Daniels Silverman Merseyrail

Dylan_C

I got a train from southport to Liverpool after a long camping trip and lack of sleep. I purchased a ticket and got on the train i fell asleep when i was woken up buy 2 merseyrail officers they asked for my ticket and but i couldn't find it i had 3 massive bags on me and i just couldn't find it.

Anyway, cut a long story short they gave me a penalty fare for £20 they told me i had to pay some of it off on the spot which i did. I now owed them just £14. Upon returning home i appealed it because i felt i had purchased my ticket twice and then some which wasn't deserved. They said i appealed too late, i sent the letter 3 days before! i said ok, i then received no letter until one came saying i owed £14 and if i didn't id go on to a debt collection agency an id have to pay £30 (Daniels Silverman). I didn't get round to pay it then i remembered so i went to pay it in the station, the man told me it was too late id need to wait for a reply. I have now received a letter from Daniels Silverman saying i owe £53.50 and they will take me to court if i don't pay within 7 days, this is crazy! where have they got this figure from! mersey rail said on the original letter if it did get passed on it would be £30 now £53.50.

What should i do? pay it? ignore it? Negotiate?

Please help!

Please understand i am new to the forum and this probably isn't in the right place.

Cheers,
Dylan

happy_bunny_2

There is a chance they will take you to court. You will then have court fees aadded and might get a CCJ, which if you paid in 28 days wouldn't be registered on your credit file.

If you think you could defend it then don't pay. Ask for statement of charges etc and claim they are unreasonable.

The letter stating the lower amount may come in useful.

You could also write and offer them half the amount as full and final settlement.

Dylan_C

happy_bunny wrote: »

There is a chance they will take you to court. You will then have court fees aadded and might get a CCJ, which if you paid in 28 days wouldn't be registered on your credit file.

If you think you could defend it then don't pay. Ask for statement of charges etc and claim they are unreasonable.

The letter stating the lower amount may come in useful.

You could also write and offer them half the amount as full and final settlement.

A lot of people say dont contact them because they are clowns and dont stop harassing you, an that they never take you to court? i dont know what to do.

happy_bunny_2

If you do contact them, do it in writing only.

Basically, if you think its unfair don't pay it and risk court and a judge not agreeing with you. Worst case. They may agree with you.

There is always a chance of them taking you to court.

[Deleted User]

I think you will have to pay; if it went to court, what defence do you have...travel on train requires you to produce valid ticket upon request. Pay it and put it down to experience.

Tixy

Some rail companies certainly do sometimes go to court
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4767825

You could certainly ask for a breakdown of the amount they are claiming is due.