keysersoze
New Member
I got a settlement letter by GreaterAnglia for 115 pounds after being caught and questioned at London Stansted, I don't think I should be liable for it, and I want to completely refuse to pay it. It's not so much because of the amount, (though I am under universal credit and definitely struggling financially), but because of the circumstances themselves. I'd love to know what others think of it though, and if you have any advice or knowledge on how to approach the matter.
So, one fine early morning, I had booked a bus ticket with National Express, from Stratford to Stansted. Considering where I live, I thought it's the most practical way to get there. But to get to Stratford, I had to take the tube, but it got stuck between two stations for about 15-20 minutes because of a signal failure. Thus, I figured I was gonna miss the bus (it was the earliest tube of the day by the way, so there was no way of starting much earlier than I did) and quickly needed an alternative way to the airport so that I wouldn't miss my flight.
Upon a very stressful search, I figured that my only choice for the time was going by train from Liverpool Street. So I did that, I got on the train, and got to Stansted. On the way, I saw that it makes one stop at Bishop's Stortford before Stansted. I figured that since I had already spent 17 pounds on the other ticket and that it technically wasn't my fault that I missed that bus, it would make sense to pay a smaller fee, so I booked a ticket only for the part of Bishop's Stortford to Stansted. The total amount that I paid was 23 pounds, for both National Express and train, and considering I have a railcard, that's 10 pounds more than what I'd have to pay for only taking the train in first place.
When I got to Stansted, there was this really aggressive lady who asked me where I got on and everything. I'm not sure if I should have said that I got on at Bishop's Stortford, and refuse to give any other information, but as I was very much stressed at that time because of the whole situation, I told the full truth and explained everything showing her my National Express ticket, thinking that she would understand. Her response was: "Yeah but that's not our company, that's a different company. As far as we're concerned, it seems like you were trying to evade the fare".
I'm not British, I have no clue what the transportation companies are. I was under stress, I opened google maps and searched for the quickest way to the airport. For all I knew, they were all connected. And even though I told them the whole truth from the very beginning, and they made me sign that the details I've given them are all accurate, two months later they are threatening to prosecute me for fare evasion. Since another company called TFL ****ed me over in the first place, how about they try prosecuting them instead?
I wonder if anyone has dealt with them in the past and has any advice for challenging the fine, if it's worth remaining truthful saying I refuse to pay for it considering the entire circumstances (that's what I'd like to do ideally), or even change what I orignally said and just claim that I boarded at Bishop's Stortford. Or if you think that doing anything other than paying would only be to my detriment.
Apologies for the rant, any word of advice would be very deeply appreciated.
So, one fine early morning, I had booked a bus ticket with National Express, from Stratford to Stansted. Considering where I live, I thought it's the most practical way to get there. But to get to Stratford, I had to take the tube, but it got stuck between two stations for about 15-20 minutes because of a signal failure. Thus, I figured I was gonna miss the bus (it was the earliest tube of the day by the way, so there was no way of starting much earlier than I did) and quickly needed an alternative way to the airport so that I wouldn't miss my flight.
Upon a very stressful search, I figured that my only choice for the time was going by train from Liverpool Street. So I did that, I got on the train, and got to Stansted. On the way, I saw that it makes one stop at Bishop's Stortford before Stansted. I figured that since I had already spent 17 pounds on the other ticket and that it technically wasn't my fault that I missed that bus, it would make sense to pay a smaller fee, so I booked a ticket only for the part of Bishop's Stortford to Stansted. The total amount that I paid was 23 pounds, for both National Express and train, and considering I have a railcard, that's 10 pounds more than what I'd have to pay for only taking the train in first place.
When I got to Stansted, there was this really aggressive lady who asked me where I got on and everything. I'm not sure if I should have said that I got on at Bishop's Stortford, and refuse to give any other information, but as I was very much stressed at that time because of the whole situation, I told the full truth and explained everything showing her my National Express ticket, thinking that she would understand. Her response was: "Yeah but that's not our company, that's a different company. As far as we're concerned, it seems like you were trying to evade the fare".
I'm not British, I have no clue what the transportation companies are. I was under stress, I opened google maps and searched for the quickest way to the airport. For all I knew, they were all connected. And even though I told them the whole truth from the very beginning, and they made me sign that the details I've given them are all accurate, two months later they are threatening to prosecute me for fare evasion. Since another company called TFL ****ed me over in the first place, how about they try prosecuting them instead?
I wonder if anyone has dealt with them in the past and has any advice for challenging the fine, if it's worth remaining truthful saying I refuse to pay for it considering the entire circumstances (that's what I'd like to do ideally), or even change what I orignally said and just claim that I boarded at Bishop's Stortford. Or if you think that doing anything other than paying would only be to my detriment.
Apologies for the rant, any word of advice would be very deeply appreciated.
Last edited: