Hi everyone I'm new to this forum so I apologise if this is under the wrong topic!
The Situation: travelled from Nottingham to St Pancras on the 13.28 train using an advance ticket I'd purchased online a couple of days previously. I'd had to fly home early from holiday that morning after finding out my boyfriend had been admitted to hospital, therefore I had no proof of address or my young persons railcard; I hadn't seen much point taking them away with me.
I had realised my mistake, but didn't have time at the station to explain and pay the difference to a full fare ticket, I'd hoped to do that on board. I explained this to the ticket officer, who refused to let me pay the difference. She issued me with an unpaid fare notice of £74.50 (she said this was the price of a single ticket, despite having looked online at a full price ticket which cost £54.50) I have 21 days to pay this or appeal. As I had no proof of address I gave a false one, which she has ticked as not being verified.
For the second part of my journey I went to the ticket office at the station in London and was allowed to pay the excess to a full priced ticket.
Questions: Do I have grounds for appeal? I know I have broken the the rules and regulations of my railcard, £74.50 just seems a bit steep considering the circumstances, and how there seems to be such a huge difference between how difference ticket conductors treat you (being allowed to pay the difference at the station in London). Unpaid/penalty fares are designed for people who deliberately avoid buying tickets, if I send a copy of my railcard along with proof of other valid journeys using my railcard (this is the first time I've travelled without it) will this be enough for an appeal?
Can they prosecute me without a verified address? My name and date of birth had been verified however as I had my passport
Finally, if I don't have grounds for an appeal can I challenge them for overcharging me? The price of a single ticket from Nottingham to St Pancras on that train was £20 cheaper than my unpaid fare notice states.
I know a lot of these queries end up with the same outcome; just pay the fare and accept you made a mistake, which would be simple if I could afford it! I would be grateful for any help anyone can offer, thank you.
The Situation: travelled from Nottingham to St Pancras on the 13.28 train using an advance ticket I'd purchased online a couple of days previously. I'd had to fly home early from holiday that morning after finding out my boyfriend had been admitted to hospital, therefore I had no proof of address or my young persons railcard; I hadn't seen much point taking them away with me.
I had realised my mistake, but didn't have time at the station to explain and pay the difference to a full fare ticket, I'd hoped to do that on board. I explained this to the ticket officer, who refused to let me pay the difference. She issued me with an unpaid fare notice of £74.50 (she said this was the price of a single ticket, despite having looked online at a full price ticket which cost £54.50) I have 21 days to pay this or appeal. As I had no proof of address I gave a false one, which she has ticked as not being verified.
For the second part of my journey I went to the ticket office at the station in London and was allowed to pay the excess to a full priced ticket.
Questions: Do I have grounds for appeal? I know I have broken the the rules and regulations of my railcard, £74.50 just seems a bit steep considering the circumstances, and how there seems to be such a huge difference between how difference ticket conductors treat you (being allowed to pay the difference at the station in London). Unpaid/penalty fares are designed for people who deliberately avoid buying tickets, if I send a copy of my railcard along with proof of other valid journeys using my railcard (this is the first time I've travelled without it) will this be enough for an appeal?
Can they prosecute me without a verified address? My name and date of birth had been verified however as I had my passport
Finally, if I don't have grounds for an appeal can I challenge them for overcharging me? The price of a single ticket from Nottingham to St Pancras on that train was £20 cheaper than my unpaid fare notice states.
I know a lot of these queries end up with the same outcome; just pay the fare and accept you made a mistake, which would be simple if I could afford it! I would be grateful for any help anyone can offer, thank you.