Hello,,

Today I received a notice of intention to prosecute from Govia Thameslink Railway after an incident on Northern Rail back in January.

I am extremely extremely worried about this incident and it is causing me great upset.

I have read around on this forum and have prepared my response below to the notice of intended prosecution, please can you offer any advice on what I should / should not included and also indicate what the repercussions of this could be? Is there anything else I should do like ringing them etc?

Any help is massively appreciated!

RESPONSE:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I offer my most sincere apologise for my shameful actions in this case. In all other circumstances of my life, I had until this point - upheld a strong degree of integrity and character. As a young lady starting out my career, a criminal record would completely devastate my current and future employment prospects.

I’m in my first job working in London and had been using carnets to travel to and from work. During the week of the 8th January, I was in the midst of moving house and with everything going on more stressed than normal. On the 10th January, I caught an extra early train at 6:21am from Letchworth Garden City to attend an earlier-than-usual meeting.

Due to it being much earlier than I would typically travel, I hadn’t prepared a carnet beforehand like normal, but instead planned to complete a blank one on the train.

In complete stupidity, I didn’t check there was a blank one in my bag and whilst on-board, I realised to my horror I had forgot to pack the empty carnet.

In panic, I searched through my bag and could only find a previously used carnet. In a complete error of judgement, I stupidly changed the dates on the carnet to the 10th January. This was a terrible thing to do and I am extremely ashamed of my action.

Upon arriving at Kings Cross, I was questioned by the ticket officer and at which point, I admitted whole heartedly to what I had done, apologised profusely and explained the circumstances. The officer thanked me for my honestly telling me he would leave a mark on my file, but advised he would have to report the incident.

I made a grave mistake. I have never done anything like this before and certainly will not do anything of this nature again. I am extremely sorry for the way I acted and the damages this action has caused others.

I am more than willing and able to make immediate payment to cover the unpaid fare and any other damages or administrative costs I’ve caused. I’m also happy to sign up to an annual ticket so this event can never happen again.

I appreciate your consideration in this matter.

Pretty good draft.

Is it worth buying the annual ticket (you could have done it after being stoped between January and April.....?) rather than saying you are willing to do so : showing you have already taken action has to be more convincing than saying you will take action .......

Offer to pay whatever charge they are after, plus an amount for their admin costs as well Normally if you offer it, and are genuinely remorseful, they will accept it.

its up to them if they decide to prosecute, but if you pay the charge/fine and admin costs they are sometimes more likely to drop it.

read me and mirror the tone of the letter there

https://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?483691-Notice-of-intention-to-prosecute-Thameslink-changed-CArNet-Ticket-date-Please-help-**SETTLED**

Thanks. I accept your point on saying show you have taken action through buying an annual pass already, but I'm worried if I put that, they may ask for proof which I don't have. So I've left it out of the revised draft below, but let me know if i'm being stupid.

Revised draft: (Changes in bold)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I offer my most sincere apologise for my shameful actions in this case. In all other circumstances of my life, I had until this point - upheld a strong degree of integrity and character. As a young lady starting out my career, a criminal record would completely devastate my current and future employment prospects.

I’m in my first job working in London and had been using carnets to travel to and from work. During the week of the 8th January, I was in the midst of moving house and with everything going on even more stressed than normal. On the 10th January, I caught an extra early train at 6:21am from Letchworth Garden City to attend an earlier-than-usual meeting.

Due to it being much earlier than I would typically travel, I hadn’t prepared a carnet beforehand like normal, but instead planned to complete a blank one on the train.

In complete stupidity, I didn’t check there was a blank one in my bag and whilst on-board, I realised to my horror I had forgot to pack the empty carnet.

In panic, I searched through my bag and could only find a previously used carnet. In a complete error of judgement, I stupidly changed the dates on the carnet to the 10th January. This was a terrible thing to do and I am extremely ashamed of my action.

Upon arriving at Kings Cross, I was questioned by the ticket officer and at which point, I admitted whole heartedly to what I had done, apologised profusely and explained the circumstances. The officer thanked me for my honestly telling me he would leave a mark on my file, but advised he would have to report the incident.

I made a grave mistake. I have never done anything like this before and certainly will not do anything of this nature again. I am extremely sorry for the way I acted and the damages this action has caused others.

I am more than willing and able to make immediate payment to cover the unpaid fare, administration costs and any other costs you require. I’m genuinely really sorry and do not want my stupid mistake to go any further.

I appreciate your consideration in this matter.

As I say, it would have been better to have bought the annual pass earlier, but that ship has sailed.

Just buy the annual pass and THEN send the letter, enclosing a copy of the pass!.

did you read post 15 of that thread I highlighted above

use that letter

Thanks all for your help. Really appreciate it.

I noticed in the thread you pointed out he rang rather then sending the statement. Is this something I should consider?

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

do both but a few days apart let the letter arrive first.

Hi all thanks for all the help so far. I intend on posting this letter today so any further help would be amazing.

you need to add

why you don't want it to go further