South West Trains Penalty

wannaberichbtch

I worked for an agency for South west trains when these penalty fares were introduced about 6 years ago. The company had to do something as they were losing millions through fare dodging, and people would concoct the most elaborate excuses for not paying. If for any reason you board a train with no ticket you should find the guard immediately (Every train has one) and buy one. Revenue staff (Inspectors) are targeted to impose a certain number of penalty fares per month, and face investigation if they fail to meet their target. You are in a situation where it is your word against their's and by exiting the train without paying are compromised. I woud pay the fine, and put it down to lesson learnt. Not only could it result in a criminal record and restrict foreign travel, it could also impede you in future employment options.

kevin123

Hi,

Once again yes I know I should of had a ticket but I am on here for advice.

I havent had a letter to summons me to court yet and the offence was over 7 months ago. Can they still prosecute me in court?

Many thanks.

Laz123

I got a lot of help from Travel Watch when I was 'done' by SWT http://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/

BTW why is it these forums are frequented by a lot of 'Judge Judys'?

muffintop

kevin123 wrote: »

Hi,

Once again yes I know I should of had a ticket but I am on here for advice.

I havent had a letter to summons me to court yet and the offence was over 7 months ago. Can they still prosecute me in court?

Many thanks.

I wouldn't have thought so. Fare evasion is probably not subject to a greater penalty than 6 months' imprisonment and a £5,000 fine and so is probably only a summary offence. I can't find the exact legislation, but that may be because there is apparently no criminal offence available if this evening standard article is to be believed:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23731140-details/10+ways+to+avoid+penalty+fares+on+trains/article.do

Firefox1975

OP

Do nothing

This will NOT go to court - they willing stated they have spent £200 on Admin (Probably a lie) They cannot put a warrant out for your arrest (You haven;t been proved to do anything wrong yet)

IF a court summons arrives - go along and tell the judge you haven;t got a clue what these people are talking about. Just tell your story like you told us and say that you have not received ANYTHING from them since January! (Phone calls don't count - it could be anyone ringing and anyone answering)

They have already stated they will not put anything in writing which basically means they have no proof of correspondence with you.

They are trying it on with no proof and will not chase this.

no wonder they keep letting you pay "whenever" it;s either that or nothing as far as they are concerned!

ShaneUK

Quite a few years ago (17 perhaps!) I too got fined, and to this day, I still don't agree with it!

I lived in a very small village at the time in Kent, and the local train station has no ticket machines, but it did have a permit to travel machine. This was out of order (the red light was on to indicate this). I had no choice but to board the train without either a ticket or a permit to travel, as I was on my way to a job interview.

I had been using the train most of the week for various job interview trips, and it had been the same conductor each day, and she had been fine with me purchasing on the train when she came round. However, on this occassion - the inspectors were onboard, and they insisted on issuing a fine!

I probably should have argued it more at the time, or complained afterwards, however, for some reason - I didn't.

sue12345_2

i got a letter from magistrates court to attend this last month, and i only found out last week (i collected some old posts from my previous landlord) and court order to pay £200 because i didn't attend
i then spoke to the police and they suggested to speak to the clerk. when i was at the court, a staff there told me south west train books the court every tuesday, and bring in a whole batch of people they prosecute every week.
this is such a waste of tax payer's money- however, it's a good way to make money for sw train, better than selling tickets
i now have my case re-opened, awaiting new court date.
can they prosecute me- this was back in january?

geordieracer

pinkshoes wrote: »

Being honest with the train lines does not pay. They are SCUM. Even if the machine was broken, I bet you they'd still insist on taking your details and sending you a £250 fine!

If you read their webpage, it tells you how to appeal:


Those machines are horrible, and I would never put my credit card in, as it would probably swallow it, or clone it! Just write to them and tell them the ticket office was closed, you tried to use the machine but it wouldn't accept your card, and you even offered to pay the £20, so feel the £250 is unfair.

Do they no longer do a "permit to travel" in those machines, where you just put 10p in, then pay the rest later??

How f**king dare you say that they are SCUM. Your insulting me and all the people who work for them and all the people who pay for their ticket before they travel.

the rules quite clearly state that you should- where possible - purchase a ticket before you travel or you will be subject to a fare of £20 or twice the minimu standard single fare to the next destination, whichever is the greater.

It shows how ignorant you are when you claim the machines will swallow it or clone your card as they dont even go inside the machine to read it in the first place and you would be able to see if there was a cloning device on the machine as they are a really tight fit for cards anyway nowadays.

Yeh it appears the OP had a bit of a rough time with this but you can easily appeal a fine when you are given your penalty notice as it tells you all about it on the back. There is always a guard on all SWT services as they do not have driver operated only services on the longer ones so couldve got a ticket then.

And whoever said to ignore the penalty notice is wrong. The company i work for have just had someone done for £12K in court and we also had someone recently settle for £11K rather then go to court as he was a barrister and wouldve looked very bad on him.



Pinkshoes - you talk a good game but your just another who thinks they can do what they like cos its the railways. You wouldbnt board a flight without a ticket swo why a train?

Esqui

I agree, if you don't want to buy a ticket, don't go on the train.

sue12345_2

at least we get a seat and space on the plane