settlement of £2422 for discounted tickets over time

[AlterEgo]

Yes I had a face to face interview and was very open and honest with them about the evaded fares over a long period of time

Were you accompanied by a solicitor at this interview? Were you placed under caution?

 

[dee.monae]

I'm assuming you didn't have professional representation at this interview. In which case, if you were very open they likely have a large amount of information that would be of use to them in a prosecution. It also seems fairly apparent that they would have put some effort into working out the settlement figure- so I agree it's unlikely they will agree to reduce it.

I hope this goes without saying, but you've been caught twice now. You need to make sure you don't get caught a third time.

I'm assuming you didn't have professional representation at this interview. In which case, if you were very open they likely have a large amount of information that would be of use to them in a prosecution. It also seems fairly apparent that they would have put some effort into working out the settlement figure- so I agree it's unlikely they will agree to reduce it.

I hope this goes without saying, but you've been caught twice now. You need to make sure you don't get caught a third time.

Were you accompanied by a solicitor at this interview? Were you placed under caution?

Yes i was placed under caution and i did not have any professional representation, looking back i wish I did as they will probably use things against me

I'm assuming you didn't have professional representation at this interview. In which case, if you were very open they likely have a large amount of information that would be of use to them in a prosecution. It also seems fairly apparent that they would have put some effort into working out the settlement figure- so I agree it's unlikely they will agree to reduce it.

I hope this goes without saying, but you've been caught twice now. You need to make sure you don't get caught a third time.

Yes most definitely, I have gotten a railcard and have been using this In the interview i made them aware of this and they acknowledged it also.

 

[AlterEgo]

Yes i was placed under caution and i did not have any professional representation, looking back i wish I did as they will probably use things against me

Well it is too late now but attending an interview under caution and answering questions without representation is not usually going to attend well.

In light of this I would recommend paying the settlement as soon as possible.

 

[dee.monae]

Well it is too late now but attending an interview under caution and answering questions without representation is not usually going to attend well.

In light of this I would recommend paying the settlement as soon as possible.

May I ask the reason for this please?

 

[AlterEgo]

May I ask the reason for this please?

The company has secured, without much effort, extensive admissions from you which you did not have to give.

If you stay silent, the company normally prosecutes you for one offence (the time you were caught, for which they have extensive evidence) and then may try to make a large compensation claim in the magistrates' court to go along with your sentence. That large sum can be challenged in court by your solicitor - even if it is just the court duty solicitor. The solicitor can ask "How have you worked that out, please?" "Do you have any evidence the accused travelled on all of these tickets you've presented the court in this big file?" and so on. Even if it doesn't get to court, a solicitor may still be helpful in negotiating an out of court settlement down.

However, your freely given admission prevents this from happening in a meaningful way, and I recommend paying the settlement if avoiding court is a priority for you.

 

[Iskra]

The company has secured, without much effort, extensive admissions from you which you did not have to give.

If you stay silent, the company normally prosecutes you for one offence (the time you were caught, for which they have extensive evidence) and then may try to make a large compensation claim in the magistrates' court to go along with your sentence. That large sum can be challenged in court by your solicitor - even if it is just the court duty solicitor. The solicitor can ask "How have you worked that out, please?" "Do you have any evidence the accused travelled on all of these tickets you've presented the court in this big file?" and so on. Even if it doesn't get to court, a solicitor may still be helpful in negotiating an out of court settlement down.

However, your freely given admission prevents this from happening in a meaningful way, and I recommend paying the settlement if avoiding court is a priority for you.

To be fair, having a solicitor and going through all the processes you have described cost significant time and money.

£2k doesn't seem that bad a value to just make the problem go away.

 

[AlterEgo]

To be fair, having a solicitor and going through all the processes you have described cost significant time and money.

Not if you qualify for legal aid for the court part, but otherwise, you are correct.

£2k doesn't seem that bad a value to just make the problem go away.

True, and I still recommend the OP settles.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Others will elaborate but the settlement figure has been calculated based upon the train company's losses and will include costs and probably a victim surcharge

If a settlement has been offered to keep this out of court and avoid a criminal record, then you need to think very seriously about how you're going to raise the money quickly.

Ask family/friends, can you earn some pocket money?

 

[dee.monae]

Others will elaborate but the settlement figure has been calculated based upon the train company's losses and will include costs and probably a victim surcharge

If a settlement has been offered to keep this out of court and avoid a criminal record, then you need to think very seriously about how you're going to raise the money quickly.

Ask family/friends, can you earn some pocket money?

I do not want to be a burden to anyone, so i am currently working 2 jobs to raise the money

 

[AlterEgo]

I do not want to be a burden to anyone, so i am currently working 2 jobs to raise the money

That settlement will need to be paid quickly. What is the deadline on EMR's correspondence?

 

[dee.monae]

i have until the 15th of june to pay this

That settlement will need to be paid quickly. What is the deadline on EMR's correspondence?

 

[nanstallon]

If I were you, I'd pay the settlement offered, to avoid having a criminal conviction, but I would want to be certain that this would then draw a line under the past so that no other TOC could take action against you. Safest bet may be to get a quick loan from friends/ family (not a loanshark) in order to meet the deadline.

If you really can't raise the full amount by the deadline, they may be amenable to an extension of time, but only if you pay a substantial amount by the deadline. They won't want your case 'on their books' for ages. A chat on the phone (be careful you don't blurt out any more about the past than you have already done), may sort it out, but don't come across as stroppy. I'm afraid they have the upper hand.

 

[dee.monae]

If I were you, I'd pay the settlement offered, to avoid having a criminal conviction, but I would want to be certain that this would then draw a line under the past so that no other TOC could take action against you. Safest bet may be to get a quick loan from friends/ family (not a loanshark) in order to meet the deadline.

If you really can't raise the full amount by the deadline, they may be amenable to an extension of time, but only if you pay a substantial amount by the deadline. They won't want your case 'on their books' for ages. A chat on the phone (be careful you don't blurt out any more about the past than you have already done), may sort it out, but don't come across as stroppy. I'm afraid they have the upper hand.

Will definitely take this on board thank you so much