avrilpowers
Member
- Joined
- 7 Sep 2018
- Messages
- 6
Hello, I’m hoping somebody can help me.
Yes, I’m one of those silly people that tried to get a cheaper ticket on the the train, so please, no judging, I just need some help. I am in a complete mess and panicking about a criminal record as I work as a teacher and one moment of complete stupidness is ruining my life at the moment.
In June 2018 I boarded the Arriva Trains Wales service from Llanelli to Cardiff. I am not a regular train user but was taking advantage of the service this day as I was visiting Cardiff for an Ed Sheeran concert.
As there was a large queue at the ticket office when we arrived me and my friends decided to purchase our tickets on the train, alike I had done on the rare occasion that I have used trains in the past. By the time we had got to Cardiff nobody had been around to sell tickets, so we followed the queue to purchase tickets at the barriers.
When purchasing my ticket, in a split moment of what I can only put down to severe error and lack of judgement, I requested to purchase a ticket from Bridgend, a nearer station to my final destination, alike what a friend had told me that they had done in the past. This very poor and foolish decision was not properly considered at all and was completely out of character after a couple of alcoholic drinks. I was then spoken to by an authorised member of staff who informed me that I could not have possibly got on at Bridgend due to a barrier system being in place and I had broken the law. He took my details. I was very apologetic and offered to pay my fare but I was informed that it was too late.
I then received a letter 30 days later giving me with the opportunity to provide mitigation. I did so with a grovelling letter, explaining my silliness and offering an administrative settlement. I then waited another month and have just received a second letter explaining that there is no reason for me to not be summoned to court and I’ve been given another 14 days to reply. I rung the TIL and asked for a further explanation and the woman on the phone mentioned a reply offering an administrative settlement, but I had already put that in my first letter. Do you think they want me to provide a figure? I’m so worried about this whole situation and my mental health is suffering, I just really want this to all be over. I really need/want to avoid court.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
TIA x
Yes, I’m one of those silly people that tried to get a cheaper ticket on the the train, so please, no judging, I just need some help. I am in a complete mess and panicking about a criminal record as I work as a teacher and one moment of complete stupidness is ruining my life at the moment.
In June 2018 I boarded the Arriva Trains Wales service from Llanelli to Cardiff. I am not a regular train user but was taking advantage of the service this day as I was visiting Cardiff for an Ed Sheeran concert.
As there was a large queue at the ticket office when we arrived me and my friends decided to purchase our tickets on the train, alike I had done on the rare occasion that I have used trains in the past. By the time we had got to Cardiff nobody had been around to sell tickets, so we followed the queue to purchase tickets at the barriers.
When purchasing my ticket, in a split moment of what I can only put down to severe error and lack of judgement, I requested to purchase a ticket from Bridgend, a nearer station to my final destination, alike what a friend had told me that they had done in the past. This very poor and foolish decision was not properly considered at all and was completely out of character after a couple of alcoholic drinks. I was then spoken to by an authorised member of staff who informed me that I could not have possibly got on at Bridgend due to a barrier system being in place and I had broken the law. He took my details. I was very apologetic and offered to pay my fare but I was informed that it was too late.
I then received a letter 30 days later giving me with the opportunity to provide mitigation. I did so with a grovelling letter, explaining my silliness and offering an administrative settlement. I then waited another month and have just received a second letter explaining that there is no reason for me to not be summoned to court and I’ve been given another 14 days to reply. I rung the TIL and asked for a further explanation and the woman on the phone mentioned a reply offering an administrative settlement, but I had already put that in my first letter. Do you think they want me to provide a figure? I’m so worried about this whole situation and my mental health is suffering, I just really want this to all be over. I really need/want to avoid court.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
TIA x