All,
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Something happened to my wife, which has concerned me and I'd be grateful for any advice.
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I'll stick to the facts:
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1. My wife used a carnet ticket on a First Capital Connect train from St Albans to St Pancras;
2. The carnet ticket was validated in the top right hand corner with the date;
3. At St Albans, she did not put it through the barriers at St Albans, rather she presented it to a guard (as we have been told to do);
4. At St Pancras, again she presented the carnet ticket to the guard at the barrier (as we have been told to do);
4. The guard took the ticket and 'scrubbed' the top right corner with his thumb. In doing so, part (but not all) of the numbering fell away. He said that this was evidence that my wife had 'overwritten' a previously used ticket and accused her of defrauding First Capital Connect;
5. My wife denied defrauding First Capital Connect;
6. She then asked the guard to check whether the carnet had been used previously. He checked the metallic strip and confirmed that it had not been used previously;
6. She them completed a new carnet ticket using the same pen and asked the guard to repeat the 'scrubbing' test. He did this and, again, part (but not all) of the numbering fell away. She then repeated the test on another ticket with the same result. As the latter carnet tickets had not been overwritten, she then asked the guard to confirm that the first test was unreliable evidence that she had 'overwritten' a previously used ticket. He declined;
7. He then cautioned her and warned her that she may receive an Intention to Prosecute Notice in the post. However, he was unable to say when. He retained the original. While he originally omitted to do so, at my wife's insistence he recorded that he had conducted the test on another (non-overwritten) ticket with similar results; and
8. CCTV should show that my wife is a regular user of carnet tickets and that: a) she always shows the validated carnet ticket to the guard; and b) the ticket (almost) always is taken from her. This should show a pattern of valid use of carnet tickets.
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My wife is extremely upset and worried. She is pregnant and I would like to alay such upset and worry. Is there any action I can take in order to address this matter? In particular, if it would be of use, I am prepared to instruct solicitors to address this. If so, I would be grateful if somebody could recommend a solicitor with experience in this area.
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Yours,
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Concerned husband
P.S. I'm something of a forum virgin, so if I've committed some unkown taboo, I apologise.
*
Something happened to my wife, which has concerned me and I'd be grateful for any advice.
*
I'll stick to the facts:
*
1. My wife used a carnet ticket on a First Capital Connect train from St Albans to St Pancras;
2. The carnet ticket was validated in the top right hand corner with the date;
3. At St Albans, she did not put it through the barriers at St Albans, rather she presented it to a guard (as we have been told to do);
4. At St Pancras, again she presented the carnet ticket to the guard at the barrier (as we have been told to do);
4. The guard took the ticket and 'scrubbed' the top right corner with his thumb. In doing so, part (but not all) of the numbering fell away. He said that this was evidence that my wife had 'overwritten' a previously used ticket and accused her of defrauding First Capital Connect;
5. My wife denied defrauding First Capital Connect;
6. She then asked the guard to check whether the carnet had been used previously. He checked the metallic strip and confirmed that it had not been used previously;
6. She them completed a new carnet ticket using the same pen and asked the guard to repeat the 'scrubbing' test. He did this and, again, part (but not all) of the numbering fell away. She then repeated the test on another ticket with the same result. As the latter carnet tickets had not been overwritten, she then asked the guard to confirm that the first test was unreliable evidence that she had 'overwritten' a previously used ticket. He declined;
7. He then cautioned her and warned her that she may receive an Intention to Prosecute Notice in the post. However, he was unable to say when. He retained the original. While he originally omitted to do so, at my wife's insistence he recorded that he had conducted the test on another (non-overwritten) ticket with similar results; and
8. CCTV should show that my wife is a regular user of carnet tickets and that: a) she always shows the validated carnet ticket to the guard; and b) the ticket (almost) always is taken from her. This should show a pattern of valid use of carnet tickets.
*
My wife is extremely upset and worried. She is pregnant and I would like to alay such upset and worry. Is there any action I can take in order to address this matter? In particular, if it would be of use, I am prepared to instruct solicitors to address this. If so, I would be grateful if somebody could recommend a solicitor with experience in this area.
*
Yours,
*
Concerned husband
P.S. I'm something of a forum virgin, so if I've committed some unkown taboo, I apologise.
