Hello everyone and apologies for the very late reply. Exams are coming up and i have been preoccupied with it as well as my legal issues. Just wanted to update this thread so it may finally be closed. I have tried all of the suggestions on this thread, and unfortunately it had amounted to nothing and I had to go forth with the hearing dated 23rd of April. Fortunately however, just before the usher called my name, I manage to find the prosecutor responsible for my hearing and managed to convince him to withdraw the hearing if i can pay the fare plus prosecution costs upfront; a whopping 226.5 pounds, which he agreed on! Thank you to everyone for taking the time to read my thread and as well as for all the invaluable advises that you all have given.

Hello and apologies for the late reply everyone. To answer a couple of your questions: "Thank you. And did they hand you a piece of paper on the day this happened?" - No they did not. "Is it Chiltern Rail? Suggest you call them or email to ask if can be settled out of court. Some people say letters more effective but you don't have time. I would call first then follow up by email to their revenue protection / prosecutions dept. Keep it brief and business like. Slightly cut down version of what you posted would be fine. " -Yes, in fact it is Chiltern rail. I did what you suggested and called the prosecutors. The person I wanted to talk to however was not available. They did advise me to write an email instead, and so i did. "What legislation are they prosecuting you under?" - Im not exactly sure. I did not find 'strict liability offence' on the legal notices they sent me or anything synonymous.

Hi HB. Thank you for your reply. All they have sent are as follows: statement of facts, notice of prosecution, and a notice to defendant.

Hello everyone. I am a university student and I have been looking for some legal advice recently and i've come across CAG forums. Let me explain my situation. It was the 13th of december 2013. It was the last day of university autumn term and I was travelling from birmingham moor street to aylesbury station. All seemed well until one of the guards at aylesbury station decided to check my ticket and railcard. I did what they asked and told me that my railcard was expired. The guard notified his supervisor about the situation. They informed me that buying a discounted ticket with an expired railcard is an offence and that i have to pay a penalty fare. I made them aware that i know my responsibilities, i acknowledged that i was at fault for not realising that my railcard was expired, i accept the consequences and i let them know that i am more than willing and capable of paying the penalty fare. However, i informed them that i will be away from the UK until the 10th of Jan 2014 (as i had a plane to catch on the 15th december), thus i wouldnt be able to respond to whatever letter they send me. They told me that this wouldnt be a problem and so i thought nothing else of this incident. However, months passed and i still havent heard anything from them. Come mid march, they decided to take me to court as I received a final notice stating that i have been avoiding paying the penalty fare. This is what troubles me as i have made my intentions clear from the beginning that i was willing to pay the fare yet they decided to sue me for avoiding paying the fare. I was very cooperative with the people at aylesbury station from the beginning. I gave them all the information they needed; i showed them my passport and i gave them my addresses both in my dorm in birmingham and in alyesbury. I DID NOT receive any sort of notice of when, where and how to pay the penalty fare at both addresses that i gave them and so they must have assumed that I was avoiding paying the fare. Now im being summoned to court on the 23rd of april. What can i do at this point?