hey guys, thanks for replying. just to issue a follow up after being in contact with the train company, a bit of backwards and forwards, they agreed to cancel the court action, two days beore the date might i add. I still feel unfairly treated by the train company staff at the ticket barrier, who's actions are bordering on the sinister to me. But to be fair the prosecution department of the same company were actually very helpful, and actually issued me with an apololgy as "it is not our intention to prosecute legitimate customers". There actions are still over the top in my opinion however. Thanks for your input guys, i feel this site is a great resource. P.s Blazer666, you are clearly incorrect, but most of those who speak with certainty usually are i find.

Hello all, long time lurker first time poster! I have been reading all the posts on the penalty fare charges made by the train companies with interest for some time now out of general interest, but never thought that i would actually need the help myself! So here is the story... I have just recieved a magistrates summons, stating that around 6 months ago i, contrary to railway byelaw 18(1), i entered a non-compulsory ticket area for the purpose of travelling on the railway without valid ticket. Full witness statement etc is included in the package, including plea entering etc. Costs of over£100 are bing applied for. This is the first i have heard from the TOC since the incident happened. I was travelling to work, as every morning, got to my destination station, took out my season ticket to find alas i hadn't brought it! So i walked up to someone from the railway company and explained to him i had obviously forgotten it, he was a very nice man, said not to worry it happens to people all the time, and that i had two choices, pay for a ticket today and claim back the money by sending a photocopy of my rail pass to them, or fill in a form which would let me continue travelling and then send of a photocopy of my rail pass to them along with the form. I decided on the latter, carried on my journey, sent off my photocopy and form the next day, thought no more about it. And now this. My question, appart from any general advice, is, where do i go from here? I feel incredibly angry about this. I have my season ticket for that month still, i have been using that route for years without a problem like this before. A court summons seems very excessive to me. I feel the person who i dealt with at the station, although pleasant, was not being entirley honest about what the form was, that it could lead to a legal case, otherwise i would have just paid the fare for that day and reclaimed it! He made me feel it was just a formality. Also, as i sent them all that they asked for, i do not understand why they are persuing me? Im worried about this being a criminal case too as i work in education so the immplications could be far reaching and out of all proprtion... If you have managed to read all that, Any help would be greatly appreciated ! A