3 letters received in date order. Latest one received yesterday. Really appreciate your help with this. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing
The first letter just asks you to pay the outstanding fare (an Unpaid Fares Notice, essentially). Why on earth did you not just pay that?
This isn't a Penalty Fare, so I think you're stuck with just paying what is requested by the latest letter.
Yes, based on verbal instruction given on the train by staff to "appeal it" - but obv the letter does not state any ability to appeal
SO - v bad luck the OP did not seek help here earlier
but all I can think of doing now is
a) pay these sums ASAP to prevent further escalation
b) write to Northern's customer services to explain that the staff member on board the train (list date train time etc) - advised you that an 'appeal could be made' which is the only reason you did not pay immediately - and could they kindly refund the additional £100 now asked for that occurred whilst you believed you were appealing the request for the fare, an Appeal that you only made because staff advised you to do so.
c) copy that to your MP with a request that the MP raise how the matter has been handled with Northern Trains (Northern Trains are run by a govt operator so an MPs involvement is not unreasonable in my view) and ask if your MP can support your request for the 2 x £100 sums to be repaid.
You need to be very clear that you were clearly advised by a member of staff on the train that you could appeal any sum asked for, which you then did in good faith, as you had no intention to evade the fare. That member of staff mislead you and as a consequence you have each had to pay £100 more than you would otherwise have had to pay.