In fairness, I have seen posters around, but you know what it's like, if you still get a very pleasant service on the train from the conductors (they are always lovely), you don't tend to realise that it might be a problem until you get clamped with a fine...! It's a case of 'yes that's how cities work, but surely not in small places'- WRONG!!!

Well, it's taught me a lesson too. I think to change this long standing practice (in our area anyway), the conductors need to be saying 'I will sell you a ticket this time, but in future you need to buy a ticket before you board'- it's that simple. It's a maybe old fashioned trait now, but many people still like to speak to a person, not deal with a machine, so it takes a while to change this practice.

I do know some bare bones about my partner's letter-No he didn't ask to settle in his letter, he just explained what had happened as he was told to do just that (by Revenue officer) and all would be ok . He didn't think he would be fined or anything, but he put in that if they needed to contact him again or pursue further that he would be abroad.

Yes that's true that in comparison £70 doesn't seem too bad- it didn't feel like that when i opened the letter though!! I didn't know what normally happens until I found this site, so thanks

I phoned TIL today and they were courteous but didn't want to hear anything about what had happened on the day. I said he was away in Africa for 8 weeks and she said- "I assume you'll have contact with him"- explained that rural Africa isn't great for internet connection so no I would be unlikely to have contact for some time. She said I needed to write a letter to say he was out of the country and they would take it up when he's back. I checked that the payment wouldn't increase and she said no. Or she said I could pay on his behalf. I said £70 seemed a lot for a £1.50 unpaid fare and she said it's admin fees. I asked if they would really take this to court and she said quite likely. I don't think there is anything I can do except to pay or ask them to hold off until his return

The £71.50 (£70 admin plus £1.50 unpaid fare) is in this letter from TIL which arrived a couple of days ago They have obviously written to him and he has sent a letter back prior to his leaving (for work for 8 weeks)- I don't know what either contained, just that it was about a month ago and since he was told by the person taking his name at the station that he would be sent a letter and if he replied explaining that he always buys on the train, had the money in his hand and tried to find the conductor on the train that it would be ok, so he thought it was all finished with before he flew out. He is epileptic, so no that would not have stopped him from crossing the bridge to the other platform (if he had known it was there). He had been very ill around this time and doctors could verify. Does leave him in a confused state as if 'he's not all there'. He can't tell but others can. I don't think he is trying to use his disability as an excuse though. He just always pays the conductor on the train and has travelled on the trains for over 35 years. I have phoned Arrive Trains but they said to phone TIL so that is what I will do

My partner flew out to Africa and 2 days later a letter arrived which to me looked suspicious. I opened it and found that it was from TIL saying that they have noted his comments about failing to show a valid ticket, there were pre-paid facilities available as that the Rail compnay have advised they see no reason not to pursue. Says "an application for a Summons may now be made" but as there are no instances on his file, they are "authorised to allow a final opportunity of an administrative settlement as an alternative disposal in this case". The letter says 10 days to pay and if that if you do you accept a wriiten warning. I remember him telling me that he travels on the train daily due to a disability and that he always pays for his ticket via the conductor on the train. We both do as where we live it is 'normal' to do so and staff at the station say not to use the machine as it steals cards and money! However he was near Cardiff, rather than in West Wales. The fare was £1.50, he had the money in his hand and waited for the conductor, then looked for him and no-one was around. As he got off the train and went to pay, the people said he was unlucky and they were doing a revenue generating activity. Apparently there was a ticket machine across the bridge on the other platform at his starting station that he should have used. The man said to wait for the letter, reply with what my partner had told him and the matter would be dropped. My partner said in his letter that he would be away in Africa for 2 months and that if TIL wanted to pursue further could they do so at the end of August on his return. He felt very embarassed about it as he was not intending to fare dodge. I am really upset as I don't know what to do as he is out of the country and I cannot contact him. All I've had was a quick phonecall the day he arrived to say there had been a landslide killing 100 people and he was going to see how he could help- it has been in the news. A) Can/should he fight this? £70 is a lot for a £1.50 fare B) What do I do about the fine as he is not here? He would not want it to go to Court