Train Penalty Fare - Straight to Court

crispyjay1987

Hi all
I wanted to get advice and hopefully catch the attention of Network Rail in the process.
Long story... long... I got the train from Northfield, Birmingham, to Longbridge Birmingham (for those who don't know, this is ONE STOP). On exiting the train I emptied my pockets of rubbish and the ticket into the little bin by the door and went to leave the station. On exiting i was stopped by a ticket inspector who has never been there in my experience. I was issued a £20 fine + the £2.50 cost of the ticket for obviously not having a ticket. He was a pretty reasonable guy and I explained what had happened he said if i appealed chances are I would have the fine dropped. I called the number on the penalty fare ticket the next day where the adviser said they would send me a letter, she took my name and address and phone number.
6 MONTHS LATER.
I received a magistrates letter explaining that they had sent 2 letters and were charging me £150 fine, £100 if i pleaded guilty through the post. Having being given a few days to give a response (as the letter received was dated 2 weeks prior) I knew that any appeals process wouldn't be resolved by the date. VERY begrudgingly I just pleaded guilty and thought I'd chalk it up to experience and get it out the way.
Weeks later, I received another letter from the magistrates charging, not only the full amount of £150, but also an additional £180 in fees. (£330 in total, for a £2.50 ticket!!!)
I thought this was a joke so I contacted the magistrates and the rail ombudsman and my complaint was eventually pushed on to Transport Focus (watchdog). They phoned today having reviewed the case and said do I still have the receipt? Obviously not.
Now they've basically said there's nothing they can do as it's a legal matter. A legal matter that NETWORK RAIL caused.
I had originally put the lack of communication down to the current global crisis, however the transport watchdog said that this was all prior to lockdown. Basically admitting that there was no excuse for their lack of communication.
Now I'm looking at a £330 fine and court summons because of Network Rail
I imagine there was some sort of mess up at the first instance, whether my initial appeal was lost or something, who knows. But this is ridiculous, for a £2.50 ticket. 
Has anyone got any idea what I can do?

twhitehousescat

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP., it can cause the scammer extra costs, and in some cases, cancellation. 

Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, many of whom are former clampers, and on 15th March 2019 a Bill was enacted to curb the excesses of these shysters. Codes of Practice are being drawn up, an independent appeals service will be set up later this year,

Just as the clampers were finally closed down, so hopefully will many of these companies, persistent offenders denied access to the DVLA database and unable to operate.

Hopefully life will become impossible for the worst of these scammers, but until this is done you should still complain to your MP, citing the new legislation.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/8/contents/of these Private Parking Companies.

RobM99

Did you pay for your ticket by card? If so it'd appear on a bank statement.

The_Slithy_Tove

twhitehousescat said:

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP., it can cause the scammer extra costs, and in some cases, cancellation. 

Er, maybe you should have had a cursory glance at the post, or even just the title, to realise that your stock response is entirely off topic and irrelevant.

As is the OP (off topic, that is). This is not the right forum. This is for the discussion of private parking tickets. Suggest you get it moved to a more appropriate forum.

gplinge

Or perhaps the OP should take a look at  https://www.railforums.co.uk/forums/disputes-prosecutions.152/  who specialise in various aspects of train fares and penalties

Tigsteroonie

And perhaps the OP could understand that it is not Network Rail who sell tickets and issue penalty proceedings if a ticket is unpaid, it is the relevant Train Operating Company.

D_P_Dance

You are in good company

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/597734.stm

Umkomaas

The_Slithy_Tove said:

twhitehousescat said:

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP., it can cause the scammer extra costs, and in some cases, cancellation. 

Er, maybe you should have had a cursory glance at the post, or even just the title, to realise that your stock response is entirely off topic and irrelevant.

As is the OP (off topic, that is). This is not the right forum. This is for the discussion of private parking tickets. Suggest you get it moved to a more appropriate forum.

It's TWC masquerading as DPD. Methinks a pee-take! 😉

Jono111

Why did you not go back to the bin and retrieve the ticket you threw there seconds before

KeithP

Jono111 said:

Why did you not go back to the bin and retrieve the ticket you threw there seconds before

The OP did say...

On exiting the train I emptied my pockets of rubbish and the ticket into the little bin by the door and went to leave the station.

 I am going to make a guess here and suggest that 'the little bin' in question was actually on the already departed train.

Scrapit

The_Slithy_Tove said:

twhitehousescat said:

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP., it can cause the scammer extra costs, and in some cases, cancellation. 

Er, maybe you should have had a cursory glance at the post, or even just the title, to realise that your stock response is entirely off topic and irrelevant.

As is the OP (off topic, that is). This is not the right forum. This is for the discussion of private parking tickets. Suggest you get it moved to a more appropriate forum.

Whoosh! That went over your head.