I really do remain amazed as to how the internet facilitates this bizarre level of judgemental superiority from people who clearly have no grounds for it whatever. I guess it is the a forum where sad little people can feel superior to everyone else and spit their bile anonymously. I mean it when I say I think you'd feel better if you went out and actually talked to real people.Then if you still felt like insulting them gratuitously, at least you'd be doing it from a correct knowledge base.

Oh, and by the way Old Cod, I am currently off sick with a severe illness and have to take medication which leads to lapses of concentration, absent mindedness and fainting fits. Although you will no doubt be horrified to hear that I am still doing some part time work from home where I can and check everything 10x for my clients. I have had no complaints in 10 years. A file of paperwork managed under specific conditions is very different from the administrative details of one's own life, which take a back seat where concentration and energy are in short supply. My work is for my clients and not you to make assumptions about and you don't know what the hell you are talking about, so stay out of it. I saw no reason to mention that in my original post as it is hardly anyone's business but mine, although it might have been relevant in court later. So stick that in your smugly judgemental craw. If you ever get ill (and we all do at some time) I hope that you find yourself able to maintain your obviously impeccable standards of... whatever, because no one's going to want to give an inch for such a bitter person. (You may be a total delight in real life but frankly, I doubt it).

Looking at other thread I've noticed the same angry little men (I assume it's men) posting rants at people who are just asking for advice. Why not go and commit a bit of road rage instead? You'll feel better, I assure you. Thanks to those who bothered to give decent advice eg Bazza.

Just wanted to report all sorted by First Capital Connect Customer Services. They say payment was debited 13 Dec so they are not going to pursue the charge. What a bunch of dull pedants there are on here. People post for advice and that's it. Get a grip! For anyone who actually wants to sort out their issue with a penalty fare rather than be lectured by said loons, best to go direct to customer services who it appears can sort all the nonsense out post haste.

**offences not defences!!1

btw 'as a lawyer' I do have a lot of arguments against SL defences, as many others do lawyers or not!! But that's not relevant here as the law is in place so they have got me on it and I committed the offence. But do I have to do the full time, as it were, that's what I want to know

er.... actually 'as a lawyer' I've no idea if the court would 'believe' me. From what I have seen (and my area of work isn't criminal) magistrates tend to go very much by class etc eg they are more likely to let off a middle class woman if they are one themselves. The defendant speaks their language. But whoever I end up in front of might not like the look of me. From the one's I've met, judges and magistrates do forget paperwork- especially small stuff like tickets- as much (or more than!) anyone else. They have to pay fines like this themselves as they lead busy lives and forget details which is what the train companies seem to be taxing us all on- and I haven't met one who speaks favourably of strict liability fining. For a start it clogs up the (publicly funded) courts with a load of vexatious nonsense aimed at maximising train company profits. Thanks for the info on USA. I know drugs offences etc really bar you for life, but a missing ticket seems very far from that. I think I DID use recorded delivery however, I usually do for things like that. Will check as that could help, but they could still try to charge me anyway with the threat of prosecution couldn't they? I'll try it at least.I have not heard anything much good about the 'Independent' appeals service. It appears FCC will try to get money any way they can. I am just not sure whether courts will agree with them as to their methods. As understandably most people are frightened into settling, there doesn't seem to be much on the web about people actually going through court battles with this lot. They clearly have me for the SL offence. It's SL like a parking fine. My query was whether a court would take into account that I have accepted the PF and tried to pay.

I've just read online that the strict liability offence does apply to all just by being on the train with incorrect ticket, however I'm not clear if actually trying to pay the PF discharges the liability or not. I also read that it is an offence which shows up at CRB 'enhanced disclosure' but not clear if this would affect things like entry to USA and when it would become spent? It seems a crazy situation that there is now a sort of crime of a. being flaky and disorganised on public transport b. not having the ability to pay up early and settle. The latter doesn't apply to me but I've read some hairraising stories on here of 16 year olds etc (or rather their parents) having to pay hundreds to settle out of court. The strict liability criminal offence clearly means nothing in terms of actual conduct a reasonable person would deem criminal- and one would hope enlightened employers are increasingly ignoring it. thanks all for looking R

Dear all I was issued with a penalty fare about a month ago as I had stupidly failed to notice that my railcard was out of date. I paid half the penalty fare on the spot as I was down to my last £10 cash and was already at my overdraft limit, so (I thought) it would have cost me more to go into unpaid overdraft... The ticket inspector issued me with a bit of paper which I then lost (I am the Queen of organisation....:/). Thus I did not have the PF number so waited for the reminder letter which arrived on 2 Dec dated 26 November. The internet payment option failed to recognise my penalty number notice so I sent my card details by post on about the 7th of December. Within the allotted time. I today received a letter dated 11 Dec saying they had not received payment and I now had to pay another£20 'administration costs' or they will prosecute. They could well have lost my letter or delayed the payment themselves. Should I pay yet another£20 on top (for a £10 'missing' amount!?) or should I write to them about the matter first? It is grim that they use the threat of criminal prosecution as a cosh in this way and I've vowed never to use FCC's poxy service again (I'm not a commuter on that line thank God). I also wondered if it would be worth representing myself in court to get declared not guilty as I accepted the PF and had no intention whatever to evade fares. Stupidity and ignorance are defences to an intentional fraud prosecution. There is also the strict liability element, but as I have in fact paid (and sent my card details today authorising them to take the £10 again) would this apply? And how can a strict liability offence (like a parking fine) bar you from certain careers and entering the USA etc?! This seems crazy to me (and I am a lawyer ) I've also written to FCC customer complaints about the whole sorry saga and am waiting to hear back. I'll let you know what they say :S R