Classic inspector terminology there - Got done? Got shafted I think is the word you are looking for. Perhaps you can explain how the system is working correctly when someone I know of bunked a train to London for two years without any ticket at all and got caught by an inspector but then let off with a £30 fine because a member of his/her family knew the person who worked for the TOC. And as for breaking the law...I contravened a train bye law hardly the crime the century - I'm over it

Interestingly it now seems that on my local branch line, the Inspectors are plain clothed and now follow the ticket guard through the carriage. So anyone who boards this train without a ticket and avoids the guard on the train perhaps derseve to be fined or dealt with as the TOC see appropriate. It's frustrating that when I was challenged for a ticket, the ticket guard was at the opposite end of the train to the Inspector. I firmly believe that they were 'playing the game' in order to fine/prosecute as many customers as possible before extending the opportunity for passengers to buy a ticket onboard. I'm sure my case (and probably quite a few similar) installed some doubt over the validity of their ticket collecting procedure hence the low fine and fact they had beefed up their case against by quoting I didn't have any money to pay for a ticket when in fact I had plenty! I wonder what would have happened if I was an 80 year old pensioner without a ticket...? My case certainly confirmed to me what sort of people these "Revenue Protection Officers" really are and how the TOC's seem driven to prosecute in any way they can. Just another failure of the justice system!

Finally all coming to a conclusion now, just one more thing.... The Court issued a Notice of fine and collection order under the offence of "Board a train in a non comp ticket area without a valid ticket - railway bye-law." Can anyone clarify what this means as there wasn't any information attached regarding a conviction? Do I have a conviction against my record etc? I questioned a clerk of the court over the telephone who advised me it isn't anything to worry about. Would this have any bearing on going to America, applying/declaring for jobs etc? Thanks

Thanks for your post. I now appreciate the simplicity of the rules. I wonder if the old people ever end up in court though for making this mistake? The thought in todays world seems to be that everyone is out on the fiddle. I'm dissappointed that this has gone to court because it was a genuine mistake on my part. It worries me even more when I read about others being summoned to court for standing in first class on packed trains.

The inspector has a right to be suspicious of course - that's their job. But in answer to your question why I don't drive to Brentwood is because it's £10 a day parking (Wickford is free). Also as we both know the trains between Wickford & southminster are approx one every hour. So even on ocassions when I go to London at weekends I will always drive to Wickford.

Byelaw no 18 (1)

Ok, so the original court appearance date was some time ago (which I pleaded guilty by post) and I have now received another summons having pointed out a discrepancy within their statement of facts. The fare avoided has also been amended from £0.00 to £0.10. How have they been allowed to revise their 'statement of facts' having deleted the comments that I was unable to pay the fare after being cautioned? This was not stated and nor should it have been in the witness statement (i.e. my statement) because I never admitted that I couldn't pay the fare or had the means to pay it. It seems grossly unfair that having either deliberately or accidentally falsified their statement of facts that they have been allowed by the court to go away and reissue the summons with a re-worded statement. I wish now I could have attended court to witness and pointed this out to them in court personally which may have proved quite an embarrassing moment and may have worked in my favour.

A costly lesson in learning the rules

I didn't expect an out of court settlement from what I've previously read on here. What concerns me is how misleading their website is and how ticket conductors have advised me-ok to buy a ticket on board. We could even see the conductor selling tickets to customers on the next carriage. In hindsight, I suppose I should have gone towards him.

I had replied to their first letter asking to settle without the need of troubling the courts and offering to settle their costs etc.

Stigy...Correct, but you're missing the point. Although it may/may not affect the outcome, they have fabricated the evidence supplied to the court to my disadvantage. I've been informed that purgery is a far more serious offence than not having a £2 ticket to board a train yet I'm the one that gets the criminal record. I'm glad my job gives me greater satisfaction.

Agreed.. Leaves a bad taste when they accuse me of not having the means to pay the fare when this was never discussed. I wish now I had questioned payment of the fare once I was under caution. I shall reply as follows: *Statement of Mitigation* * I regret that I am not able to appear before the Court but I have only just stated a new job after nine years at my previous employer and feel that taking time off so soon may be detrimental to my future career. I hope the Court will understand my position. * I wish to plead guilty to the charge as stated but I would like to set the record straight in regard to a misstatement of fact which is, that although I did not have a valid ticket for the first part of my journey from Woodham Ferrers to Wickford I most definitely did not admit to not having the money or the means to pay this fare after being cautioned.* This is evidenced by the witness’s statement which makes no reference to such an admission being made by me or indeed any question being asked by the Revenue Protection Inspector, Mr ****. In point of fact and prior to being cautioned I asked Mr ***** if I could pay the fare there and then, but my request was ignored. * It was not my intention to avoid paying the fare from Woodham Ferrers to Wickford, after all I have a valid season ticket from Wickford to Brentwood and would not regard myself as a fare dodger. * I now understand that what I thought was acceptable practice in buying a ticket from the conductor on the train is in fact not the case. I regret having made a stupid mistake and have learnt a costly lesson. *

Thanks for the advice there. I will struggle to attend court as I start a new job in a weeks time so could prove difficult getting time off. One other thing: within the documents received the inspector said I had no means to pay for the unpaid journey. This is NOT true. I always have with me a debit/credit card and usually cash. Payment of the fare was never discussed as I said in the beginning. This was never questioned and the inspectors witness statement confirms that fact.

I have received a letter from the courts and am summoned to appear for the charge(s) of 1. Did contravene Byelaw no 18 (1) of the Railway Byelaws made under section 219 and schedule 20 of the transport act 2000, in that I entered a train in a non-compulsory ticket area for the purpose of travelling on the railway without a valid ticket entitling travel. The statement of fact seems to have been bodged in that it reads "On Monday 12th April 2010, the defendant travelled by train between WOODHAM FERRERS and BILLERICAY. During the journey he was requested to produce a ticket. He did not have a valid ticket for his journey. After being cautioned he further admitted that he did not have the money or means to pay his fare. He was informed the matter would be reported. I was unable to produce a valid ticket for the journey from Woodham Ferrers to Wickford. The witness statement details the outstanding fare of Woodham Ferrers - Wickford (an amount outstanding of 10p) My concern is if I plead guilty without attending court (start a new job in two weeks) will this have a greater bearing on the fine/outcome>

Lets 'get back on track' here. I don't think these guys have a particularly easy job to do, especially when faced with angry sometimes violent members of the public. I wouldn't fancy putting myself in their position, but they have a responsibilty to protect their company and obviously their own jobs so I can respect that in one way. However, it seems people (As said somewhere previously in this thread) are unfortunately tarred with the same brush and I wasn't particularly happy when the RPO reffered to his colleague saying "I've got one" (Meaning me) having spent in excess of £5,000 in season tickets over the last 3-4 years.