Fake name, real address

[JazzDan69]

Hi. I’m new here because I’m confused. I recently took a trip from Huddersfield to Manchester Piccadilly and a TPI identified i and my friend. I have a railcard but I left it at home. My friend didn’t have one. So we claimed to leave it home. I gave a fake name but my real address, and now I’ve been issued an intent to prosecute letter. What can I do. I’m so confused. It’s not my name but I can be identified at the address of the TPI comes or cross checks cctv. What should I do? Should I ignore the letter or fess up and provide my real name and railcard

 

[gray1404]

What sort of Railcard do you hold? It really is a shame that you gave incorrect information because you are allowed to forget your Railcard once a year.

 

[JazzDan69]

What sort of Railcard do you hold? It really is a shame that you gave incorrect information because you are allowed to forget your Railcard once a year.

It’s a 16-25

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Hi - I have asked for your duplicate thread to be merged into this one: it makes it easier for everyone to follow the discussion.

Hi. I’m new here because I’m confused. I recently took a trip from Huddersfield to Manchester Piccadilly and a TPI identified i and my friend. I have a railcard but I left it at home. My friend didn’t have one. So we claimed to leave it home. I gave a fake name but my real address, and now I’ve been issued an intent to prosecute letter. What can I do. I’m so confused. It’s not my name but I can be identified at the address of the TPI comes or cross checks cctv. What should I do? Should I just respond on the letter with my real name and show proof that I have a railcard? Or will the name I already gave have me done

I'm going to guess that you now think you should have given your real name, but let's start from where we are. I think your best bet is the bit I have put in italics.

 

[JazzDan69]

Hi - I have asked for your duplicate thread to be merged into this one: it makes it easier for everyone to follow the discussion.


I'm going to guess that you now think you should have given your real name, but let's start from where we are. I think your best bet is the bit I have put in italics.

I’m just scared that since I gave a fake name they can decide to pursue a prosecution. Which is a whole lot worse. Because they might feel I’m trying to avoid paying for anything

 

[Fawkes Cat]

I’m just scared that since I gave a fake name they can decide to pursue a prosecution. Which is a whole lot worse. Because they might feel I’m trying to avoid paying for anything

It's not perfect and there is a risk that you could be charged with having given a false name. But the other options are
- don't engage at all: this will end up in court (and a false name won't get you out of that)
- present your Railcard while using the false name - but the railway will notice the discrepancy and you will be in more trouble
- admit now to the false name, putting things right as soon as you can.

Of the three options, admitting now what you have done is the least worst.

 

[JazzDan69]

It's not perfect and there is a risk that you could be charged with having given a false name. But the other options are
- don't engage at all: this will end up in court (and a false name won't get you out of that)
- present your Railcard while using the false name - but the railway will notice the discrepancy and you will be in more trouble
- admit now to the false name, putting things right as soon as you can.

Of the three options, admitting now what you have done is the least worst.

Just an update, I sent my rail card with my name and just added one of the fake names as a middle name when I sent the email. And it has been resolved. Thanks

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Just an update, I sent my rail card with my name and just added one of the fake names as a middle name when I sent the email. And it has been resolved. Thanks

Thanks for letting us know. Good to hear it's been resolved.

 

[WesternLancer]

Just an update, I sent my rail card with my name and just added one of the fake names as a middle name when I sent the email. And it has been resolved. Thanks

Good to hear.

Just a reminder as up thread - the policy on this is that you are only allowed a get off for forgetting railcard once per year (presumably once in every 12 months) - so make sure you have it with you next time etc as now they will have this on record and if the same problem happens again I assume they would not agree to let you off.

 

[gray1404]

Just an update, I sent my rail card with my name and just added one of the fake names as a middle name when I sent the email. And it has been resolved. Thanks

You are very lucky indeed. Giving false details is an offence in its own right.

 

[MotCO]

That's good news. I hope one of the lessons you have learnt is that in most walks of like, honesty is the best policy.

I also think it is important that you take steps to ensure you always have your railcard with you; you are allowed one 'left at home' a year, so you have no further chances. Also, make a note somewhere (on your phone?) to remind you to renew it just before it expires. We see numerous threads where people are accidentally travelling with a railcard which expired months ago