South West Trains Penalty Fare

RichyRich

womble100, how do you know that the OP wasn't stopped by a SWT Revenue Inspector rather than a TfL Revenue Inspector?

bodybox

Hi again. the penalty fare was issued by SW Trains, so yes, whilst TFL are at fault (and subsequently, not the responsibility of SWT) this does not negate the fact that I did everything I could to prepare for the journey and was confident in my actions.
Penalty fares used to be just that, discretion was used in their issue and the world was a better place for it. Now, the network operators choose to use this as an extra source of income, despite the merits of each individual case.
Womble 100, I suspect you would be unable to think of an occasion whereby an appeal via IRCAS would be upheld, rendering their worth absolutely zero.
In addition, the criteria with which IRCAS use to qualify appeals is dictated by the network operators which highlights a conflict of interest. Knowing this makes me happier with the outcome.

ticketcollector

I agree with womble100 here, in part.
IRCAS shouldnt have granted your appeal, but told TfL to refund it. Furthermore it was SWT that pf'd you not TfL. SWT did everything fine, TfL dont.

gner_ex

If I were you, I'd make a complaint (to London TravelWatch) about the TfL website.

ironchris

ticketcollector wrote: »

I agree with womble100 here, in part.
IRCAS shouldnt have granted your appeal, but told TfL to refund it. Furthermore it was SWT that pf'd you not TfL. SWT did everything fine, TfL dont.

I think the title says it all, you can't hide fella

JJJulian

On another SWT incident; recently I was travelling from Claygate to Teddington at 6.30am. I got on the train without a ticket as I was seconds from missing my train. There are only 2 per hour so could not afford to miss it. When I changed at Wimbledon, I had to switch platforms. It was while switching platforms that I was stopped by SWT employees asking people for their tickets. It was here that I said I had put my ticket in the train bin and was about to use the underground district line. I tried to get out of this situation as quickly as possible as I always, bar this occasion buy tickets for the train. I planned on buying one on the train to Teddington. However, after being questioned about where I had purchased my ticket at Claygate and method of payment, I realized that I was probably getting myself into more trouble than it was worth. I had actually lied to the guard. I had NOT put my ticket in the bin, as I never bought a ticket. I subsequently told him the correct story which was that I was about to miss the train and had to jump on at Claygate. The reason I lied was because I was in a situation that I have never been in before. I always pay, and all I wanted to know then was to get out the situation and continue my journey to Teddington, with every intention of purchasing a ticket. He wrote everything in his notepad and asked me to sign it. He gave me a ticket and off I went. He said I would receive a letter in a few weeks with a plan of action.

Now my question is, shall I get hold of the SWT team and further explain my situation? I can prove I always purchase tickets from South West Trains. It was early and I have never been in a situation like this. I was not thinking straight and in reflection, feel like I may have put myself in a situation. However, I do think telling the truth eventually was the right thing to do.

Livingthedream

JJJulian wrote: »

Now my question is, shall I get hold of the SWT team and further explain my situation?

IMHO, I would wait and see what SWT do, I don't think you will have to wait long, just keep checking your morning post.

You won't get a court summons, you will get a threatening letter with all the details of the journey and the statement that you provided and an invoice amount to pay (It's not a fine only a court can issue a fine), and another threat to pay it within a certain time frame else it goes up by certain %.

Again IMHO you were lucky as technically you did 'fare dodge' and also lied to a RPI, chalk this one up to experience, pay the invoice and move on.

Of course that's if they get back to you, you could be lucky again.

Stigy

Livingthedream wrote: »

IMHO, I would wait and see what SWT do, I don't think you will have to wait long, just keep checking your morning post.

You won't get a court summons, you will get a threatening letter with all the details of the journey and the statement that you provided and an invoice amount to pay (It's not a fine only a court can issue a fine), and another threat to pay it within a certain time frame else it goes up by certain %.

Again IMHO you were lucky as technically you did 'fare dodge' and also lied to a RPI, chalk this one up to experience, pay the invoice and move on.

Of course that's if they get back to you, you could be lucky again.

They won't just invoice him, and the letter shouldn't be threatening. It's not a debt recovery letter, it'll merely state the facts of the matter as put in the RPIs report. We don't know if he's lucky yet, as other than being arrested, this is probably about as bad as it can be, lol!

Livingthedream

Stigy wrote: »

They won't just invoice him, and the letter shouldn't be threatening. It's not a debt recovery letter, it'll merely state the facts of the matter as put in the RPIs report. We don't know if he's lucky yet, as other than being arrested, this is probably about as bad as it can be, lol!

Interesting points, just hope the poster gets back to us with an update.

But having read this thread were yourself and the poster have answered, it sounds if he's in a right panicky state. I still feel that the SWT won't prosecute and will try and get money out of the poster and that the poster will be more than happy to pay up.

Oh yes, welcome to the forum

Stigy

Livingthedream wrote: »

were yourself and the poster have answered, it sounds if he's in a right panicky state. I still feel that the SWT won't prosecute and will try and get money out of the poster and that the poster will be more than happy to pay up.

Oh yes, welcome to the forum

Thanks for the welcome!

The OP could offer to pay any reasonable admin costs in order to stayt out of court, although SWT are not obliged to accept. It'll go one of two ways unless there's very good reason or mitigation for it not to. It'll either be settle out of court, or it'll go to court, either way the defendent loses out, although maybe more so in court, as although the cost probably works out the same, there's the added bonus of a conviction.

It's in SWTs interest to settle up, as if they go to court, they'll only get the costs, whereas out of court they receive it all (obviously if SWT lose at court, then the defendant gets their costs paid back to them). I see you get around, lol. Are you a CAG'er too then?