Prosecuted by Xcountry despite having valid ticket

Quentin

HappyMJ wrote: »

I would choose to go to court and defend it. I think your chances are reasonable and if not it's only a civil matter so no detriment to yourself either way.

Not a "civil matter"!

Civil cases dealt with at county court (though if you lose you get a ccj, which can be very detrimental!), mags deal with criminal cases.

dggar

It_can_get_better wrote: »

I guess they could claim you gave your ticket to someone else?

A bit off topic here so I appologise.

What mechanisms are in place to stop a person printing two copies of an e-ticket and giving one to a "friend".

Are e-tickets only issued(valid) in conjuction with a resrved seat on a specified train?

Livingthedream

Quentin wrote: »

(though if you lose you get a ccj, which can be very detrimental!)

Not quite correct, you'll only get a CCJ if 1. you lose and 2. you fail to pay any fine/payment ordered by the court.

shaun_from_Africa

dggar wrote: »

What mechanisms are in place to stop a person printing two copies of an e-ticket and giving one to a "friend".

I've never used one myself, but I would have thought that it would be dealt with in the same manner as when you use an online check in for an airline flight and print out your own boarding pass.
When you go through security, the boarding pass is scanned, and once this has been done a second copy of the same pass will be automatically rejected when scanned.

Maybe the rail conductors/ticket inspectors have a similar system in place and they scan tickets to confirm if they are valid.

Livingthedream

dggar wrote: »

Are e-tickets only issued(valid) in conjuction with a resrved seat on a specified train?

Yes, also you need to produce to the guard/ticket examiner the credit/debit card used to pay for the ticket to further validate the e-ticket.

jackpease

OP here again, trying to get back on topic, so there i was in my reserved seat, with reservation receipt showing that, with the credit card in my hand showing the ticket inspector that i was the purchaser, etc etc endless proof i had paid the fare etc, so we are down to the technical offience of not having quite the right piece of paper, does anyone know whether magistrates (this is NOT a civil issue) are able to take into account all this evidence of ticket purchased and evidence available to the ticket inspector, none of which was dispute, are the magistrates able to listen to these arguments? And if they don't, what is the 'ratecard' for the technical offence of failure to produce a valid ticket pleading guilty/not guilty? TIA

dggar

Livingthedream wrote: »

Yes, also you need to produce to the guard/ticket examiner the credit/debit card used to pay for the ticket to further validate the e-ticket.

Sorry to hi jack the thread again.
How does that work if I buy the e-ticket for someone else(such as my son or daughter). I'm not going to let them take my credit card with them.

Livingthedream

jackpease wrote: »

are the magistrates able to listen to these arguments? And if they don't, what is the 'ratecard' for the technical offence of failure to produce a valid ticket pleading guilty/not guilty? TIA

TBH this is all going to boil down to how you want to progress this, either fight it or try and settle out of court.

If you want to fight it then send AXC a copy of all your evident, that you had purchased a ticket and that your not happy with the way you have been treated and that your prepare to fight this in a court of law. I would also send a copy to Andy Cooper - Managing Director AXC. You never know, AXC might look at the case again and decide not to pursue it. But be warned you are calling their buff and could end up in court. Would advise getting some legal advice if your planning this.

The other option is to try and settle out of court, again write them a letter, but this time explain how you made a honest mistake and would like to keep it out of court by paying some reasonable costs, but make sure you don't admit guilt in the letter.

Livingthedream

dggar wrote: »

Sorry to hi jack the thread again.
How does that work if I buy the e-ticket for someone else(such as my son or daughter). I'm not going to let them take my credit card with them.

Unfortunately with E-tickets the payment card holder is classed as the Lead passenger and must travel. If s/he can't travel then the tickets are invalidated.

jackpease

Thanks Livingthedream, I have sent the evidence of ticket bought etc, but that's not really in dispute, they say they are 'going to prosecute me' under the narrow 'not in possession of valid ticket' byelaw, which is a summary offence. If a magistrate cannot take into account the fact that i had paid my fare, and could prove it, then i may as well plead guilty. If a magistrate is able to listen to an argument that this is a waste of court time for such a small fare when the fact that i had paid a fare is not in dispute, then i'd plead not guility and try my luck (if i knew what the tariff for this was!)