Deborah1988
New Member
- Joined
- 1 Jan 2019
- Messages
- 1
Happy New Year guys. Unfortunately I am starting the year with a bit of a tricky situation, and was wondering if anyone could help?
I received a Single Justice Procedure Notice (SJPN) on 19th December for travelling without a valid railcard whilst using a railcard discounted ticket between London Bridge and Uckfield back in August. I was stopped by an inspector and was unable to produce a railcard so was issued a fine.
Long story short, I didn't have a railcard so was asked to pay the excess fare which I paid at the time (with the ticket inspector present) at the station - along with the fine which I received a few weeks later and paid online.
A month later I received a letter saying the fine was still unpaid, (I don't know why the payment didn't go through - I checked but it's not on my bank statement) so a further fine was issued. I then tried to pay this but on the website it said that the case under my surname could not be found. I called the number which it gave on the letter to pay by phone but this just kept ringing and then would cut me off, so I contacted the website helpline number and the same thing happened.
I have since received the SJPN and am asked to plead guilty or not guilty. What I need to know is if I plead guilty but with my mitigating circumstances attached (I took screenshots of my call records and the website which shows my case wasn't found when I tried to pay) will I receive a criminal conviction? If I do receive a criminal conviction is this likely to show up/hinder my travels to America?
Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
I received a Single Justice Procedure Notice (SJPN) on 19th December for travelling without a valid railcard whilst using a railcard discounted ticket between London Bridge and Uckfield back in August. I was stopped by an inspector and was unable to produce a railcard so was issued a fine.
Long story short, I didn't have a railcard so was asked to pay the excess fare which I paid at the time (with the ticket inspector present) at the station - along with the fine which I received a few weeks later and paid online.
A month later I received a letter saying the fine was still unpaid, (I don't know why the payment didn't go through - I checked but it's not on my bank statement) so a further fine was issued. I then tried to pay this but on the website it said that the case under my surname could not be found. I called the number which it gave on the letter to pay by phone but this just kept ringing and then would cut me off, so I contacted the website helpline number and the same thing happened.
I have since received the SJPN and am asked to plead guilty or not guilty. What I need to know is if I plead guilty but with my mitigating circumstances attached (I took screenshots of my call records and the website which shows my case wasn't found when I tried to pay) will I receive a criminal conviction? If I do receive a criminal conviction is this likely to show up/hinder my travels to America?
Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.