Stupidly didn't provide my details after being caught for fare evasion

[Meliv]

Last night I travelled from Port Talbot to Bridgend on a Transport for Wales train. I couldn't buy my ticket on Trainline as the train was pulling up and the app wouldn't let me. I decided to buy the tickets at my destination, which I'd done previously and didn't understand would be an issue

When I arrived I asked a member of staff if I could buy a ticket and they told me as I'd passed through a station with a manned ticket booth and travelled without buying a ticket that I'd need to provide my details. I'm extremely wary of giving my personal details out and as I'd had a drink I figured if I just bought an all day single ticket for the same journey I could scan it and leave, which I did. When I later googled it I realised that not providing my details is a criminal offense and now I could be in real trouble

I totally accept what I did was wrong and I don't dispute that I should have given my details over. What I did was not to evade a fare or penalty it was done out of stupidity, ignorance and an assumption of the rules instead of just obeying what I was told. What I want to know now is, what should be next course of action be? I've contacted National Rail and Transport for Wales to try and explain the situation and I've been given a phone number for Transport Investigations. Their helpline opens tomorrow so I intend to call, explain, apologise profusely and offer any details they require. I don't expect or intend to evade any potential fines and will accept them without question. But I'm concerned that I could get a criminal record. Is it in my best interest to be proactive and reach out to them before they start an investigation? I see no need for them to investigate me and try to determine my identity when I'm willing to provide it freely with apologies

There is another wrinkle to this story in that, the journey was 2 stops. The station in the middle of my departure and arrival both start with P and I wasn't paying attention when I bought the ticket I used to leave. So on top of not providing details I've also accidentally scanned out with a ticket that wasn't from my point of departure. I'm also intending to tell Transport Investigations that and accept a separate fine for this other offense

I'm frantic with worry at the moment and I feel incredibly stupid. I don't know what I was thinking and I'm hoping showing a bit of remorse and being proactive will stand me in good stead. I don't expect to get any discount on any fines or any leniency I'm just hoping to avoid a court date and a record. Can you please let me know what you think my best course of action is from this point?

Thank you

 

[najaB]

. But I'm concerned that I could get a criminal record. Is it in my best interest to be proactive and reach out to them before they start an investigation?

In short, having provided no details it will be difficult (though not impossible) for TfW to take this any further. In all likelihood you will hear no more on the matter, so it is likely in your best interest to just wait and see what (if anything) happens.

 

[Meliv]

In short, having provided no details it will be difficult (though not impossible) for TfW to take this any further. In all likelihood you will hear no more on the matter, so it is likely in your best interest to just wait and see what (if anything) happens.

I scanned my Trainline app to leave the station though which is linked to my bank details. From what I've been reading on this forum, train operators have the ability to request customer data from Trainline so I feel like it's inevitable that they'll find me if they choose to log an investigation. I'm hoping getting in first might save me some hassle in the future

 

[pwharley]

It all depends on what the person you spoke to did after you left the station.

You imply you declined to provide personal details to him/her. They may have decided to take no further action after seeing you pass through the ticket gates with a ticket (albeit, the wrong ticket!).

However, they could have reported the matter. By checking gate scans, CCTV etc. it would be easy for TfW to identify you via Trainline and you may get a letter in a few weeks.

I suggest you wait to see what appears. You may/may not get away with it. If you wait, I recommend you avoid using Bridgend station for a few months, in case that person is on duty and you get recognised.

 

[Meliv]

It all depends on what the person you spoke to did after you left the station.

You imply you declined to provide personal details to him/her. They may have decided to take no further action after seeing you pass through the ticket gates with a ticket (albeit, the wrong ticket!).

However, they could have reported the matter. By checking gate scans, CCTV etc. it would be easy for TfW to identify you via Trainline and you may get a letter in a few weeks.

I suggest you wait to see what appears. You may/may not get away with it. If you wait, I recommend you avoid using Bridgend station for a few months, in case that person is on duty and you get recognised.

I'm working under the assumption that they did report it. I was with a group of friends who did provide their details after I'd left. They told me that the person in question was pretty angry and even called me a C-word

e; just for a bit more context. I did not verbally or physically threaten the member of staff. He walked about 15 feet away to do whatever paperwork he needed. I said to my friend out loud 'I'll just buy a ticket for the same journey' to which he shouted at me, 'You can't buy another ticket' and when I was leaving he shouted after me that I was on camera. Beyond explaining my situation I didn't say anything else to him. He seemed angry and the sort of person who would take this as a personal knock so I've be very surprised if he didn't report it

 

[John R]

Yes, it's possible that they will be able to trace you. Although if you scanned at a gateline I'm not quite sure how they interrogate that to get your details, and whether they would have to do it immediately. Others may be able to advise.

As for trying to "get in first", our advice here is that it is better to wait for them to contact you - maybe by the email that is linked to your Trainline account. If you haven't got a case reference, it will probably just make extra work for them trying to match up a case that may or may not exist. They won't thank you for that.

The good news is that if you are traced, provided you are apologetic and cooperative it should be possible to be offered an out of court settlement, though it will probably cost you a couple of hundred pounds.

 

[Haywain]

What I want to know now is, what should be next course of action be? I've contacted National Rail and Transport for Wales to try and explain the situation and I've been given a phone number for Transport Investigations. Their helpline opens tomorrow so I intend to call, explain, apologise profusely and offer any details they require.

Do not do this. It's like saying "please prosecute me", and would be completely daft. If you receive a letter you can then deal with the matter. On the other hand, you may not hear anything at all.

 

[najaB]

I scanned my Trainline app to leave the station though which is linked to my bank details. From what I've been reading on this forum, train operators have the ability to request customer data from Trainline so I feel like it's inevitable that they'll find me if they choose to log an investigation

Disclaimer: IANAL, so treat everything that follows as random speculation from "a guy on the Internet".

Yes, you are correct that TOCs seem to be increasingly using information that they've gleaned from ticket retailers such as TrainLine when conducting investigations. However, there may be GDPR issues with them trying it in this case. The reason being, in the cases we've seen so far the TOC already has the passenger's personal details (typically name, address and DOB) and are asking the ticket retailer for the history of ticket puchases.

AIUI, this wouldn't be classified as personal information under GDPR since there's no way to go from a list of ticket purchases to an identifiable individual.

However, what they would be requesting in this case is, quite literally, the definition of PII - they have a ticket and want the personal information of the purchaser. If I was the Data Controller at the TrainLine I would likely reject this request unless it was accompanied by a court order. I doubt that TfW would go down this route for a minor fare evasion case. Not that I would encourage you to lie, but even if they get that data, it would only prove that you were the person who bought the ticket, it wouldn't (by itself) be enough to prove you were the person who used it.

 

[John R]

I scanned my Trainline app to leave the station though which is linked to my bank details. From what I've been reading on this forum, train operators have the ability to request customer data from Trainline so I feel like it's inevitable that they'll find me if they choose to log an investigation. I'm hoping getting in first might save me some hassle in the future

Not that I would encourage you to lie, but even if they get that data, it would only prove that you were the person who bought the ticket, it wouldn't (by itself) be enough to prove you were the person who used it.

Given it went through the barrier at around the same time as the OP had the altercation with the member of staff, who will be able to identify them visually, I wouldn't want to rely on that theory as a possible defence.

 

[Meliv]

Given it went through the barrier at around the same time as the OP had the altercation with the member of staff, who will be able to identify them visually, I wouldn't want to rely on that theory as a possible defence.

I was the only person to go through the barrier at that moment so it's very likely that they can tie the ticket to me. It's just a question of can they get my details from Trainline. That's the unknown at the moment. I just don't know what to do for the best which is what's causing me anxiety

 

[najaB]

Given it went through the barrier at around the same time as the OP had the altercation with the member of staff, who will be able to identify them visually, I wouldn't want to rely on that theory as a possible defence.

Hence why I included "by itself" in the statement.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Taking your story as complete (you didn't buy a ticket in advance, when stopped you refused to give details (and everything got a bit shouty), you then bought a short ticket using your online account and scanned that to exit the station) you could be in quite a lot of trouble. But in my view the railway probably won't follow this up - ultimately you were a bit silly and I think that's how the railway will see it.

But you have very much brought yourself to the railway's attention. If you bump into any staff who were involved, they will remember you, and likely won't be keen to give you a second chance. So it's very important to make sure that you have the right ticket before travelling in future - and you behave yourself on the railway!

(Edited for typo; travel > trouble).

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

Do not contact TfW or Transport for Wales about this tomorrow. It could make matters worse. In any case Prosecution Departments and TIL won't discuss cases by phone and customer services will not be able to assist.

Wait for them to contact you, if you do get a letter from them then come back here and post a copy of it in this thread (with personal details redacted) and we can advise the best way to reply to obtain a favourable outcome.

 

[najaB]

I just don't know what to do for the best which is what's causing me anxiety

Put it out of your mind. You cannot do anything useful until they contact you, and they won't initiate court action before they contact you.

In short, until they contact you there's nothing to get stressed out over.