Caught with friends railcard - really scared!

[reggreg_2303]

Hi all,

I am new to this forum. Trying to seek some answers and what actions the train company might take.

Yesterday I was travelling from Tottenham Hale to Stansted Airport. I bought a ticket with discounted rate (16-25 railcard), I didn’t have a railcard on me (it expired) but I had my friend’s railcard’s screenshot - which like a stupid person I thought would not cause any problem.

I was asked for my railcard at stansted. And I showed the fake screenshot. When the office tried scanning it - it didn’t work. Then he checked my ID and realised that the railcard was not mine. He noted down my details - asked some questions and noted in his notebook and made me sign it. Made me fill a small form and also took pictures of my Passport and ID. He said he will report this incident to Greater Anglia and they will decide what they want to do.

I offered to pay the penalty fare there but he didn’t agree to that.

I am really scared that they might prosecute me for Fraud or something else. I have never done anything like this before and this is my first offence. I am also really embarrassed and ashamed about it.

What will be the outcome of this? As I have a job in a finance company and I am planning to apply to for my next job in few months. Will this spoil my record and show on my dbs? Also will they charge me with a really hefty fine?

 

[furlong]

While they could prosecute you for fraud, normally they use a standard less serious railway-specific offence, basically of deliberately not paying the correct fare for a specific journey you made. Sometimes they also check electronic records to see if you appear to have done the same thing before and also seek compensation for previous occasions. No guarantee, but typically with Greater Anglia, after you get a letter from them if you apologise and write a letter similar to others you'll see in this forum and it looks like you have learned your lesson, they settle out-of-court in return for compensation of the unpaid fare(s) and the costs they claim their investigation incurred (typically around £100).

 

[30907]

I offered to pay the penalty fare there but he didn’t agree to that.

A penalty fare is not appropriate when someone has committed a deliberate deception.

What will be the outcome of this? As I have a job in a finance company and I am planning to apply to for my next job in few months. Will this spoil my record and show on my dbs?

If you are convicted it may show on an enhanced DBS, depending on the charge.
In any case it would be foolish to conceal a conviction from an employer.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

Here's the advice I usually give to people who come here asking for help in similar circumstances to yourself.

You will receive a letter from the train company or an investigation company acting on their behalf. The letter will typically take a couple of months to arrive and can be sooner but shouldn't take longer than six months. The letter will say that they have received a report, are considering prosecuting you and asking for your version of events before deciding whether or not to do so. It is important that you engage with and reply to this letter. You might want to include the following in your reply:

- That you are sorry for what has happened
- What you have learned from the incident
- That you are keen to settle the matter without the need for court action
- Offer to pay the outstanding fare and the train company's administrative costs in dealing with the matter

Make sure your reply is short and concise, don't give a sob story - they've heard it all before. Most train companies are usually prepared to offer an administrative settlement (commonly known as an out of court settlement) for people who engage with the process and who haven't come to their attention before. There is no guarantee of this and the train company would be well within their rights to prosecute you in the magistrates court.

If you are offered a settlement the amount varies depending on the train company and circumstances but tend to be a few hundred pounds plus the outstanding fare. An out of court settlement might appear to be a fine, but it isn't and you won't have a criminal record as a result of accepting one.

Feel free to post a copy of the letter once it arrives (with personal detais redacted) along with your draft reply in this thread I'm sure forum members will be happy to proof read it for you.

 

[WesternLancer]

The thing you need to bear in mind (look at it from their point of view) is that you did not forget your railcard or forget to renew it and made a mistake, but you took a decision to specifically create a fake railcard that you hoped would not be noticed to get the discounted fare to which you were not entitled. IE you made a conscious effort to dodge a fare which is a criminal offence in England.

Having said that if you follow the advice up thread and return here for help in how to response to the letter they will send you (presumably you gave correct name and address where you can be contacted for next 6 months as if not it will go to court in your absence and the outcome of that is much more hassle for you) there is a very good chance of you being able to resolve this without court action, as mentioned above.