Lied about my details to ticket inspector, really worried and in need of some advice

Hi, I'll keep this short and sweet.

I got busted for riding with an expired railcard (saving approx 3 quid), panicked and ended up giving the ticket inspector some fake name and address. Since the guy took a picture of my ticket, with a ticket reference number, I am worried they can track down my name and address by looking at the card that I used to buy / collect the ticket with. I bought the ticket on my phone, and collected it at the station, having presented my debit card to the card reader.

I am considering reaching out to the trainline and attempting to rectify the situation with something along the lines of "Hello, I am emailing to correct some incorrect details given to you recently and would like to give the correct details and pay the fine as promptly as possible" --- basically grovelling to them and owning up to them in the hopes that they'll go easier on me.

I'm thinking if I email the TPExpress revenue office directly and clear things up, it'll make things easier for them and they wont escalate things to the BTP. Please let me know if this is a good idea or not.

I have heard elsewhere that they pretty much already know my address and that I should just wait for them to send me a letter. I am just worried that this means they'll escalate things further and it would be a lot harder to deal with if I leave them to figure it out themselves.

I very much regret what I did and panicked in the moment. I would like to pay the fine and avoid prosecution or criminal record by any means necessary. So any advice to help me ensure that would be greatly appreciated

If they have a digital ticket reference then it will be easy to track you, it's up to you what you decide to do next, which train operating company was it?

They are very used to people giving false details, so they are good at tracking you down. It's what they do. As to what happens next, it depends on the train company.
We see many cases on here where letters go to the wrong address and people get prosecuted without them knowing. This is then quite a tangle to sort out and can be costly.
My opinion is that if you can correct the details with the train company and you cooperate with them, that generally gives you the easiest and cheapest solution.

ikcdab said:

They are very used to people giving false details, so they are good at tracking you down. It's what they do. As to what happens next, it depends on the train company.
We see many cases on here where letters go to the wrong address and people get prosecuted without them knowing. This is then quite a tangle to sort out and can be costly.
My opinion is that if you can correct the details with the train company and you cooperate with them, that generally gives you the easiest and cheapest solution.

Click to expand...

Thank you, it was TPExpress. I just don’t want it to escalate any further than it has and for them to hit me with even worse charges

If I’ve understood your question correctly then it is TransPennine Express you need to advise of your correct details, not Trainline (who presumably already have them).

RPI said:

If they have a digital ticket reference then it will be easy to track you, it's up to you what you decide to do next, which train operating company was it?

Click to expand...

Trans Penine Express

Brissle Girl said:

If I’ve understood your question correctly then it is TransPennine Express you need to advise of your correct details, not Trainline (who presumably already have them).

Click to expand...

sorry yes, i meant to say train company

Welcome to the forum!

Do not contact Trainline about this, they cannot help you.

Giving false information is a serious matter, more serious than evading your fare. I would reach out to Transpennine Express to correct the issue. Note that you need to contact their Prosecutions Office, not their Customer Services department to do this.

Revenue Protection Compliance Manager
Hull Paragon Station
Platform 2 Ferensway
Kingston-upon-Hull
North Humberside HU1 3QX.

Alternatively, you can email [email protected]