Fare evasion at Birmingham New Street station

[Chuksteve]

Hello everyone.

I have a pending case of fare evasion which occurred on Friday 12 July.

The ticket officer at the barrier checked my ticket and noticed I bought it at the time I was approaching the barrier.

I started the journey from Selly Oak station but bought that of Five Ways to Birmingham New Street station.

After checking my previous bookings he found out I had done the same in previous occasions March till July for 8times.

He questioned me and thereafter told me I would hear from their prosecutor.

I have been tensed as I have not heard anything from them up till now and I don’t know what the outcome will be or how to go about it.

I have learnt my lessons and don’t want to have a criminal record.

Please advise me on way to go about it.

 

[silexa]

Welcome to the forum.
This probably isn't going to help your situation, but the difference between a single from SLY-BHM and FWY-BHM is 0.30p. I do hope the 30p saving was worth the stress this is inevitably going to cause you - as these situations always do.
WMT have a history of looking quite far back into your purchasing history, and will almost always flag up anything that may be of 'concern' to them - so be ready to explain yourself, even in situations where you weren't fare evading.
I believe they can take up to 6 months to reach out to you, but WMT are usually reasonably quick form what I've seen - however you'll still just have to wait and see. There's no point in reaching out to them if you don't have a reference number etc.

Others will be along soon to provide more advice, but essentially there's nothing you can do except wait for WMT to reach out and make sure you now always pay the correct fare.

 

[Chuksteve]

Thanks for the reply Silexa. From what you have seen, do you think this will lead to a criminal conviction against me.

Welcome to the forum.
This probably isn't going to help your situation, but the difference between a single from SLY-BHM and FWY-BHM is 0.30p. I do hope the 30p saving was worth the stress this is inevitably going to cause you - as these situations always do.
WMT have a history of looking quite far back into your purchasing history, and will almost always flag up anything that may be of 'concern' to them - so be ready to explain yourself, even in situations where you weren't fare evading.
I believe they can take up to 6 months to reach out to you, but WMT are usually reasonably quick form what I've seen - however you'll still just have to wait and see. There's no point in reaching out to them if you don't have a reference number etc.

Others will be along soon to provide more advice, but essentially there's nothing you can do except wait for WMT to reach out and make sure you now always pay the correct fare.

Thanks for the reply Silexa. From what you have seen, do you think this will lead to a criminal conviction or record against me?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

From what you have seen, do you think this will lead to a criminal conviction or record against me?

If you engage positively with the investigating train company, reckon you should be able to negotiate a so-called "out of court settlement". This will likely cost you a low three figure sum towards WMR's investigation and admin costs, plus whatever they reckon the unpaid fare(s) is/are, for each moody-looking journey you've made. (Selly Oak to Birmingham New Street is something like £3.30 for an Anytime Day single).

 

[Chuksteve]

If you engage positively with the investigating train company, reckon you should be able to negotiate a so-called "out of court settlement". This will likely cost you a three figure sum towards WMR's investigation and admin costs, plus whatever they reckon the unpaid fare(s) is/are, for each moody-looking journey you've made. (Selly Oak to Birmingham New Street is something like £3.30 for an Anytime Day single).

Thank you very much. Your reply is quite helpful.

 

[Hadders]

West Midlands Trains will almost certainly check your online ticket purchase history and be in touch with you about this.

As noted above if you co-operate with WMT's investigation then I expect you will be offered an out of court settlement which will mean no prosecution or associated criminal record.

When they letter arrives post a redacted copy of it in this thread along with your draft reply and forum members will be happy to proof read it for you.

 

[Chuksteve]

West Midlands Trains will almost certainly check your online ticket purchase history and be in touch with you about this.

As noted above if you co-operate with WMT's investigation then I expect you will be offered an out of court settlement which will mean no prosecution or associated criminal record.

When they letter arrives post a redacted copy of it in this thread along with your draft reply and forum members will be happy to proof read it for you.

Thank you very much for the response. I will do that.

 

[Chuksteve]

I just got this letter from West Midlands Train this evening. I will write a reply tomorrow and also post here for your review. Please what do you think is my situation regarding the content of this letter? I am very nervous now.

 

[WesternLancer]

I just got this letter from West Midlands Train this evening. I will write a reply tomorrow and also post here for your review. Please what do you think is my situation regarding the content of this letter? I am very nervous now.

Not sure what you mean by ‘your situation’ but the situation is that they can prosecute you unless you reply to the letter and persuade them not to do that.

Your plan to draft a reply and post it here for people to check is the best next step for you to take.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@Chuksteve. How many times might you have travelled without holding a valid ticket for the entire journey? Is it just the eight or nine times, or possibly more than that?

 

[Chuksteve]

I

@Chuksteve. How many times might you have travelled without holding a valid ticket for the entire journey? Is it just the eight or nine times, or possibly more than that?

It is more than that. There were sometimes I boarded the train without a ticket.

 

[railfan99]

It is more than that. There were sometimes I boarded the train without a ticket.

Are we talking 15, 50, or 100 or more journeys?

 

[AlterEgo]

I

It is more than that. There were sometimes I boarded the train without a ticket.

and did you eventually buy a ticket on those occasions? If you travelled literally ticketless for the whole duration that is an undetectable offence in retrospect.

 

[Chuksteve]

Are we talking 15, 50, or 100 or more journeys?

It is just the 8 times on my Trainline app

and did you eventually buy a ticket on those occasions? If you travelled literally ticketless for the whole duration that is an undetectable offence in retrospect.

I travelled ticketless sometimes on the entire journey. Can’t they detect that looking back at the CCTV footage?

 

[AlterEgo]

I travelled ticketless sometimes on the entire journey. Can’t they detect that looking back at the CCTV footage?

How would you imagine they would find you on CCTV? Where would they even start?

 

[Chuksteve]

I just got this letter from West Midlands Train this evening. I will write a reply tomorrow and also post here for your review. Please what do you think is my situation regarding the content of this letter? I am very nervous now.

Hello everyone.

….Please review my response to them…..

I understand that fare evasion costs taxpayers millions of pounds every year and I am extremely sorry to have contributed to that.

I am also sorry for trying to hide and exonerate myself while answering the questions put to me by the revenue officer.

Since the incident I have been paying the full fare for every journey made from Selly Oak to Birmingham new street (14 August and 16 August) and I hope to continue likewise subsequently to ensure that I will not be fare evading again.

I would be very grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter out of court, and I am prepared to pay the outstanding fares and any administrative cost incurred. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond.

West Midlands Trains will almost certainly check your online ticket purchase history and be in touch with you about this.

As noted above if you co-operate with WMT's investigation then I expect you will be offered an out of court settlement which will mean no prosecution or associated criminal record.

When they letter arrives post a redacted copy of it in this thread along with your draft reply and forum members will be happy to proof read it for you.

 

[Haywain]

I am also sorry for trying to hide and exonerate myself while answering the questions put to me by the revenue officer.

Just take that out, it doesn’t help in the slightest.

Since the incident I have been paying the full fare for every journey made from Selly Oak to Birmingham new street (14 August and 16 August) and I hope to continue likewise subsequently to ensure that I will not be fare evading again.

Saying that you “hope to continue” paying the correct fare isn’t reassuring to the train company. They want to know that you will do so, not hope to.

 

[Chuksteve]

Just take that out, it doesn’t help in the slightest.

Saying that you “hope to continue” paying the correct fare isn’t reassuring to the train company. They want to know that you will do so, not hope to.

I understand that fare evasion costs taxpayers millions of pounds every year and I am extremely sorry to have contributed to that.

Since the incident I have been paying the full fare for every journey made from Selly Oak to Birmingham new street (14 August and 16 August) and I will continue likewise subsequently in every journey to ensure that I am not fare evading again.

I would be very grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter out of court, and I am prepared to pay the outstanding fares and any administrative cost incurred. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond.

 

[Haywain]

I understand that fare evasion costs taxpayers millions of pounds every year and I am extremely sorry to have contributed to that.

Since the incident I have been paying the full fare for every journey made from Selly Oak to Birmingham new street (14 August and 16 August) and I will continue likewise subsequently in every journey to ensure that I am not fare evading again.

I would be very grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter out of court, and I am prepared to pay the outstanding fares and any administrative cost incurred. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond.

You should start the letter with a bit referring to what you have received: "Thank you for your letter dated .... regarding the incident at .... on....".

likewise subsequently in every journey

Just say "... to do so...".

 

[Chuksteve]

You should start the letter with a bit referring to what you have received: "Thank you for your letter dated .... regarding the incident at .... on....".

Just say "... to do so...".

Thank you for your letter dated 13th August 2024 regarding the incident at Birmingham New Street station on the 12th August 2024.

I understand that fare evasion costs taxpayers millions of pounds every year and I am extremely sorry to have contributed to that.

Since the incident I have been paying the full fare for every journey made from Selly Oak to Birmingham new street (14 August and 16 August) and I will continue to do so in every journey to ensure that I am not fare evading again.

I would be very grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter out of court, and I am prepared to pay the outstanding fares and any administrative cost incurred. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond.

 

[notmyrealname]

You may already be planning to do this but I would start the letter with 'Dear Sir or Madam' or 'Dear Mr Smith', etc if you have a name.

And finish with either Yours faithfully if you don't have a name of the sender or Yours sincerely if you do.

 

[Chuksteve]

You may already be planning to do this but I would start the letter with 'Dear Sir or Madam' or 'Dear Mr Smith', etc if you have a name.

And finish with either Yours faithfully if you don't have a name of the sender or Yours sincerely if you do.

Yes I will do that. I only posted the body of the letter

 

[Haywain]

Thank you for your letter dated 13th August 2024 regarding the incident at Birmingham New Street station on the 12th August 2024.

I understand that fare evasion costs taxpayers millions of pounds every year and I am extremely sorry to have contributed to that.

Since the incident I have been paying the full fare for every journey made from Selly Oak to Birmingham new street (14 August and 16 August) and I will continue to do so in every journey to ensure that I am not fare evading again.

I would be very grateful for the opportunity to settle this matter out of court, and I am prepared to pay the outstanding fares and any administrative cost incurred. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond.

Looks fine now.

 

[Chuksteve]

Looks fine now.

Thank you for your help

 

[railfan99]

Just for interest, what does '*13ppm, plus your network charge' that's in italics mean?

 

[Haywain]

Just for interest, what does '*13ppm, plus your network charge' that's in italics mean?

It's the costs of calling a premium rate phone number - 13 pence per minute plus network charges.

 

[Chuksteve]

Just for interest, what does '*13ppm, plus your network charge' that's in italics mean?

It's the costs of calling a premium rate phone number - 13 pence per minute plus network charges.

Am I doing anything as regards that?

 

[Haywain]

Am I doing anything as regards that?

No, it doesn't apply to sending a letter.

 

[Chuksteve]

No, it doesn't apply to sending a letter.

Okay. Thank you

 

[Chuksteve]

Thank you all for your help. Although my response/mitigation was rejected, I got an offer of out of court settlement. I was asked to pay £175 admin cost and £3.30 for the fare.