Greater anglia - fare evasion

[puzzledking]

Early December 2024, got caught without valid ticket at the time. Didn't give my details to the inspector. After some time they left me alone. I bought the ticket whilst on train and showed them, they scanned it, they said they're gonna invalidate it, told them I was always going to buy ticket but was gonna miss train if I did.

As I got off station, ticket was invalid when I tried scanning it out. Revenue inspectors got my details down said ill have chance to explain in court. Its been 4 months no letter, how long do they take?

 

[Hadders]

We really need to have some ore details about exactly what happened to be able to comment but if Greater Anglia want to prosecute you in the Magistrates COurt then they need to lay the papers before the court within six months of the date of the offence.

We really need to know more details to be able to assist further:

- Which stations were you travelling between?
- What made your ticket invalid?
- Did you have a ticket? If so, how did you purchase it? WHat format was it - barcode or credit card sized ticket?
- Have you travelled with invalid tickets before?

 

[puzzledking]

We really need to have some ore details about exactly what happened to be able to comment but if Greater Anglia want to prosecute you in the Magistrates COurt then they need to lay the papers before the court within six months of the date of the offence.

We really need to know more details to be able to assist further:

- Which stations were you travelling between?
- What made your ticket invalid?
- Did you have a ticket? If so, how did you purchase it? WHat format was it - barcode or credit card sized ticket?
- Have you travelled with invalid tickets before?

The revenue inspectors said the person on train invalidated it as I shouldve bought the tickets 10 minutes prior to boarding as it states in law. I had bought the tickets as I was already on train so it's not a valid ticket.

I bought it from trip app, in form of QR code.


Never travelled with invalid tickets, the inspector even said, unsure if he was just being nice, I don't seem the person to be fare evading.

Can I assume may onwards I'm unlikely to be taken to court?

 

[Elecman]

There is no such requirement to buy a ticket 10 minutes prior to boarding , the requirement is to have a valid ticket BEFORE boarding the train

 

[furlong]

More details needed as requested.

And buying (the correct) ticket after boarding certainly does not make it invalid. (Otherwise how would any conductor ever be able to sell any ticket during the journey?)

 

[saismee]

More details needed as requested.

And buying (the correct) ticket after boarding certainly does not make it invalid. (Otherwise how would any conductor ever be able to sell any ticket during the journey?)

It is really important to know which service this happened on as most of GA's services operate as "pay trains" but intercity and Liverpool Street services do not.

There is no such requirement to buy a ticket 10 minutes prior to boarding , the requirement is to have a valid ticket BEFORE boarding the train

This is true. I'd imagine the OP misunderstood someone explaining that they should buy it 10 minutes prior (always a safe bet).

OP, if you have ever fare evaded before (or bought incorrect tickets at all), you should let us know as they may look through your purchase history. Not accusing you, it's just that a lot of people lie on these forums.

I doubt you'll go to court for a first-time, one-time mistake, likely just a hefty settlement.

 

[puzzledking]

It was Shenfield to Colchester,

Never fare evaded before, no idea why people would lie here, we've come seeking advice.

After the train left shenfield, straight away the ticket inspectors was behind me. Asked for ticket, which i failed to provide. I bought a ticket whilst on train through the app, showed them this afterwards. Scanned it, and said they've invalidated it as I shouldve bought it before I got on. And they walked off.

Didn't know they could cancel ticket, so when I tried exiting at the station the revenue inspectors with the body cams, said I travelled without valid ticket, took my side of story and said I can explain in court my side.

They did say if I had given details earlier on the train it wouldve been a small fine, now the court will listen and will decide to drop the case or fine me more.

 

[minderbinder]

Didn't give my details to the inspector. After some time they left me alone.

They did say if I had given details earlier on the train it wouldve been a small fine, now the court will listen and will decide to drop the case or fine me more.

Just to be clear, when you say that you didn’t give your details to the inspector, do you in fact mean that the inspector asked for your name and address and you refused to give them? This is quite an important point.

 

[Hadders]

It was Shenfield to Colchester,

How did you get through the barriers at Shenfield?

 

[John R]

It was Shenfield to Colchester,

Never fare evaded before, no idea why people would lie here, we've come seeking advice.

After the train left shenfield, straight away the ticket inspectors was behind me. Asked for ticket, which i failed to provide. I bought a ticket whilst on train through the app, showed them this afterwards. Scanned it, and said they've invalidated it as I shouldve bought it before I got on. And they walked off.

Didn't know they could cancel ticket, so when I tried exiting at the station the revenue inspectors with the body cams, said I travelled without valid ticket, took my side of story and said I can explain in court my side.

They did say if I had given details earlier on the train it wouldve been a small fine, now the court will listen and will decide to drop the case or fine me more.

It sounds from this as though you didn’t have a ticket on board when checked so at that point they have evidence that you committed a criminal offence, regardless as to whether you bought one later. (Else, wouldn’t everyone do that?) Also, not giving your details when requested is also a criminal offence.

Greater Anglia has everything it needs to convict you of two offences, but the good news is that if you cooperate if it does contact you then it will offer an out of court settlement in lieu of prosecution.

 

[Haywain]

if you cooperate if it does contact you then it will offer an out of court settlement in lieu of prosecution.

Probably.

 

[puzzledking]

I'm waiting for letter, but been 4 months unsure what's taking time.

Or do they normally take this long?

 

[Islineclear3_1]

I was going to ask the same question before Hadders beat me to it - which I note you haven't replied to:

How did you get through the barriers at Shenfield?

Or, had you got on an earlier station on the Elizabeth line and changed trains at Shenfield?