Greater Anglia (Stansted Express) - Forgot to bring railcard (first time ever) - Prosecution Letter

[opteron8250]

Hi,

On 24th April 2025, I traveled from London Tottenham Hale to Stansted Airport on Stansted Express.

I bought the ticket with Railcard Discount but forgot to bring the Railcard with me. This was the first time ever in my life that I forgot to bring Railcard. My Railcard (Gold Record Card) was valid at the date of travel. I still have the Railcard now.

I was questioned by an officer at the station. I wasn't asked to pay any fare difference or penalty fare. Instead she asked me some questions, took my details, and asked me to sign a form.

Today I received a prosecution letter from Greater Anglia (attached). It asked me to either pay £112.25 or face prosecution. There is no mentioning of 'first time in a 12 month period will be forgiven' policy or any channel for me to explain the matter and provide evidence of my Railcard which was valid at the date of travel.

The letter was dated 9th May 2025, so I have 6 days left. What should I do? Do you have any suggestions? Thank you so much in advance!

thanks
Patrick

 

[Haywain]

What should I do? Do you have any suggestions?

Send a copy of your railcard (with a covering letter)! They don't know that you've got one so they won't mention the once in 12 months policy.

 

[opteron8250]

I explained to the officer on-site that I had a valid Railcard. I even asked my partner to locate it at home and send a photo to me. I then showed her that photo. But she wouldn't accept. She insisted on the physical card.




Update: I just called Greater Anglia Customer Service.

Due to the fact that the letter I received is a Prosecution Letter, not a Penalty Fare Notice or Unpaid Fare Notice, I was unable to use ITAL Appeal Service website to provide evidence of my Railcard. I have to contact ITAL Prosecution Unit directly.

The officer at the station had a range of options when dealing with a forgotten railcard case. I don't know why I received a Prosecution Letter not a Penalty Fare Notice. Maybe she was really angry.

 

[saismee]

The NRCoT states exactly:

8.6
However, if you were unable to present the Railcard because you had forgotten to carry it on that particular journey or mislaid it, the Train Company concerned will refund any fare or Penalty Fare paid in accordance with Condition 10.

8.7
In order to claim such a refund, you will need to contact the customer service department of the Train Company that charged you the additional fare or Penalty Fare, providing the full details of your Railcard, together with the additional Tickets you have purchased or any Penalty Fares notices. A maximum of one such claim will be considered in any 12-month period.

It doesn't state that prosecution will be dropped or that a refund will be granted in this case, which I think is likely an error (or oversight). It could be argued that "additional fare" would include this.

I think that an email to ITAL will resolve this without costing anything. I also think you should be filing a complaint against the RPI. It's reasonable to report for prosecution when presenting without a railcard (it is often deliberate fare evasion), but as you were able to show that you owned a railcard, she should have issued a penalty fare and explained how to appeal it. It's not her job to intentionally cause you trouble.

 

[AlterEgo]

There are no grounds for complaint against the RPI. They’ve chosen one of the several options open to them when a passenger has no railcard.

I can knock up a photo of a railcard in a couple of minutes, it proves nothing; RPIs will now often report for prosecution because it leaves the option open for the company to audit past purchases in case the passenger never presents, and never had, a railcard at all.

 

[saismee]

There are no grounds for complaint against the RPI. They’ve chosen one of the several options open to them when a passenger has no railcard.

Based on "maybe she was really angry" I assumed that she was likely visibly angry/rude to the OP, but I suppose that may not be the case. It really depends.

 

[Haywain]

Based on "maybe she was really angry" I assumed that she was likely visibly angry/rude to the OP, but I suppose that may not be the case. It really depends.

Let's remember that we only have one side of the story here. What the OP needs to do has been set out several times now.

 

[opteron8250]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.

I will email ITAL Prosecutions Unit with evidence of my Railcard, apologise, and ask them to reconsider my case.

I have no intention of making complaints about the officer on-site. I accept that I made an error by not bringing my Railcard with me and that the railway company had the right to choose the way they want to deal with this matter.

 

[John R]

I don't know why I received a Prosecution Letter not a Penalty Fare Notice. Maybe she was really angry.

Because they don't know whether you do have a railcard. You saying you do doesn't matter - lots of people lie when stopped without a valid ticket - how do they know you are any different?

Referring you for prosecution gives them time to investigate your online account (if your ticket was an e-ticket) and look for multiple instances of travelling without a valid ticket.

 

[phoenix743]

Having been an RPI if a customer told me they definitely had a railcard I always issued a Penalty fare as that can be appealed. If they don’t have one then they are then on the system and have to pay the Penalty fare notice anyway.

 

[WesternLancer]

Similar case here where you could use some of the wording I suggested

Penalty Notice for Unable to show rail card due to dead phone

I was travelling from Egham to Waterloo london on 9 May via South Western Railway. I purchased a discounted ticket using 16-25 rail card from Egham station ticketing counter. I showed my rail card from mobile and they issue me a discounted ticket. When I tried to exit at waterloo the barcode did...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[opteron8250]

Similar case here where you could use some of the wording I suggested

Penalty Notice for Unable to show rail card due to dead phone

I was travelling from Egham to Waterloo london on 9 May via South Western Railway. I purchased a discounted ticket using 16-25 rail card from Egham station ticketing counter. I showed my rail card from mobile and they issue me a discounted ticket. When I tried to exit at waterloo the barcode did...

www.railforums.co.uk

That's exactly what I've done Thank you for your template!