Hi there, this happened today and I’m really panicking a lot. I tampered with my old 16-25 rail card expiry as I had to make an emergency trip from Hull to Bristol and i didn’t have quite enough to pay for the full fare comfortably.
I used Hull trains direct from Hull to King’s cross on an open return. And then from Paddington to Bristol temple meads on an open return using Great western railways (GWR).
I was caught on the return GWR from Bristol to Paddington. The conductor was rather gentle with me and quietly explained that what I had done could constitute as fraud and I agreed to do an interview. I honestly explained the following details:
C: “Are you aware that the railcard is invalid?”
M: “Yes I am”
C: “How did you manage to do it?”
M: “A friend helped me change the date”
C: “Have you done this before?”
M: “Yes, just to get to Bristol from Hull”
C: “Please state your details”
M: “ ~all my details requested~”
C: “We shall be sending a letter after informing the FTB (sorry if this is the wrong acronym I forgot the insinuation) and proceedings will be stated from there. you have 10 days to reply and all compliance is appreciated to speed the process ahead and avoid escalation”
M: “Okay thank you for that”
C: “Thank you for your compliance”
M: “Yet again really sorry about this and thanks for the understanding”
It’s a really stupid thing for me to do and i’m at least calmer by my quick admission but also I’m scared that it might make this whole situation worse”
I’m a 19 year old girl who’s moved far away from home and I really didn’t take into account that cutting corners like this can really bite you in the A**. Is there any advice anyone could give for this situation?
Some say the letter comes in a month and others say it’s even longer so i’m just getting a bit paranoid about the time scales.
Also are the chances of private settlement high or are solicitors necessary for that?
I used Hull trains direct from Hull to King’s cross on an open return. And then from Paddington to Bristol temple meads on an open return using Great western railways (GWR).
I was caught on the return GWR from Bristol to Paddington. The conductor was rather gentle with me and quietly explained that what I had done could constitute as fraud and I agreed to do an interview. I honestly explained the following details:
C: “Are you aware that the railcard is invalid?”
M: “Yes I am”
C: “How did you manage to do it?”
M: “A friend helped me change the date”
C: “Have you done this before?”
M: “Yes, just to get to Bristol from Hull”
C: “Please state your details”
M: “ ~all my details requested~”
C: “We shall be sending a letter after informing the FTB (sorry if this is the wrong acronym I forgot the insinuation) and proceedings will be stated from there. you have 10 days to reply and all compliance is appreciated to speed the process ahead and avoid escalation”
M: “Okay thank you for that”
C: “Thank you for your compliance”
M: “Yet again really sorry about this and thanks for the understanding”
It’s a really stupid thing for me to do and i’m at least calmer by my quick admission but also I’m scared that it might make this whole situation worse”
I’m a 19 year old girl who’s moved far away from home and I really didn’t take into account that cutting corners like this can really bite you in the A**. Is there any advice anyone could give for this situation?
Some say the letter comes in a month and others say it’s even longer so i’m just getting a bit paranoid about the time scales.
Also are the chances of private settlement high or are solicitors necessary for that?