Thank you again for all the good advice OC. I recieved the best news possible this morning with a letter worded as follows: "Having considered the points you have raised I am writing to confirm that the file has been marked for no further action. Should you require any further information then please do not hestitate to contact me." My assumption is that this is now the end of the matter, and of course I am VERY relieved. I am a little bit surprised that I was not asked to pay a penalty fare, and would have done so if asked. Because of the wording of the letter above I also assume that I am not expected to honour my offer of paying any reasonable costs in my correspondence? You have no doubt realised from my posts that this really is something new for me, and I just want to be 100% clear in my mind that I'm not still expected to make an offer of payment, which seems to be the way a number of these cases get concluded. Standard class travel all the way from now on.

ok, now everyone is confused, perhaps my post the day after (i.e. my first post on here) was not entirely clear as i wrote it in a rush to get some immediate advice as i was in a panic. I will now clarify, which when you compare to my first post it will match, because this is EXACTLY what happened: I arrived at farringdon, not even thinking about first class vs standard as i was thinking about leaving my job and colleagues after 10 years. The train I was waiting for was indicated as 8 carriages, so i stood in my usual spot, which is the second set of doors on the first carriage, I was still not thinking about first vs second class, i just wanted to go home! The train arrived, but was 4 carriages, so i had to dash (run / walk fast ... one of these, not sure at what speed a quick walk becomes a run, does it matter?!) to catch the train. I still had no opinion or thoughts about first vs second class at this stage, I just wanted to catch the train! I got to the first set of doors of the 4 carriage train, and I still had no thoughts about first or second class, I just wanted to get on the train before the doors beeped and the train left! It's this part that I described badly in my first panic post by saying "I had to run down the platform to get on the first class end of the train". In other words, what I meant was I ran, I got on at the first set of doors, and It was AT THE FIRST CLASS END OF THE TRAIN. I did not mean I focussed on getting on at the first class end, it just happened that way! Then, and ONLY THEN , after getting on the train I saw it was busy to my right ( i.e. standard) and empty to my left (i.e. first) I spent probably 5 seconds in my brain thinking " hmm I have a stinky sandwich and I've had a few beers, I won't squeeze between everyone and stink them out, I'll go in that empty room instead" That's it, end of story. Not sure why people on here are trying to catch me out or suggest I'm lying when I'm not. Maybe I wasn't as articulate and went into every nuance and detail on my first post, i was in a panic and wanted some quick advice. I hope this makes you all understand that I made a silly split second mistake, and never went to the station thinking "oh i think i'll go first tonight" ...... quite honestly i had my mind on other things that night. Thank you to all the good advice from OC

I'm worried again now! To be totally clear about my bad grammar in the sentence you quote above I actually meant that I rushed down the platform to simply board the train without missing it, and therefore I happened to unintentionally board the train at the door nearest the first class carriage (i.e the first class end of the train) and not the door of the carriage I had intended to board an 8 carriage train on

Hi OC Perhaps my rushed explanation above wasn't clear. I stood at my usual spot for an 8 carriage train and when it pulled into the station as a 4 carriage train I simply rushed down the platform to board the train before it left the station, I had not even thought about first class vs standard class until I literally stepped into the carriage. The only reason I rushed was to make the train rather than wait for the next one. Does it make more sense now? Also, was I not clear about this on my letter I sent you a copy of?

Not sure which bits you think are bizarre? To me the whole experience so far has been bizarre. To be clear about the whole being drunk issue, I'd had 5 pints, so enough to be merry but not enough to stop me walking quickly down the platform at Farringdon. This could easily be verified with CCTV footage. I made a split second decision, which turned out to be a bad one, and for that I have genuine remorse. I'm a little surprised that FCC decide to take these matters immediately to court, but as this is my first offence I had absolutely no idea what I was supposed to do or what to expect. I can recall thinking to myself at the time that the perhaps the letter in the post would simply say something like "£50 penalty, please pay in 7 days" how wrong could I be. Everything I've said on this post is 100% the truth, I've never sat in first before and always paid my fare, and had an annual pass for 10 years until the week before this incident (how ironic).

OC Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have made me feel a whole lot better and hopefully I'll get a decent night's sleep tonight. Much appreciated

Thanks, that's very kind

I don't seem to have an "edit post" button for that entry?

Thanks again, i will try to edit as suggested but not sure how to do this. Does it sound like they are prosecuting as a criminal offence or as a byelaw infringement? I've been reading a lot on here about the difference between the two (one is 5.3(a) I believe?). My letter made no reference to a number like 5.3(a) it was worded exactly as described above, like this: Occupy a reserved seat, birth or train without an appropriate ticket.

I finally recieved the nerve wrecking letter this morning, titled "Notice of intention to prosecute". The letter asks me to confirm if I am the person reported and goes on to say "This letter is to inform you of our intention to take this case to the Magistrates Court and the enclosed form provides you with the opportunity to tell us what happened from your point of view". It also states that "FCC has a zero tolerance approach to fare evasion on our network. We always ask that the court impose the maximum penalty for offenders, which can include: A criminal record, Fine of up to £1000, Prison Sentence, Community Service, Compensation, Costs" The actual offence is described as: - Occupy a reserved seat, birth or train without an appropriate ticket. The ref number begins: FGP .... don't know if this means anything? There is also a ref at the bottom of the letter CR: xxxxxxxx, which I assume means a court date has already been set for xxxxxxxxx I have written an honest account and apologised and am about to go to the post office to send special delivery. I am very worried still about this and any other advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Many thanks Old-CodJA. It's good of you to take the time to help people out on this forum and I will keep you posted on progress.

Good afternoon. I've never posted on a site like this but hope this works.I have read a number of threads with some very scary consequences and hope someone can help. On Tuesday 18th this week at about 10pm I boarded a train at Farringdon to go to Harpenden with a standard class ticket (7 day pass) and stupidly sat in first because 1. The train ended up being 4 carriages and not the 8 as advertised and I had to run down the platfornm to get on at the first class end of the train and 2. It was relatively busy and I wanted to eat my sandwich without subjecting everyone to the smell (plus I'd had a few drinks). I realise this sounds like poor excuses, but I'm saying this to set the scene. At St Pancras two inspectors came into the 1st class carriage and I was questioned by one of them. To give you an idea of my state of mind this week I had been out for a few drinks to say goodbye to colleagues I have been working with for 10years in London as I am changing jobs. It's quite an emotional week but I realise I was stupid to do what I did. That's the first time I've sat in first in 10 years of commuting. I think the inspector told me who he was (I had several drinks that night but can remember his job title) and he asked why I had sat in first. I said it was busy in the rest of the train, but he disagreed with me. He then asked me for ID, called someone on his mobile "to check my address"? (not sure what that means) then told me I was being cautioned and used the phrase that the police use "anything you say may be taken in evidence ...". To be fair, it was a relatively polite converstaion I had with him, and he even commented to me that I wasn't the usual type of aggressive customer (or words to that effect). He asked me if I had means to pay my fare on me, I said yes and even said to him "do you want me to pay now?" and he said it wasn't necessary and got me to sign both his notebook with my address in it and the slip of paper he filled out. I asked for a copy but he said he could not give me a copy. I asked him what would happen next and he said (something like) "oh don't worry, you told me you could pay and you'll get a letter but probably not much will happen" Following this I left the train at Harpenden and went home, even texting my wife jokes in the taxi that I was a master criminal etc... The next day (a little hungover) I thought I ought to investigae further and came across this website. I am now REALLY frightened that I'm going to get taken to court and get a criminal record, or even go to prison for 3 months. I am the only breadwinner in the family and have a baby daughter to support. Reading a number of threads it sounds like I will be sent a request for statement of facts? If this is the case I'd like some advice on: 1. Should I just say on the statement that I know I was wrong, I'm really sorry (which I am), I can't afford to lose my new job and I will pay any costs? 2. Should I enclose a cheque there and then, or is it too early in the process? 3. Are there any specific words that I should avoid using in my response? I am not a trained lawyer, and am currently hardly sleeping or eating because of my anxiety. I would like to think I'm a relatively decent citezen who gives up their seat for a lady etc ... and now I feel like a criminal who has let down his family. Any advice greatly appreciated.