I'm glad to hear that you were able to settle out of court. If you still feel that the process was in any way unfair then you could write to your MP, perhaps referring to the recent Passenger Focus report 'Ticket to ride?' which is available online and rather critical of the way in which rail companies treat those found to be without the correct ticket. Nothing may come of it, but it only costs the price of a stamp and envelope.

Brownfra, I can only commiserate with you and hope that Passenger Focus can help you with this. I know from personal experience that it can feel like you've been mugged, with the added insult that the justice system is on their side. I've had my mobile stolen with threats and a penalty fare extracted with threats, the latter was worse. The rail penalty fares system, in the attempt to dissuade the intentional fare dodgers, causes misery to many ordinary law abiding people who fully accept that the train company deserve to be paid for the service they provide. I know someone who on one occasion did not buy a ticket because she was unable to for very good reasons, but in the end it was her word against theirs and she received a criminal conviction. I've twice fallen victim, genuinely believing that I had a valid ticket for the journey and in circustances which made it pretty transparent that I did not intend to avoid paying. It's not about justice, it's about the rules which are firmly written in favour of the train operators. Write to your MP, questions have been asked in parliament and the Lords about the system, one day it may change. Until then, take the car. Would anyone care to disagree? I'd be genuinely interested to hear a defence of the system as it works. I've tried to get this from a number of train operator customer service people, but without success.