Govia thameslink - Caught using U16 Discount Card when +18 - SJP Letter **SETTLED OOC**

[AnnyA]

Hi everyone, please kindly help!!!

 

My brother has been summoned to magistrates courts for using saver discount card 16 -17 and they stated in the letter fare avoided was £3.25

 

He is actually aver 18 and made a very bit mistake for doing this. However when questioned by the inspector for providing a valid ticket he did not utter anything to avoid his words used against him.

 

But when Govia thameslink railway sent a letter for intention to prosecute he apologies and advise to settle out of court.

 

But later he got a letter summoning him to magistrate court and to either plea guilty, not guilty or been sentenced in his absent.

 

His really afraid of a criminal record as this will jeopardize his career.

 

With the recent letter, is it still possible to call govia thameslink to settle out of court. We just lost our mum  recently and his the bread winner. A criminal record will affect the whole family

 

Kindly help on the best advice

 

Thank you

[honeybee13]

Hello, welcome to CAG.

 

I've moved your thread to our transport forum, where we deal with fare-dodging issues. People should be along to advise later.

 

So reading your first post, we normally recommend that the person with the problem signs up here to follow the advice. Are you going to be able to give us answers to our questions without undue delays please?

 

I have a first question. Whose discount card was it and why was your brother using it? Also, is it the first time he's used the card?

 

Best, HB

[dx100uk]

Is this a single justice procedure court?

 

You need to get another begging letter off pdq begging an ooc, as above was this his only use? Important be truthful 

 

Dx

[AnnyA]

The amount was what was quoted by GTR so felt normally if there were other occasions or amount it would have been quoted as well in the prosecution letter.

 

They only stated the outstanding fare avoided amount and a contribution towards prosecution costs. 

[dx100uk]

Thats not what i asked.

 

just type no need to hit quote

 

Dz

[honeybee13]

As dx says, there's no need to quote previous posts, we know what we've said.

 

Could you answer our questions please? Whose pass was it and how many times did you use it?

 

HB

[AnnyA]

There was no pass, he had the ticket on 16 to 17 but above 17. Not sure how many times he did this as all the evidence sent over did not state he did it more than once. 

 

Also what does single justice procedure court means?

 

[honeybee13]

I'm confused, you said there was a card. Was this used to buy a cheaper ticket that would apply to someone younger than the passenger, then?

 

The letters we've seen recently haven't said how many times the pass/card has been used. But if GTR's systems are like TfL's then it's very possible they will have tracked journeys made by using the card for two months.

 

HB

[AnnyA]

Yes, the ticket was on someone younger the passenger.

[honeybee13]

I don't understand what that means, sorry.

 

HB

[AnnyA]

He bought a ticket younger his age and has no saver discount for that.

[honeybee13]

Thank you. So what's the story with the saver discount card, who does that belong to?

 

HB

[dx100uk]

bottom line is he used a under 16 discount scheme to purchase travel at a cheaper rate when in all truth he is actually +18yrs old.

 

now govia typically do allow OOC so there must have a ben a few tricks you missed in your initial letter

 

can you please post up suitably redacted to PDF or directly he to a msg box the actual text of the initial appeal he sent please

 

and can we have some dates please

like that of their 1st letter

and the date of the SJP letter? and the day of his hearing please

 

you can continue to beg for OOC right up until the court hearing.

which if not resolved by then he should chose to appear in person to directly show his remorse.

 

dx

 

[AnnyA]

Yes dx 

[honeybee13]

Let's see their letter then please.

 

HB

[AnnyA]

I will ask him for his first letter to then and send over the content.

 

However, court only stated the hearing will after first week of August and signed by a fare evasion manager.

But no exact date for his hearing yet.

 

Also is it possible to send the letter he wrote to them privately as it has all his details.

[honeybee13]

You can post up the letter here, just edit out personal details. Our upload guide will help if you aren't sure.

 

HB

[AnnyA]

Please find the plea attached

[honeybee13]

That doesn't seem to have worked, AA.

 

HB

[AnnyA]

Have you seen the document because I couldn't see the document I uploaded

 

I would like to thank you for your letter , and I am grateful for the opportunity to explain what happened.

 

On the morning of ……, I got on the train to Farringdon at Luton. At Farringdon station, my ticket was checked by a revenue protection inspector who questioned me about the validity of my ticket. I was cooperative and polite in answering his questions.

 

* Entering a train for the purpose of traveling without a ticket entitling travel In regard to the above allegation, I offer no defence against this allegation and I would like to offer my humble, sincerest apologies to you and Govia Thameslink Railway.

 

I have thought long and hard since that day about this incident and feel that having spent a large part of the previous month traveling away from my family, I was tired and my judgment awry. This is by no means an excuse - I know what happened was very wrong, and I sincerely promise that this will never happen again.

 

I am aware this incident has cost the company financially and taken up a huge amount of time. I would therefore like to offer an administrative settlement to recognize this and avoid it being escalated further. I would like to offer payment of costs incurred because of my thoughtless actions, along with the cost of the fare.

 

[honeybee13]

That's why I said it hadn't worked, there is no attachment.

 

HB

[AnnyA]

That was my brother's reply above to them

[dx100uk]

def no upto our usual stds

you need to inc why a criminal record might be detrimental to say employment etc?

how a record would harm him going forward

you also specifically need to make reference to offering an out of court settlement .

[AnnyA]

He probably thought administrative settlement is the same as out of court settlement that was why he said he was ready to make administrative settlement and the cost of the ticket

 

Please could you help with a good standard plea. 

 

Should my brother call them or write another letter?

 

Again is that their letter take ages so not sure if he should send another letter there will be response from them before court hearing. 

 

Also do you think out of court is still possible, we really worried about the magistrate court summon.

 

Thank you

[dx100uk]

yes write again.

 

you are in the transport forum

click that word in blue right up the top and go read a few threads

you'll get the idea

 

you dont have a court date yet anyway so not sure why you think not begging again is a bad idea....

 

as i said earlier most single use govia claims appear to end in OOC.

 

dx