SOUTHEASTERN FARE EVASION

[hunice]

Hi everyone,

I am hoping anyone can help me please a few weeks ago, I got on the train and got off at Woolwich station going to work, I went up the stairs and noticed the ticket inspector men and women, I was trying to avoid them and I was caught by a southeastern train enforcement officer who was underneath the stairs and stopped me. He questioned me why I did not go up the stairs. I was panicking a bit cause I wasn’t expecting anyone to be there. I just told him that I saw the ticket inspectors there and got nervous. He then asked for my details, and asked why I didn’t have the right fare. For most of the question I answered “I don’t know” because I realised he changed a few of my previous statement and I corrected him that I never said those things. I have received the letter and I am a bit scared and nervous as I am student and my future career is in the healthcare and don’t want it to affect my future with a criminal record. Does anyone have any advice for me, as I don’t want it to go to court.

I have attached my letter sent by southeastern below.

 

[AlterEgo]

When you say you didn't have the right ticket, what do you mean exactly? Where were you travelling from, and what, if any, ticket did you hold?

When you say Woolwich, do you mean Woolwich Arsenal station instead? This is manned by Southeastern. Woolwich is an Elizabeth Line station and doesn't have stairs.

You mention he wrote down things you did not say. Did you sign any statement to agree that it was truthful?

 

[jfollows]

Where did you travel from, and did you have a ticket of any sort?

 

[Gloster]

Do you mean that he actually wrote down statements that you did not make or that could not be regarded as a reasonable summary of what you did say? Or did he merely write something, but you don’t know what he wrote down.

 

[hunice]

Where did you travel from, and did you have a ticket of any sort?

Hi, thanks for your reply. I travelled from Slade Green station and didn't have a ticket. I know it was a bit stupid of me.

Do you mean that he actually wrote down statements that you did not make or that could not be regarded as a reasonable summary of what you did say? Or did he merely write something, but you don’t know what he wrote down.

Hi, yeah he wrote down some statements and I informed him that I didn't say that, then he showed me what he'd written and I corrected them which he noted down (he asked only 2 questions so far) then for the rest his questions, I replied “I don't know” cause I was anxious that he could write something I didn't say.

When you say you didn't have the right ticket, what do you mean exactly? Where were you travelling from, and what, if any, ticket did you hold?

When you say Woolwich, do you mean Woolwich Arsenal station instead? This is manned by Southeastern. Woolwich is an Elizabeth Line station and doesn't have stairs.

You mention he wrote down things you did not say. Did you sign any statement to agree that it was truthful?

Hi, thanks for your reply. I did not tap my card, and I was travelling from Slade Green station. Yes, I got off at Woolwich Arsenal station.

He wrote down some statements, and I informed him that I didn't say that; then he showed me what he'd written, and I corrected them (he asked only two questions so far). Then, for the rest of his questions, I replied, “I don't know” cause I was anxious that he could write something I didn't say.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum,

I suggest writing a short, concise reply to Southeastern mentioning the following points:

- That you are sorry for what has happened
- What you have learned from the incident
- That you are keen to settle the matter without the need for court action
- Offer to pay the outstanding fare and the train company's administrative costs in dealing with the matter

Although we cannot guarantee it, Southeastern are normally prepared to offer an out of court to people who co-operate with their investigation and who haven't come to their attention before. Expect to have to pay the fare avpided at the full Anytime rate in addition to an admin fee, typically £150. You will need to be in a position to pay the settlement in full within a few days of it being offered - they won't accept payment in installments.

Post a copy of your draft reply in this thread and forum members will proof read it for you.

 

[hunice]

Welcome to the forum,

I suggest writing a short, concise reply to Southeastern mentioning the following points:

- That you are sorry for what has happened
- What you have learned from the incident
- That you are keen to settle the matter without the need for court action
- Offer to pay the outstanding fare and the train company's administrative costs in dealing with the matter

Although we cannot guarantee it, Southeastern are normally prepared to offer an out of court to people who co-operate with their investigation and who haven't come to their attention before. Expect to have to pay the fare avpided at the full Anytime rate in addition to an admin fee, typically £150. You will need to be in a position to pay the settlement in full within a few days of it being offered - they won't accept payment in installments.

Post a copy of your draft reply in this thread and forum members will proof read it for you.

Hi, thanks to everyone who has replied and answered me so far. This is the letter I was able to draft. Please feel free to express your views on it.

 

[antharro]

Not bad. It's a bit wordy in places and runs on occasionally. A few points to consider:

- I don't care for the "I understand this behaviour is inappropriate". Was your behaviour inappropriate? I'd suggest skipping this entirely, it feels unnecessary and the paragraph reads fine without it.

- "I am keen and would be grateful..." could be shortened to "I would be grateful..."

- I would change "I want to offer to settle..." to "I would like to offer to settle..."

- I don't believe you are in a position to tell SE what you are willing to pay in settlement. You'll pay whatever they offer (within reason) to keep it out of court. So I don't care for the wording, "I am willing to pay x and x". I would suggest wording along the lines of "I understand there have been financial costs to SouthEastern Railway and I would like to offer to cover these costs." Or, "I would like to offer to pay the outstanding fare and cover SouthEastern's costs in dealing with this matter." You want to make it clear that you'll pay to keep this out of court but not quite hand over a blank cheque.

-Remove "Kind regards". You're not writing to a colleague or someone you're on familiar terms with. If you know the name of the person you're writing to, you would address the letter to them and sign it off with "Yours sincerely". If you don't know their name then you would sign it off with "Yours faithfully".

Have a little play around with it based on these suggestions, and if you'd like to post up another draft before you send it off, go for it. Lastly, assuming you're sending this by post, send it as a minimum by First Class Signed For, but better still, send it Special Delivery Guaranteed.

 

[hunice]

Not bad. It's a bit wordy in places and runs on occasionally. A few points to consider:

- I don't care for the "I understand this behaviour is inappropriate". Was your behaviour inappropriate? I'd suggest skipping this entirely, it feels unnecessary and the paragraph reads fine without it.

- "I am keen and would be grateful..." could be shortened to "I would be grateful..."

- I would change "I want to offer to settle..." to "I would like to offer to settle..."

- I don't believe you are in a position to tell SE what you are willing to pay in settlement. You'll pay whatever they offer (within reason) to keep it out of court. So I don't care for the wording, "I am willing to pay x and x". I would suggest wording along the lines of "I understand there have been financial costs to SouthEastern Railway and I would like to offer to cover these costs." Or, "I would like to offer to pay the outstanding fare and cover SouthEastern's costs in dealing with this matter." You want to make it clear that you'll pay to keep this out of court but not quite hand over a blank cheque.

-Remove "Kind regards". You're not writing to a colleague or someone you're on familiar terms with. If you know the name of the person you're writing to, you would address the letter to them and sign it off with "Yours sincerely". If you don't know their name then you would sign it off with "Yours faithfully".

Have a little play around with it based on these suggestions, and if you'd like to post up another draft before you send it off, go for it. Lastly, assuming you're sending this by post, send it as a minimum by First Class Signed For, but better still, send it Special Delivery Guaranteed.

Thank you so much for your reply. I'll get to editing.

I saw the feedback and made changes accordingly… thank you

 

[antharro]

You have a solid letter there. Get it sent and try to put it out of your mind for a little while until they get back to you. Good luck!

 

[Grvrdvicdr]

Thank you so much for your reply. I'll get to editing.

I saw the feedback and made changes accordingly… thank you

“I would like to offer to settle the matter out of court”. This isn’t something you offer, they do, so that shouldn’t be in the letter

 

[hunice]

Thanks everyone for your help. I have edited the advice given here and will now send the letter.

 

[cocoroo]

have you received any response from southeastern?

 

[Gloster]

have you received any response from southeastern?

If you have a problem please start your own thread. No two problems are exactly the same and good advice for one could be bad for another.

 

[hunice]

No, I haven't received a reply yet. I will update when I receive a reply. Thank you.

 

[hunice]

I received a court summons for next week Wednesday and have read here that some individual's out of-court settlement letters were not acknowledged. Should I also email or call them as well attaching my previously sent letter. I could see that the letter was delivered and signed for. I'm trying to avoid paying a huge sum of money to a lawyer

 

[AlterEgo]

You may be interested in this thread which just had an update: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...tober-30th-advice-needed.275883/#post-6998383

 

[hunice]

You may be interested in this thread which just had an update: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...tober-30th-advice-needed.275883/#post-6998383

Thank you very much

 

[WesternLancer]

I received a court summons for next week Wednesday and have read here that some individual's out of-court settlement letters were not acknowledged. Should I also email or call them as well attaching my previously sent letter. I could see that the letter was delivered and signed for. I'm trying to avoid paying a huge sum of money to a lawyer

Urgently get back in touch with them to see if they have received your previous letter - see the thread @AlterEgo links to as last post etc (post #13) is from the passenger there with a copies of what they then said again to press for court action to be dropped and settlement offered which it was.

e-mail them first and I guess if no response to that, ring them after 24 hours

 

[hunice]

Thank you very much

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you very much

I would politely mention your previous letter / response in what you send them now (ask if they have received it and attach it again so they can easily check the content) since you went to some trouble to write it - you don't want them to think you ignored their original letter to you and only the court papers have prompted you to engage with them.

 

[hunice]

I will thanks

I would politely mention your previous letter / response in what you send them now (ask if they have received it and attach it again so they can easily check the content) since you went to some trouble to write it - you don't want them to think you ignored their original letter to you and only the court papers have prompted you to engage with them.

I wanted to post my reply to the prosecution team to make sure it sounds good enough for a settlement.
Thank you everyone so far for your help so far I appreciate it.

Dear Southeastern,

I had previously written and sent a letter to the prosecution team on September 12, 2024, and showed that it was signed for on September 13. I am now writing concerning the magistrate court summon letter for a fare evasion incident sent to me on the 22nd of October. The hearing is happening on the 30th of October, 2024, before the Bexley Court at 1 pm. I deeply regret this situation, understand the seriousness of the situation, and acknowledge my mistake.

In light of the summons, I humbly request an opportunity to settle this matter outside court. I am committed to paying the liable cost of outstanding fare or penalty and administrative fees, with the sum of £150 towards the prosecution's cost. I am committed to resolving this matter promptly and amicably and also to reducing the burden on the courts if this can be resolved without a hearing.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my request. I look forward to your response and request to resolve this matter as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely.
“Name”

 

[Haywain]

the procreation team

Oo-er!!

 

[hunice]

Oo-er!!

Oo-er!!

Oopps typo. Sorry

 

[WesternLancer]

I will thanks


I wanted to post my reply to the prosecution team to make sure it sounds good enough for a settlement.
Thank you everyone so far for your help so far I appreciate it.

Dear Southeastern,

I had previously written and sent a letter to the prosecution team on September 12, 2024, and showed that it was signed for on September 13. I am now writing concerning the magistrate court summon letter for a fare evasion incident sent to me on the 22nd of October. The hearing is happening on the 30th of October, 2024, before the Bexley Court at 1 pm. I deeply regret this situation, understand the seriousness of the situation, and acknowledge my mistake.

In light of the summons, I humbly request an opportunity to settle this matter outside court. I am committed to paying the liable cost of outstanding fare or penalty and administrative fees, with the sum of £150 towards the prosecution's cost. I am committed to resolving this matter promptly and amicably and also to reducing the burden on the courts if this can be resolved without a hearing.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my request. I look forward to your response and request to resolve this matter as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely.
“Name”

make a reference to enclosing your previous letter and attach it to what you send

eg

Dear Southeastern,

I had previously written and sent a letter to the prosecution team on September 12, 2024, which I attach here for your ease of reference and showed that it was signed for on September 13. I am now writing concerning the magistrate court summon letter for a fare evasion incident sent to me on the 22nd of October. The hearing is happening on the 30th of October, 2024, before the Bexley Court at 1 pm. I deeply regret this situation, understand the seriousness of the situation, and acknowledge my mistake.

 

[hunice]

make a reference to enclosing your previous letter and attach it to what you send

eg

Dear Southeastern,

I had previously written and sent a letter to the prosecution team on September 12, 2024, which I attach here for your ease of reference and showed that it was signed for on September 13. I am now writing concerning the magistrate court summon letter for a fare evasion incident sent to me on the 22nd of October. The hearing is happening on the 30th of October, 2024, before the Bexley Court at 1 pm. I deeply regret this situation, understand the seriousness of the situation, and acknowledge my mistake.

Thank you!

Good morning, everyone. Thank you to everyone for helping me settle an out-of-court settlement. They replied this morning. I am grateful for everyone's input in helping me I have learnt my lesson and will be a good citizen now.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you!

Good morning, everyone. Thank you to everyone for helping me settle an out-of-court settlement. They replied this morning. I am grateful for everyone's input in helping me I have learnt my lesson and will be a good citizen now.

Good news - obv keep your payment proof for your records and keep it long term (over a year)
it may be worth following up with the Court before the court date it was listed for (or writing to the court with this) just to make sure the court are aware the case should have been withdrawn or to get confirmation that it has been withdrawn. Belt and braces. IIRC from prev cases here it can get hard to untangle if the court don't know this and a mix up means it gets put before the court anyway when it should not now be put before them - hopefully the chance of that is minimal but take every precaution now may save hassle later.