Recent content by Puffing Devil

And Google. It's finally nudged me away from the Orange Card for short trips.

Emily - please start your own thread with the details of your case. You'll get personal advice tailored to your own, specific, situation. Also - if your username is your full and proper name, you should change it - Ollierail has the right idea :-)

It's a pragmatic decision for you and your sister that will only cost £50 more, and perhaps your time and effort are worth more than £50 to make it go away. It is frustrating to see Train Companies ignore the legislation through negligence or deliberate action, though I fully respect your...

I say do this only as the "next best thing." Entering a not guilty plea to the SJPN with a cover letter puts the court on notice of what's likely to follow. If WMT does not withdraw the matter, then there will be a court appearance where an application to stay proceedings can and should be made...

Absolutely - I should have included that. The OP can write the cheque or arrange the PO.

West Midlands Trains should have written to request payment of the penalty fare, which I believe will now be £105.40. They could then start civil recovery measures, perhaps using a debt collection agency and a county court claim. Personally, I would write to both the court and cross copy the...

If it was a penalty fare, and it was appealed, then there can be no prosecution. Firstly get all the correspondence you can regarding the penalty fare and post it here, with names, addresses and references hidden. We can then advise on the next steps.

This is an unfortunate mess. Reopening the case can effectively reset the matter back to the first hearing, though doesn't guarantee a retrial that would be automatic with a statutory declaration. It sounds as if the TOC (TPE or Northern?) has failed to make proper adjustments for your...

Caught in possession of the fake railcard, history of the purchase of tickets with a railcard when none was held. I'd say that was beyond reasonable doubt. Last year, Northern raised the flag of using the Fraud Act to prosecute fare evaders. The letter posted by the OP is very specific about...

I agree, though I recognise that the legal process is unfamiliar and frightening for many people. It can be worth paying for professional help if that's how they feel. Also, it can be better to rely on a tangible person than an anonymous internet forum. As @Haywain says, please do share with...

Also, possessing and using the fake (fraudulent) railcard is a slam dunk prosecution win under the Fraud Act, even if it is a single occurrence.

Agree - stick on an electric bus with cycle carrying facilities. Yes - with a single car there's unlikely to be more than 2 spaces. And there's always the ominous warning given by many TOCs, here's TfW's

That is true if they stick to a railway offence. This is clear-cut fraud with no prosecution time limit. Possession of the fake railcard itself is enough for a conviction under the Fraud Act.

Agreed - useless for group of more than two wanting to travel out/back into the hills. And increasing cycling it touted as one of the benefits. You couldn't make it up.

BR Fares shows no restrictions, though most other Super Off Peak fares on the line to Crewe and MKC have "Route LNW" or "Route Avanti" only. I'm wondering if this has been missed somewhere, but it still in the system. The only way to check would be to buy a ticket and see if it was printed as...