I received a letter today from the Unit - £36 and warning me that next time it will go to court. I'll deserve court if there is a next time! Thank you all for your help - esp Wriggler

No reply yet. I'm thinking about waiting until the end of the week before ringing them again but would you advise filling in and returning the letter or would that confuse things?

I spoke to someone at the Prosecutions Unit this morning; I pointed out the incorrect date and then asked if we could settle without it going any further. She seemed sympathetic to my plight (first timer and in possession of an annual travel card) but said it wasn't a call she could make and that she would need to consult with her supervisor and ring me back. She never gave me a window in which she would return the call but I'm hoping that the fact that she hasn't rung yet is more of an indication of how busy they are rather than any negative decision coming my way!

Wriggler7, you're assumptions are correct. During the tube strike the masses waiting on the platform were advised to use the whole platform - I did and found myself (when pointed out by the inspector) on a 1st class carriage. Usually when travelling from Tottenham Hale I use the Victoria Line, most of my experience with NXEA has been on the Edmonton Green route (i live midway between Edmonton Green and Tottenham Hale) on which their is no recognisable first class service. There was at least one other sinner and he seemd to be in more of a pickle (false name, address, etc).

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to ring them tomorrow (gently) point out their mistake and hope that a bit of common sense prevails. My crime was (inadvertently) sitting in first class on a packed 10 min journey from Tottenham Hale to Liverpool Street during the last tube strike. It was a genuine mistake on my part - why would I attempt to shirk a £15 pound fare when I quite happily shell out £1500 yearly for an annual 4 Zone Oystercard? I'll post how I get on but seeing how they've gone this far I'm not too optimistic about a happy ending.

Hello, this is my first post and I'd like to thank you in advance for any replies. I have received a letter from London Eastern Railway Prosecutions Unit regarding a journey on 30th November 2010. Although I was questioned by a member of railway staff the incident occurred on 29th November not 30th. Where do I stand from a legal point of view regarding the date discrepancy?