Hi guys,
I commute four times a week from Fratton to Cosham station (2 stops - £4.30 return) as part of my placement as a student nurse. On this occasion a couple of weeks ago I arrived at Fratton to find queues at the ticket machines were longer than usual and after waiting in the queue, my train pulled into the station. There are no ticket gates at Fratton yet so I boarded the train and went to find the guard. I asked him if i could get a return ticket and he attempted a contactless payment with my debit card. He said the payment didn't go through and that I could sort it out at the Cosham as we were just pulling in. (the card worked fine for me later though)
I left the train and approached a member of station staff and explained that I had attempted to purchase a ticket from the guard but the payment had failed. I showed him my return tickets for the previous 3 days and he took my details. He said SWR would be in touch to sort this out and that I should purchase a single to get back after work.
Just over a week later, I have a letter saying they have sufficient evidence to prosecute for "an offence or offences committed".
It gives me the option of settling out of court for £90 plus the £3.50 fare within 21 days - or a court summons.
Are these really the only options available to me? I have ticket receipts saved for the past four months as well as signed time sheets of my attendance at placement (as I get travel reimbursed) and this is the first time I have not been able to get a ticket before boarding. Could this serve as mitigating evidence?
As a student nurse, this threat of a criminal record worries me about my future employment prospects and I feel the fine is way disproportionate to my actions. Money is tight already and this is really going to make me struggle.
Any advice? Thanks guys
I commute four times a week from Fratton to Cosham station (2 stops - £4.30 return) as part of my placement as a student nurse. On this occasion a couple of weeks ago I arrived at Fratton to find queues at the ticket machines were longer than usual and after waiting in the queue, my train pulled into the station. There are no ticket gates at Fratton yet so I boarded the train and went to find the guard. I asked him if i could get a return ticket and he attempted a contactless payment with my debit card. He said the payment didn't go through and that I could sort it out at the Cosham as we were just pulling in. (the card worked fine for me later though)
I left the train and approached a member of station staff and explained that I had attempted to purchase a ticket from the guard but the payment had failed. I showed him my return tickets for the previous 3 days and he took my details. He said SWR would be in touch to sort this out and that I should purchase a single to get back after work.
Just over a week later, I have a letter saying they have sufficient evidence to prosecute for "an offence or offences committed".
It gives me the option of settling out of court for £90 plus the £3.50 fare within 21 days - or a court summons.
Are these really the only options available to me? I have ticket receipts saved for the past four months as well as signed time sheets of my attendance at placement (as I get travel reimbursed) and this is the first time I have not been able to get a ticket before boarding. Could this serve as mitigating evidence?
As a student nurse, this threat of a criminal record worries me about my future employment prospects and I feel the fine is way disproportionate to my actions. Money is tight already and this is really going to make me struggle.
Any advice? Thanks guys