Hi, Just to let you all know, the original decision of mine to close the topic was because i was potentially going down the route of a solicitor. I have asked the admin to re-open this topic so i can give you a follow up on the outcome, which i have been fighting my a$$ off for the past 3 months and help any one who ever gets in the same situation as me. Let me start by explaining again briefly what happened on the day of the incident. In a nutshell, like a complete idiot, i managed to get myself in a very stupid situation by attempting to get away with purchasing a child's ticket for a 'one stop' train journey. Something later i ended up very much regretting. I was stopped by the RPO and first questioned about my age, i was honest from the start, which actually led him to tell me he was allowing me to pay a £20 on the spot fine because of my honestly and admitting it was a mistake to do such a thing. Of course, i was happy with this, but within about 2 or 3 mins a second RPO came over to me and cautioned me for questioning. He then took all my details, my case was sent off and it was dealt with through Transport Investigations LTD, for Chiltern Railway. I received a total of 4 letters in the end from this company, all stating they were intending to prosecute, i was getting no where. My letters were well written, and i was trying to be as honest as i possibly could. Genuinely i felt very regretful, and i can genuinely say f rom the second i got stooped i had learnt my lesson, my letters were not just words trying to get myself out of a pickle. I received the standard first two letters from TIL which just seemed the basic template like letters and even a third letter to say they have fully reviewed my case again but not changing their mind. This is when i come to this forum. I then sent a 4th letter offering an out of court settlement of £350 to which i got a personal response from the Prosecutions manager rejecting this offer and telling me the issue for a court summons is now being made and i would receive the papers shortly. It was at this point i very nearly paid £900 to a solicitor because getting this criminal record would damage my whole career within the transport industry. After a long thought process i decided not to go with this, and sent a personal letter back to the prosecutions manager begging one final time and asking for a second chance. After i sent this letter i also tried to contact the manager by phone, several times, so i could try and plead with him over the phone, but unfortunately they just do not allow this to happen (his not in the office etc). I know this may be the case so i actually sent another personal letter to the manager telling him i have been trying to call and can he please call me. At this point i felt i needed to do more, i decided to get the Managing Directors of Chiltern Railways address off the internet and i wrote a personal letter to him explaining my regret and asking for a second chance. This was a last clutch at the straw for me, but it worked. Yesterday i received a letter from TIL telling me Chiltern Railway have requested and authorised that TIL offer an administration settlement, but also went on to explain how extremely rare it is in cases such as mine (they had me banged to rights), but because i did show remorse and the effect it would have on my life they are prepared to offer me a final warning and an admin settlement of £122. The reason i decided to write this was not just to help people in this case, but to show people if you do honestly and seriously regret something in life sometimes you can show it and get given a chance. I can honestly say from this experience, i will NEVER step foot on a train or public transport again without having the correct ticket in my wallet. Its not about the money, you need to stop and think of the serious consequences something like that can have on you. I have replied to TIL today, directly to the manager thanking him for giving me a chance, and promised him that he will never see my name come up again, and trust me, he wont. Thanks for all the responses several weeks ago.

These are in a letter from transport investigations. This is all getting too much for me now, really from the start it was a stupid mistake that i regret yes but all this over a £1.20 fare its unbelievable. There is a quote that i said"yes i got a childs ticket from the machine even though im 25" utter rubbish i didnt say that, another quote saying when he asked if i intended to avoid the fare it says i replied "yes" when i clearly replied no!!!!! The fact is i was then made to sign forms etc and the whole situation i didnt even read it so he could of quite easily realised my nievtey and got away with it. like i said the bloke was a joke, he was laughing in my face, he was rude, he deliberately talking behind his coat etc i will now be seeking legal advise simply out of principle

They have replied today and to my suprise they have basically sent quotes from an apparent conversation i had Admitting intending to avoid fare. The quotes are complete lies and this whole affair now is making me very angry. These people have the powers to do such things pick out people they want to pick and let off the people they want to let off. There is two quotes on there that are complete lies and i would like to add i could hardly understand a word this so called inspector was saying as he was hiding his face 99% of the time behind his hi-vis jacket. i have already admitted what i did wrong and regret my actions but the fact there are so called quotes on there that did not happen how can they do this? To be honest i dont know why i am surprised it seems every single person who comes on here has the same problem.

Do you think at this point it would be worth getting a solisitor to help with the matter regarding settling? how long do you get to respond to the summons? Cheers

I have not posted any personal information?

Stigy is there anyway i can message you ? it wont let me on here cheers

I have called them this morning and they have recieved my letter and they have told me my file is " on hold" so hopefully they are considering it really hope so

Do you know much about the conviction with regards to entering the USA? Was hoping to go next year another worry i now have. Been reading though there are exceptions to their moral turpitude question something along the line of if the conviction doesnt carry a max prison sentance of 1 year?

Thank you, i thought attending court may mean more costs, but if not i do actually think i would attend in this case to meet them and like you say try and settle with out the need for court, saying that, if they dont accept £350 i dont think there is much chance of them accepting anything really.

like i said, it was a silly stupid mistake and without putting the blame on anyone else it was a friend who got the tickets from the machine, its my fault for not changing the ticket. I actually travel on the trains alot every year for football away games, i also use to travel every single day of the week and i have ALWAYS paid the correct fare. I am not saying i dont deserve to get away without a prosecution however i do find it very harsh given its my first ever offence on the trains and i am actually a very genuine hard working person. i am certainly not rich and £350 is ALOT of money to me, but i would rather pay £1000 than have a criminal record on my file.

If i plead guilty (which i will) but still go to court, what difference is this to pleading guilty but not attending? thanks again for your reply. It was a silly mistake that i can honestly say i will never do again, we all live and learn dont we. Thank you

Also when you say meet with the proecutor how is this possible? I cant see why they would rather not settle out of court And im not even sure on the fare it was not much put it like that!

thank you very much for the reply. do you actually think they will even reply to my letter today offering £350? to be honest i know it sounds over the top i would pay more than £350 if needed maybe i should have offered more.

Yes but to be honest did not see what else i could do at this stage hence the reason for asking about the charge as i am now expecting it.

Hi Honeybee, in a nutshell i got caught with a child's ticket, it was a stupid mistake for a one step fair. I have honestly and genuinely learnt my lesson. The thing that pains me the most is i was very honest with the RPI and he said he would allow me to pay an on the spot £20 fine, but when waiting to do this (there must have been 30 odd people caught paying fines - it was actually carnage at the time) another RPI came over and said no you are not paying it and took my details and a statement etc. Like i said before, i have grovelled to my hearts content, but they are simply sticking to the standard template letters to the words of we may issue you with a summons etc, and its for the S.5.3(a) one. The latest letter i received pretty much read "We have fully evaluated your furthur comments and following re-assessment we can find no reason to change the view expressed in our earlier letter, an issue for summons may now be made" I have sent a new letter today special post again like all my letters have been, with an offer of £350.00 to settle and begging them to re consider. I cannot see what else i can possibly do other than to take it on the chin.