My phone died on a recent journey and I could not show my valid ticket. I have received a £145 fine and letter threatening prosecution from SWR. I would be very grateful if anybody here could answer some questions:
1. If I can demonstrate evidence of a valid ticket should/will they forgive the fine?
2. The fine is for £45, and the admin fee for £100. Is this standard? It seems to me that this effectively makes the fine £145. Note: this is the first letter I have received from them.
3. The guard on the train had already looked at my ticket. I was issued the fine at the Waterloo station exit gates. Is this mitigating circumstances?
4a. SWR's terms and conditions say, "If it runs out of battery in the middle of a journey, you may have to pay the appropriate fare or could face paying a penalty fare." I was not offered the opportunity to buy another ticket. Should I have been?
4b. If I had been offered that opportunity, and purchased a new ticket, could I then have claimed a refund when showing the original ticket.
5. I would note the following two tweets from Network Rail. Any thoughts?? https://twitter.com/nationalrailenq/status/1214907017971810304?lang=en-GB and also this thread: https://twitter.com/IAmTravel/status/1435907958177767428
Any advice gratefully received. But please don't lecture me about how I should have ensured there was enough battery on my phone. It is not helpful. I am aware of that fact. I travel often, and this time it just died.
Thanks!!
Max
1. If I can demonstrate evidence of a valid ticket should/will they forgive the fine?
2. The fine is for £45, and the admin fee for £100. Is this standard? It seems to me that this effectively makes the fine £145. Note: this is the first letter I have received from them.
3. The guard on the train had already looked at my ticket. I was issued the fine at the Waterloo station exit gates. Is this mitigating circumstances?
4a. SWR's terms and conditions say, "If it runs out of battery in the middle of a journey, you may have to pay the appropriate fare or could face paying a penalty fare." I was not offered the opportunity to buy another ticket. Should I have been?
4b. If I had been offered that opportunity, and purchased a new ticket, could I then have claimed a refund when showing the original ticket.
5. I would note the following two tweets from Network Rail. Any thoughts?? https://twitter.com/nationalrailenq/status/1214907017971810304?lang=en-GB and also this thread: https://twitter.com/IAmTravel/status/1435907958177767428
Any advice gratefully received. But please don't lecture me about how I should have ensured there was enough battery on my phone. It is not helpful. I am aware of that fact. I travel often, and this time it just died.
Thanks!!
Max