Hi, I’m in need of advice here ... have made a huge mistake which I have learnt from and will not do again.
I was was caught travelling with a ticket discounted using a railcard that was expired by over 3Months (which I had not realised). The railcard wasn’t mine but my sisters. I assumed that with expired railcards, they would just make you pay the difference. However, the inspector confiscated the rail card and then made me put down my details. As I had already given them her rail card, I had to put down her details and not mine. The inspector then took my phone and took pictures of my online Trainline ticket details on their phone which I’m sure is going to be used as evidence. I cooperated with them and even offered to pay the difference which the refused and said that they where instead going to further this issue and I will receive a letter from the prosecuting department for Greater Anglia, they made me sign and say that I will be willing to cooperate with them and they told me that when I receive a letter I should respond. At this point they did not know or at least mention that I was different to the person on the railcard.
it’s been 2weeks and I have just received a letter saying “ a person giving the name and address above was questioned by a member of rail staff about the payment of a rail fare... all the above evidence is being considered as to whether legal proceedings are appropriate” in a nutshell they are asking for my side of the story.
I’ve told my sister and she is upset of course, I don’t know whether I should confirm it is her and then apologise and ask for a settlement outside of court or just confess that it is me, will they be able to know from the ticket information that it is two different people.
Issue is I’ve already paid a penalty fare in the past ( I had bought a valid ticket, but it wasn’t downloaded properly as it was my first time having used the app and so I didn’t know that was what I had to do, I showed them receipts and was able to download and show them the ticket but they still sent me a penalty fare) I’ve read on some threads that past offences would make it impossible for an out of court settlement. I've also made trips with that same rail card since it has expired.
I’ve made a huge mistake and with the profession I’m going into I can’t have a criminal record. I’m genuinely so sorry and I won’t ever do it again, that same day I bought a new return ticket just so as not to make the same mistake despite already having a return with a railcard.
what should I do and how should I respond I am willing to pay a huge amount if I can settle this outside of court - I don’t know where I can get legal advice from either. Please help me out.
I was was caught travelling with a ticket discounted using a railcard that was expired by over 3Months (which I had not realised). The railcard wasn’t mine but my sisters. I assumed that with expired railcards, they would just make you pay the difference. However, the inspector confiscated the rail card and then made me put down my details. As I had already given them her rail card, I had to put down her details and not mine. The inspector then took my phone and took pictures of my online Trainline ticket details on their phone which I’m sure is going to be used as evidence. I cooperated with them and even offered to pay the difference which the refused and said that they where instead going to further this issue and I will receive a letter from the prosecuting department for Greater Anglia, they made me sign and say that I will be willing to cooperate with them and they told me that when I receive a letter I should respond. At this point they did not know or at least mention that I was different to the person on the railcard.
it’s been 2weeks and I have just received a letter saying “ a person giving the name and address above was questioned by a member of rail staff about the payment of a rail fare... all the above evidence is being considered as to whether legal proceedings are appropriate” in a nutshell they are asking for my side of the story.
I’ve told my sister and she is upset of course, I don’t know whether I should confirm it is her and then apologise and ask for a settlement outside of court or just confess that it is me, will they be able to know from the ticket information that it is two different people.
Issue is I’ve already paid a penalty fare in the past ( I had bought a valid ticket, but it wasn’t downloaded properly as it was my first time having used the app and so I didn’t know that was what I had to do, I showed them receipts and was able to download and show them the ticket but they still sent me a penalty fare) I’ve read on some threads that past offences would make it impossible for an out of court settlement. I've also made trips with that same rail card since it has expired.
I’ve made a huge mistake and with the profession I’m going into I can’t have a criminal record. I’m genuinely so sorry and I won’t ever do it again, that same day I bought a new return ticket just so as not to make the same mistake despite already having a return with a railcard.
what should I do and how should I respond I am willing to pay a huge amount if I can settle this outside of court - I don’t know where I can get legal advice from either. Please help me out.