Hi all - looking for some advice.
Traveled from Stockport to Bristol Temple Meads back in July. Had an advance ticket from Macclessfield (approx. 10 miles down the line from Stockport) to Bristol but boarded one stop early due to convenience.
On meeting the inspector offered to buy a ticket (had my bank card with me so could have paid there and then), she wanted my details. I queried this so she refused to sell me a ticket and said I'd be reported. Gave her my details.
Now got a letter threatening prosecution from Transport Investigations - have just written my response. The letter doesn't acknowledge I had a valid ticket for most of my journey (even though inspector took a photo of it). Haven't heard anything from XC at all - no warning, fine, etc. Inspector said to me at the time she would recommend no action was taken - but I haven't seen a copy of any report she has written. Am I entitled to this?
It doesn't explicitly state what the charge is - I am guessing fare evasion - but to jump straight to prosecution - is this normal? In my response I admitted I didn't have a valid ticket for Stockport - Macclesfield, but this is a first time and for a very small part of a much longer journey.
What is the chance of going to court? In my response I have again offered to pay a fine - what are the chances they will accept this? XC's website is not very helpful at all. Other than what's stated (about having a partial ticket) I don't have a defense other than ignorance I guess as have bought ticket on board trains many other times and never had a problem (at a later time on the same journey I ended up buying duplicate tickets as I couldn't find my ticket in a rush, on asking the conductor for a refund I was advised that in future it's better just to buy a ticket on board the train to avoid these kind of mistakes from happening - this was also XC)
I am about to start a job abroad for two years and now not sure whether I should go - I am also autisitc and don't know how I would cope in a court setting. Willing to pay whatever fine (believe the max is £1000) but want to avoid court no matter what - will co-operating fully be enough?
Traveled from Stockport to Bristol Temple Meads back in July. Had an advance ticket from Macclessfield (approx. 10 miles down the line from Stockport) to Bristol but boarded one stop early due to convenience.
On meeting the inspector offered to buy a ticket (had my bank card with me so could have paid there and then), she wanted my details. I queried this so she refused to sell me a ticket and said I'd be reported. Gave her my details.
Now got a letter threatening prosecution from Transport Investigations - have just written my response. The letter doesn't acknowledge I had a valid ticket for most of my journey (even though inspector took a photo of it). Haven't heard anything from XC at all - no warning, fine, etc. Inspector said to me at the time she would recommend no action was taken - but I haven't seen a copy of any report she has written. Am I entitled to this?
It doesn't explicitly state what the charge is - I am guessing fare evasion - but to jump straight to prosecution - is this normal? In my response I admitted I didn't have a valid ticket for Stockport - Macclesfield, but this is a first time and for a very small part of a much longer journey.
What is the chance of going to court? In my response I have again offered to pay a fine - what are the chances they will accept this? XC's website is not very helpful at all. Other than what's stated (about having a partial ticket) I don't have a defense other than ignorance I guess as have bought ticket on board trains many other times and never had a problem (at a later time on the same journey I ended up buying duplicate tickets as I couldn't find my ticket in a rush, on asking the conductor for a refund I was advised that in future it's better just to buy a ticket on board the train to avoid these kind of mistakes from happening - this was also XC)
I am about to start a job abroad for two years and now not sure whether I should go - I am also autisitc and don't know how I would cope in a court setting. Willing to pay whatever fine (believe the max is £1000) but want to avoid court no matter what - will co-operating fully be enough?