Please help, website wont allow penalty payment.

[galactica]

Hi everyone,


I'm writing on behalf of someone who wishes to remain anonymous. They received a Single Justice Procedure notice from Essex Magistrates’ Court related to a penalty fine issued while traveling on a Greater Anglia train. Unfortunately, the fine wasn’t paid after two reminders, but I don’t believe it was intentional — just an oversight.


They now want to settle and pay the fine, and there was a settlement offer included in the paperwork. However, when trying to pay online, they’re getting the message: "We are unable to accept payment for this notice due to the current status of the case." Does anyone know why this might be? They have 21 days to sort this out.


The paperwork also includes options to plead guilty under the Single Justice Procedure, plead guilty but attend court, or plead not guilty. The settlement offer from Greater Anglia says that paying will avoid court, so it’s a bit confusing that they can’t pay the fine online.


Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!


And just to clarify, this isn't for me!

 

[John R]

How long ago was the settlement offer made?

 

[galactica]

Hello my friend, it came in the pack, though the post today. The date of posting was the 13th March. Many thanks for your swift response

 

[JBuchananGB]

As they failed to make the penalty fare payment within the deadline the payment window has closed, and Greater Anglia are now prosecuting in relation to the incident. There is a remote chance that if they contact the Greater Anglia prosecutions office straightaway, apologising for failing to make the payment within the deadline, the payment window may be re-opened and the prosecution discontinued. Contact details for the prosecution office should be on one of the documents they received.

 

[methecooldude]

Hi everyone,


I'm writing on behalf of someone who wishes to remain anonymous. They received a Single Justice Procedure notice from Essex Magistrates’ Court related to a penalty fine issued while traveling on a Greater Anglia train. Unfortunately, the fine wasn’t paid after two reminders, but I don’t believe it was intentional — just an oversight.


They now want to settle and pay the fine, and there was a settlement offer included in the paperwork. However, when trying to pay online, they’re getting the message: "We are unable to accept payment for this notice due to the current status of the case." Does anyone know why this might be? They have 21 days to sort this out.


The paperwork also includes options to plead guilty under the Single Justice Procedure, plead guilty but attend court, or plead not guilty. The settlement offer from Greater Anglia says that paying will avoid court, so it’s a bit confusing that they can’t pay the fine online.


Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!


And just to clarify, this isn't for me!

Can you/your friend upload copies of any paperwork, including the original penalty, redacted of personal info?

I have a feeling this was a penalty fare that's gone past expiry which is why you can't pay it

 

[galactica]

But the settlement offer, says if paid, it will avoid court, it came with the prosecution documents today.

Encolsed you will find court documention infomraing you of a pending prosecution.
This document is an offer of final settlement, without the need to proceed to court.

Picture attached.
Why put this in, and then , not let you pay?

Makes no sense to include this, but not let you pay....it even has court information on it and the date of posting which is the 13 of this month

 

[methecooldude]

But the settlement offer, says if paid, it will avoid court, it came with the prosecution documents today.

Encolsed you will find court documention infomraing you of a pending prosecution.
This document is an offer of final settlement, without the need to proceed to court.
View attachment 176425View attachment 176425
Picture attached.
Why put this in, and then , not let you pay?

Makes no sense to include this, but not let you pay....it even has court information on it and the date of posting which is the 13 of this month

What is the date of those letters?

 

[galactica]

13

What is the date of those letters?

13 march 2025 two days ago as of this post

 

[skyhigh]

But the settlement offer, says if paid, it will avoid court, it came with the prosecution documents today.

Encolsed you will find court documention infomraing you of a pending prosecution.
This document is an offer of final settlement, without the need to proceed to court.
View attachment 176425View attachment 176425
Picture attached.
Why put this in, and then , not let you pay?

Makes no sense to include this, but not let you pay....it even has court information on it and the date of posting which is the 13 of this month

View attachment 176427

Ignore this post, it's not relevant to your case.

As they failed to make the penalty fare payment within the deadline the payment window has closed, and Greater Anglia are now prosecuting in relation to the incident. There is a remote chance that if they contact the Greater Anglia prosecutions office straightaway, apologising for failing to make the payment within the deadline, the payment window may be re-opened and the prosecution discontinued. Contact details for the prosecution office should be on one of the documents they received.

As the letter says, payment of the amount will settle the matter.

 

[galactica]

I am trying to help them pay it, the issue is, it wont let me via their web site. and we get this message:

We are unable to accept payment for this notice due to the current status of the case."

 

[AlterEgo]

And you’re definitely using the reference on the letter? If that’s the case you’d better email them to find out what’s going on with your case - sounds like there’s been an admin error.

 

[galactica]

100 percent using the correct number, even tried both the prosecution number and the case reference. Getting the same message evertime.
I have emailed them, but that was tonight so doubfull il get any help soon. Phone line for automatic payment ,says it closed untill monday!

 

[John R]

You’ve got 21 days from the 13th and have emailed them to explain what the problem is, so I wouldnt panic at this stage. And given you have evidence of wanting to pay promptly, even if they are late in getting back to you, everything should be resolved in due course.

Can I just check though who you emailed. Was it a “prosecutions” type address (good) or a more general customer service email address (not so good, as there’s no guarantee it will get to the right place).

 

[galactica]

You’ve got 21 days from the 13th and have emailed them to explain what the problem is, so I wouldnt panic at this stage. And given you have evidence of wanting to pay promptly, even if they are late in getting back to you, everything should be resolved in due course.

Can I just check though who you emailed. Was it a “prosecutions” type address (good) or a more general customer service email address (not so good, as there’s no guarantee it will get to the right place).

I emailed both the payments one and the prosecutions one.
I have also emailed greater anglian customer care and the ircas customer support portal... Just to be on the safe side...

What gets me is this wasnt malicious, the person iam helping is just extremely forgetful and never delt with the initial letter...

 

[AlterEgo]

I emailed both the payments one and the prosecutions one.
I have also emailed greater anglian customer care and the ircas customer support portal... Just to be on the safe side...

What gets me is this wasnt malicious, the person iam helping is just extremely forgetful and never delt with the initial letter...

Well as you’ve never dealt with the original letter it’s escalated; that’s life I’m afraid and it will be a salutary lesson in keeping your admin in good order to avoid the extra expense and hassle. I’m sure it will be sorted though, we haven’t seen a case like this fall through the cracks yet.

 

[galactica]

It really wasn't me.... But iam helping then Out as they have recently t become unemployed and are skint

 

[John R]

I emailed both the payments one and the prosecutions one.
I have also emailed greater anglian customer care and the ircas customer support portal... Just to be on the safe side...

What gets me is this wasnt malicious, the person iam helping is just extremely forgetful and never delt with the initial letter...

Or the two reminders? I’d suggest that is much more than being extremely forgetful, as most people would have an “oh sh*t” moment when even the first reminder was sent.

Our experience is that anyone who engages with rail companies is, barring aggravating factors (such as abuse of staff), offered a settlement. The many that go to court must then be those who have either repeatedly “forgotten” or taken a deliberate course of non-action in the hope that the rail company won’t pursue the case. (Or not received the letters - not relevant in this case). Unfortunately I would guess the latter is probably the more likely, as law abiding people will be very anxious to get the situation resolved asap.

You seem to have covered every email base though, so just wait and you should get some contact that helps resolve the situation.

 

[galactica]

They really do just want to pay it and move on...

I have to take them at thier word that it was all an over site, BTW they insisted they only ever got one letter as well.
I said I'd help I'd I can, so that's what iam doing... Hence the late night messages on here as I only found out this evening...

I have now phoned greater Anglia customer service. They said they cant help me, but gave me an email for [email protected]
So far i have sent emails to customer service, the email above, and two emails to ircas.
I just want to speak to someone real and get it sorted. It cant be that difficult, surely?

 

[JBuchananGB]

Your forgetful friend is just one of hundreds of fare evaders processed by Greater Anglia every week. As long as they engage promptly and apologetically there is every chance that they will be able to resolve it without court action. After all they have received a settlement offer, it is just the technical means for paying it which is malfunctioning. It is not a good idea to speak to someone. For a start they should not speak to you about a matter for which you are not the person in whose name the procedure is being carried out. I would also expect them not to deal with anyone other than the offender by email, without, perhaps prior written authority.
Who has sent the emails to IRCAS or GA? You or your friend?

 

[galactica]

He wrote the email, but its been sent from my email address.

 

[Hadders]

I have now phoned greater Anglia customer service. They said they cant help me, but gave me an email for [email protected]
So far i have sent emails to customer service, the email above, and two emails to ircas.
I just want to speak to someone real and get it sorted. It cant be that difficult, surely?

Customer services will not be able to help you. You need to deal with the Prosecutions Department.

Don't rely on anything you say or write to custommer services being passed on, because the chances are, it won't.

He wrote the email, but its been sent from my email address.

Greater Anglia will not deal with a '3rd party'. If 'your friend' is 'you' (as it often is in my experiences of cases involving a 'friend' on here) then that's not a problem. But if you really are helping 'your friend' then communication with Greater Anglia needs to be from them. By all means assist them in writing an email but it really should come from their email address.

 

[Haywain]

I have emailed them, but that was tonight so doubfull il get any help soon. Phone line for automatic payment ,says it closed untill monday!

You are just going to have to show a little patience in waiting for a reply. It's really no surprise that office staff don't work at weekends.

 

[galactica]

Customer services will not be able to help you. You need to deal with the Prosecutions Department.

Don't rely on anything you say or write to custommer services being passed on, because the chances are, it won't.


Greater Anglia will not deal with a '3rd party'. If 'your friend' is 'you' (as it often is in my experiences of cases involving a 'friend' on here) then that's not a problem. But if you really are helping 'your friend' then communication with Greater Anglia needs to be from them. By all means assist them in writing an email but it really should come from their email address.

Thanks... Appreciate the feed back....

BTW.... It's really not me that has the fine...

Iam helping as I've dealt with the wife's car park fines in the past.. Although that's been easy compared to this

I get it looks that way... But I have only one on here for help, in order to help the person with the fine...
Anoyingly, it would seem iam. More worried about it than they are...


I have now sent copies of the email I sent form My address to them... They can then send it themselves, if no joy with phone calls tomorrow...


The phone number is 13p per minuet.. And thier mobile is not wrong correctly atm... So it's gonna cost me money isnt it

What a parlarva!

 

[Haywain]

So it's gonna cost me money isnt it

It sounds like that is entirely your choice - as it is not your problem it doesn't have to cost you anything. But, as stated before, you need to show a little patience in giving the opportunity for the email you have sent to be read and a response to be prepared and sent.

 

[galactica]

It sounds like that is entirely your choice - as it is not your problem it doesn't have to cost you anything. But, as stated before, you need to show a little patience in giving the opportunity for the email you have sent to be read and a response to be prepared and sent.

Thanks

I've just done a little searching... Isn't it true that the sjp is unlawful in this type of case/prosecution?

What is the Single Justice Procedure? | HNK Solicitors

In this blog we explain what The Single Justice Procedure is, how it works and is used, and controversies over its use to convict people unlawfully.

hnksolicitors.com

 

[Hadders]

Thanks

I've just done a little searching... Isn't it true that the sjp is unlawful in this type of case/prosecution?

What is the Single Justice Procedure? | HNK Solicitors

In this blog we explain what The Single Justice Procedure is, how it works and is used, and controversies over its use to convict people unlawfully.

hnksolicitors.com

A SJPN cannot be used to prosecute an offence where a prison sentence is a possible outcome.

Therefore, a prosecution under the Railway Byelaws is ok via SJPN as prison is not a aposible outcome
Prison is a possible outcome for a prosecution under the Regulation of the Railways Act (although no-one ever gets sent to prison) so SJPN cannot be used for these prosecutions.

The high profile news stories last summer were generally because the rail industry incorrectly prosecuted people under the RoRA using the SJPN system which they were not allowed to do. The criminal justice system was not completely innocent in this either because they should have been thrown out before they were even heard....

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Thanks... Appreciate the feed back....

BTW.... It's really not me that has the fine...

Iam helping as I've dealt with the wife's car park fines in the past.. Although that's been easy compared to this

I get it looks that way... But I have only one on here for help, in order to help the person with the fine...
Anoyingly, it would seem iam. More worried about it than they are...


I have now sent copies of the email I sent form My address to them... They can then send it themselves, if no joy with phone calls tomorrow...


The phone number is 13p per minuet.. And thier mobile is not wrong correctly atm... So it's gonna cost me money isnt it

What a parlarva!

Just as a general comment - it's fine for you to act on your friend's behalf (act as their agent, to use the jargon) but you need to prove that you have their authority to do so. That's not difficult to do - they just need to write and sign a letter saying something like 'I <their name> appoint<your name> of <your address> to act on my behalf in matters involving<name of the railway company>.

But that does involve sending a letter which is a bit time consuming. What works almost as well is what you have ended up doing - writing letter letters and emails for your friend to write and send.

 

[galactica]

Good morning everyone,

After a phone call and finally managing to get through to the payment team, the final settlement has now been paid. I presume this is the end of the matter, and that the court documents don’t need to be sent back with a plea on them?

However, he’s still concerned that, even though the payment has been made, there might still be follow-up saying that he has to go to court or something similar. We weren't given a clear explanation as to why the payment couldn't be made earlier, but during the call, the customer service representative confirmed that the payment could now be processed.

Given the initial glitch, we’re just a bit worried that there might still be issues to resolve. Does anyone have any advice or experience with this?

Thanks in advance for any insights

 

[island]

Once the payment has been made, the usual process is for the case to be marked "not proceeding" and withdrawn from the court.

Administrative errors do happen, and it would be wise for the defendant to write to the court quoting the court URN, stating you have arrived at an out of court settlement, attaching the settlement offer, payment receipt, and any other relevant correspondence, and asking they note this on the case file as not proceeding.

 

[galactica]

Once the payment has been made, the usual process is for the case to be marked "not proceeding" and withdrawn from the court.

Administrative errors do happen, and it would be wise for the defendant to write to the court quoting the court URN, stating you have arrived at an out of court settlement, attaching the settlement offer, payment receipt, and any other relevant correspondence, and asking they note this on the case file as not proceeding.

Thank you, i take it the letter would be addressed to the same address as if he were sending back the plea pack?