Hi Everyone,
I was caught for travelling with a ticket not for entire journey on SouthEastern. Although there were various factors for the cause on that particular day, the fact is I was not travelling with a valid ticket - so on questioning under caution, I accepted that I had no intention to pay for the entire journey.
I received a letter, asking to reply with personal details and for my side of the events. I replied well within 7 days, with my details and apologising for the lapse of judgement, first ever incident and will never happen again and pleading for out of court settlement. I posted the letter with recorded delivery and tracking shows it was delivered the following day.
But now I received court summons letter and I am stressed, specially due to the criminal conviction.
I called the Prosecution Department' number given on the summons letter to once again request for out of court settlement, but the line is not working.
So I called SouthEastern's regular customer service number and explained that I've received court summon letter and would like out of court settlement if possible.
Customer service checked their system and said they couldn't find my case in their system but they gave me the website for Revenue Protection Support Services and asked me to check my record there.
On the website, I clicked "Out of Court Settlement" and entered my prosecution number and surname and there is the option to pay a fixed amount, which I am more than happy to pay to settle this matter.
I called back SE customer service and asked for advice - I told him that I can see my case on the RPSS website inside "Out of Court Settlement" option and whether I should pay for out of court settlement, considering that I have already received a court summons letter.
After checking on his side, he said they don't have access to the RPSS' system but since I had the option to pay for out of court settlement on the RPSS site, I could pay the amount and write another letter to the Prosecution Department with evidence of payment for out of court settlement and to request to drop the case and that they may or may not agree to the out of court settlement but if it did went to court, the fact that I made the out of court settlement should work in my favour in the court hearing.
Do you think this is a good idea ? I am concerned whether I should make the payment as I didn't receive an offer for out of court settlement. But then, why is there an option to pay for out of settlement if they intend to take me to court ?
Many thanks for advice.
I was caught for travelling with a ticket not for entire journey on SouthEastern. Although there were various factors for the cause on that particular day, the fact is I was not travelling with a valid ticket - so on questioning under caution, I accepted that I had no intention to pay for the entire journey.
I received a letter, asking to reply with personal details and for my side of the events. I replied well within 7 days, with my details and apologising for the lapse of judgement, first ever incident and will never happen again and pleading for out of court settlement. I posted the letter with recorded delivery and tracking shows it was delivered the following day.
But now I received court summons letter and I am stressed, specially due to the criminal conviction.
I called the Prosecution Department' number given on the summons letter to once again request for out of court settlement, but the line is not working.
So I called SouthEastern's regular customer service number and explained that I've received court summon letter and would like out of court settlement if possible.
Customer service checked their system and said they couldn't find my case in their system but they gave me the website for Revenue Protection Support Services and asked me to check my record there.
On the website, I clicked "Out of Court Settlement" and entered my prosecution number and surname and there is the option to pay a fixed amount, which I am more than happy to pay to settle this matter.
I called back SE customer service and asked for advice - I told him that I can see my case on the RPSS website inside "Out of Court Settlement" option and whether I should pay for out of court settlement, considering that I have already received a court summons letter.
After checking on his side, he said they don't have access to the RPSS' system but since I had the option to pay for out of court settlement on the RPSS site, I could pay the amount and write another letter to the Prosecution Department with evidence of payment for out of court settlement and to request to drop the case and that they may or may not agree to the out of court settlement but if it did went to court, the fact that I made the out of court settlement should work in my favour in the court hearing.
Do you think this is a good idea ? I am concerned whether I should make the payment as I didn't receive an offer for out of court settlement. But then, why is there an option to pay for out of settlement if they intend to take me to court ?
Many thanks for advice.