Got caught recently by Chiltern through using the Trainline app with a valid Network Railcard but tickets bought under “26-30”. This has been ongoing for a few months where I thought that my old railcard was still valid (there was no prompt to say otherwise) and most recent purchases I had it selected under the wrong railcard. I know I am guilty, but I have learned from this and won’t be making the same mistake again.
In the best case scenario like to pay any fines that might incur - but I understand that Chiltern will not take this lightly. There are a few questions I’d like to ask and I hope someone is able to answer:
1.) I bought my 26-30 railcard through Trainline on Jul22, in which I would have still been 30, and it was valid until Jul23. I managed to find my bank transaction showing this, but in the app there’s no way of proving that this purchase was for that railcard. Would anyone know how I could prove this when the letter comes through? (As they would likely assume that I was using the wrong railcard then too, unless their system is that advanced they could tell)
2.) I travel once or rarely twice a week and worked out to have used the wrong railcard (fare evasion) potentially totalling around ~30 times (which I worked out to be ~2400 worth at time of purchase + on full fare) over the past 8 months. Over this period of time, ticket prices have gone up. If I was offered to settle the amount - would those settlements be at today’s full fare price or when I purchased the tickets?
3.) Given the above, do you think it would be advisable to get a solicitor? It is a very large sum of money, but I want to avoid any convictions if possible as this would likely cost me my job. (I work in finance)
The ticket officer scanned my Trainline ticket barcode and looked at my DL, stating that they will send me a letter. The waiting is causing me lots of anxiety, I can’t stop thinking about it - but I’d appreciate if anyone could guide me in the right direction and hopefully to pay the settlement rather than having to go to court. Thank you.
In the best case scenario like to pay any fines that might incur - but I understand that Chiltern will not take this lightly. There are a few questions I’d like to ask and I hope someone is able to answer:
1.) I bought my 26-30 railcard through Trainline on Jul22, in which I would have still been 30, and it was valid until Jul23. I managed to find my bank transaction showing this, but in the app there’s no way of proving that this purchase was for that railcard. Would anyone know how I could prove this when the letter comes through? (As they would likely assume that I was using the wrong railcard then too, unless their system is that advanced they could tell)
2.) I travel once or rarely twice a week and worked out to have used the wrong railcard (fare evasion) potentially totalling around ~30 times (which I worked out to be ~2400 worth at time of purchase + on full fare) over the past 8 months. Over this period of time, ticket prices have gone up. If I was offered to settle the amount - would those settlements be at today’s full fare price or when I purchased the tickets?
3.) Given the above, do you think it would be advisable to get a solicitor? It is a very large sum of money, but I want to avoid any convictions if possible as this would likely cost me my job. (I work in finance)
The ticket officer scanned my Trainline ticket barcode and looked at my DL, stating that they will send me a letter. The waiting is causing me lots of anxiety, I can’t stop thinking about it - but I’d appreciate if anyone could guide me in the right direction and hopefully to pay the settlement rather than having to go to court. Thank you.
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