiffs to execute.

If there is no luck at the arrest stage and the court can find refusal to pay or culpable neglect, they will attempt to take from benefits/salary/charge on house, and if no Joy issue a committal warrant.

It’s likely in the OPs case that either a relative has paid on his behalf to the bailiffs, or the court has collected from benefits/salary without the OP knowing

Very helpful and informative. Thanks.

 

[Class93]

I have a very unique name so doubt it was that. Do court fines get bought out by debt collectors here? I dunno I’ve also checked my credit and there’s nothing there but the court clerk said it’s definitely paid, done and dusted. Up to me to reopen the case or not.

Out of pure interest I would probably keep going to see if you get an outcome. Genuinely interested in this - but if it’s causing you too much stress then of course let sleeping dogs lie.

 

[quick question]

Very helpful for sure. Thank you!

 

[Pushpit]

The other option is that someone used your name to avoid a criminal record, but then went as far as paying off the fine too, in order to bury the incident. This would take a bit of cunning in terms of the address used, but it wouldn't be difficult to do.