Hello I am applying for Tier 2 visa in two days and just found out that I am supposed to mention in the application if I ever had any fare evasion case. Actually 2 years back i was convicted of train fare evasion and i pleaded NOT guilty and wrote back when I received summons from the court, after which I also went for a hearing and they asked me for proof whichI was unable to provide so I paid the penalty to get rid of the issue and not to carry on the case in that case i had to plead guilty and pay. Now I am not sure if this is a criminal offence and should I mention this in my visa application form. Please help me out if possible. Thanks

I was issued a penalty fare on the buses. The inspector told me it was because my card had not been registered by the machine, then issued me with a penalty fare notice. The notice says that the reasons were that I had insufficient funds on my card. This is demonstrably untrue as I have a receipt to prove this. Can I appeal on these grounds?

Hi everyone I got issued a penalty fare on a bus even though I touched in with my oyster card, because the oyster card is very old and does not always work so the ticket inspectors couldn't read it on their things. However I definitely remember it responded when I touched in on the bus (the green light and the beep, etc), it just didnt work when the inspecters tried to read it. I appealed on the website and they asked me to send them the card number and a 'details/usage statement'. Problem is its such an old battered card that its impossible to read the card number. I don't know how to get a usage statement, or if thats even possible without the card number? The card works very occasionally albeit less and less frequently, so IF I did manage to get it to respond on a machine would there be a way of finding the number? Also surely TFL will have a record on the data from the bus that day? The CCTV would show me touching in, if it still exists (the incident was at the end of August). I'm not sure what to do so please give some advice Thanks

Thanks in advance for any expert help. I received a letter from a company called IRCAS apparently acting on behalf of London Overground demanding £105 penalty fare that I don't have any clue about. I have contacted them and emailed to IRCAS (Independent Transport Associations Company) as advised by one of the staffs when I rang them. I told them that this must be an act of fraud and informed that I have reported this to action fraud. Then I had a follow-up email from them asking confirmation of my DOB, proof of my signature with copy of my driving license or passport or debit card's reverse side and a brief description of myself about HOW DO I LOOK LIKE! I was going to send a harsh response as I am very angry but thought to get some expert help first on how to deal with this ******? any help/advice is much appreciated. I have copied the response from them: "Thank you for your advice concerning the above referenced Penalty Fare/Unpaid Fare Notice and your kind notification of the use of 'false' details in this instance. This office acts in an administrative capacity for various rail and Transport for London services, and as such, we will produce reminder letters on their behalf where a Penalty Fare/Unpaid Fare Notice balance remains outstanding. Having failed to produce on demand a valid ticket, a notice was issued to a passenger by an Authorised Collector on the date concerned. Unfortunately, it is not law in this country to carry identification. Therefore, Authorised Collectors issuing notices often check an electoral roll system to help establish that correct address details are being collected. However, without identification it is impossible for them to be completely satisfied that the correct name is being taken or indeed, that the person is who they actually claim to be. Therefore, we try to capture as much accurate information about an individual as we can. This enables us to compare it against the information taken at the time of issue but also, importantly, it means that we can help Authorised Collectors to ask the right questions and get the correct information should they stop someone again in the future who gives details that have previously been proven to be false. In order to assist with this please provide the following information: 1. Confirmation of your date of birth. 2. Please provide a copy of a document with your signature on, such as a driving licence, passport or a copy of the reverse of a debit/credit card. 3. Please provide a brief description of yourself, including height, build, hair colour and length, complexion, eye colour, right or left handed and any distinguishing features such as tattoos or piercings. Upon receipt of this information we can update our database accordingly. We thank you in anticipation for providing this information, and therefore, helping us to provide accurate information to the transport providers which, in turn, may help prevent further misuse of personal details. We will hold the above mentioned Penalty Fare/Unpaid Fare Notice for 7 days from the date of this correspondence to await your response."

I make the return journey every week from Redruth to Truro to drop my son off to my mum who works in the cafe, I either buy a ticket on the train or at the ticket office - there is no self service machine! and catch next available train back to redruth This week the queue was huge I got on the train which was packed so no conducter came round. Usually I have a buggy so I exit through ticket barrier (I have previously been unable to get a ticket once before and as I explained to a member of staff he 'escorted' me all the way to the ticket desk). This week I went across the bridge to the cafe so I never left the station. There was 15 minutes until my return train, my son fell off the chair in the cafe and hurt his head I completely forgot I didn't have a ticket for the return journey I just jumped on! When the conducter came round I asked to buy a ticket, short story is she was very rude, kept repeating I couldnt get on the train without a ticket and didnt explain what she was taking my details for or what would happen. I had explained the situation and that I fully intended to buy the ticket but she was having none of it, unfortunately for me she was a revenues officer! Received unpaid fare notice requesting £104.30 or they will proceed with criminal charges as per regulation of railways act 1889 and/or railway byelaws. no info on how to appeal. I researched the subject and I'm unsure if she should have issued a penalty fare. Truro is a penalty fare station but Redruth isnt, the fgw prosecutions unit said it doesn't count if truro was not my destination? online penalty fare policy is rather vague but nrcoc state if you do not have valid ticket in cta , sra define cta below. haven't looked for the signs but it is a gated station, waiting for my friend to let me know what signs they have and fgw are sending me their policy but that may be by post! requested this from the prosecutions unit and was told i can look at the nroc! any help please? if it's not a penalty charge then any advice on how to proceed would be much appreciated! ‘Compulsory ticket area’ means any area at a station identified by a notice which indicates that people may not enter that area without a ticket or other authority allowing them to enter that area, or to travel on a train arriving at or departing from that area

First of all I only want advise I done something foolish I know shudnt have not in this day and age but basically I was running late last thursday and i modified my network rail pass - it was out of date on thursday and i cut and glued the date from another pass (I KNOW STUPID THING TO DO!!) basically i had to get to birmingham international from birmingham new street and when I was coming back I got stopped at the barrier by a london midland Revenue protection officer He asked for my details which I gave and some ID i gave him my driving licence and then he cautioned me i.e. anything you do say may later be used in court and evidence etc I answered guilty to the intention to not pay as I was in a hurry in the morning and I would have paid otherwise I havent been in trouble with the law in my life and he also checked my record if i had previous convictions which came back negative after taking the details to the questions he asked me and saying that if you say your guilty and be honest your making things easier for yourself - and he also noted that i was reasonable and cooperative overall after this interview he took my defaulted travel pass and said I would get a letter from the prosecutions services in 3-4 weeks Now I am worried I dont want a criminal record at all I would rather pay the fine but when I asked him is the fine going to be like £1000 etc he said no not that much and said you will have to reply back to the letter that is sent out to you I am worried and I do not want to get into any further trouble I know what I did was stupid and foolish but what can I do to get out of this problem, i did say i was guilty and didnt argue and was honest during the interview process I have asked a few RPO's in around new street and they have said 90% it wont go to court etc as long as I comply with standards and reply back and show remorse But I am worried as I know its intention to not pay, he did a MG11 report etc and I know it could end up in court after reading various forums on the internet I just dont want a criminal record I can pay the fine and get on with it but what do I do Sorry for asking for advise I dont really know who else to ask I know I have made a mistake and a stupid one we all do and no one is immune to mistakes I am sorry if i have offended anyone and show fully remorse of this I have never been on the wrong side of the law and have paid all my tickets in the past without any problems and always the full amount when required I Dont want a criminal record I am more than happy to pay the fine + administration fees and just want to clear my name I have made a mistake and I am deeply remorseful and understand now the consequences.

Hi, this is my first time on this forum. I really need help. Around 4 months ago I was caught using my dad's oyster card which had a monthly season ticket to it. Until the ticket inspector told me that day that it was not transferable I had no idea about it. I realise now how stupid and ignorant that sounds but I really didnt know, I was under the impression that only photocards were not transferable. Luckily I have never used my dad's card before as he always had it with him at work etc when I go out. But unfortunately on this day i used it as he was off from work. Recently I have received a courts summons asking me to plead guilty/not guilty etc. I am really panicking right now and have around 2 weeks before I have to send the form. I have read about out of courts settlement but I'm really not sure what to do and can't think straight. I've always tried to keep out of trouble for everything and can't believe that I might be getting a criminal conviction because of a foolish mistake. What do I do now, do i ring them up? or write a letter? Also if I am to write a letter, how should I write it? I am so worried about my future, university offer etc etc right now! Any help would be great!! Thanks in advance

Hi apologies if there has already been a thread like this, I'm just new to this site and do not know how to navigate it very well. Last year I was stopped by a ticket inspector on a southern rail train, i did have a valid ticket, however I didn't have a relevant discount card on me. I offered to pay was told I would receive a letter within a few weeks with the details of the fine and how to pay it . A month passed and I received nothing, at the time I was in the process of moving house . I have now moved address and had forgotten about the letter if I'm honest today I received a letter from MARSTON HIGH COURT asking for £650?! I have not seen any prior letters, this is the first one. It also says that if I don'tpay within 14 days tthey are going to send bayliffs over. I definitely cannot afford £650 all at once, and even if I could somehow manage to pay it in instalments it says the amount must be paid in full. I really dont know what to do?! Any advice would be really appreciated!

Hi All, I have been in situation. In March 2015 my wife was travelling on the bus to drop my son to school. By mistake she take my brother's weekly travel card and when she been inspected. The weekly travel card been retained by the officer. Now we are in receipt of a Legal Notice for Single Justice Procedure. they have given us 3 option: 1: Plead guilty i don't want to come to court 2: Not guilty i want to come to court 3: Please not guilty send me the date of my trial. Summary of incident: My wife was travelling along with my son (4 years old) to drop him off to school of 9th March. In hurry she took my brother's weekly travel card. As they are in same color wallet. Over and above the bus driver let her in without looking her pass as she usually travel at same time everyday, i assume he knows her by face. So she hasnt check her travel card at that time as well. Unfortunately an officer board in and start checking the passes; she handed over her pass without knowing that she has my brother's pass. The officer retain the pass. We have received the letter to which she responded and tell the whole circumstances. Now we are receipt of letter from TFL under : 71B using a pass issued to another person. and intending to fine upto £125.00 + fare cost of £1.50 As my wife is not employed and is housewife we are really worried about the cost and the criminal record against her name. Can you please guide me through what shall i do to avoid both fine as its not an intentional mistake and criminal record against my wife name. Your help is much appreciated. Looking forward to hear back from you. Kindest regards, s_alimran

Dear all, Last week I took the DLR but forgot to scan in, at that time I didn't get any penalty notice for but I have been told to take my notice tomorrow. At that time, my student oyster card was scanned by the officer's card reader. Now it has been one week so where can I get the notice and how can i check whether I need to pay? Thanks in advance

Hi! (I have literally just joined this site so apologies if I do anything wrong!) I will try to keep this as concise as poss - I recently got into trouble on a bus when I accidentally used my boyfriend's 16+ zip Oyster instead of mine (I have an 18+ student one). Like most people, I got v worried about this after googling what could happen - I'm a medical student so prospect of a criminal record is v v v scary! Got the standard letter asking for an explanation - sought advice from head of my faculty, turns out this has happened to many students before, and she suggested going in to hand in my response letter in person, and try to speak to them in person and halt the investigation in its tracks. I did so today. Spoke to a lawyer at TFL HQ, he said he believed that it was an honest mistake (which it truly was!!) and he referred me on to the investigator in charge, who thankfully offered to settle for £300. Although this seems a bit steep, I am glad I am no longer facing a criminal record. However, in the email he sent me, he said this: 'Please be aware that a guilty plea in court could result in the fines and costs being lower than an out of court settlement as they would take into account the individuals mitigation and means.' I spoke to a friend who recently did the same thing as me, and he ended up pleading guilty via post and paying only £120 - and got no criminal record from it? This confused me, as I thought that going to court and pleading guilty = criminal record!? So, my question now is - obviously the prospect of a lower fine is desirable (I'm a student with no income other than student loan/grant!), however, won't I get a criminal record from going to court and pleading guilty?? If not, should I go to court, get the lower fine, and try to not get a criminal record (if that's possible can somebody please explain what I need to do?) or should I just pay up the £300 now? Thank you so much for taking the time to read this!

I purchased a 16-25 return ticket to destination B from A, via an actual person at the window - even they looked at my travel card. It wasn't until my return journey I looked at my rail card, to find it was out of date.. (Haven't used in around a month). The date was printed "18 APR 2015" (I've just checked this online) The 18 was very faded with the 2015 being only slightly visible.. . My instant thought was "oh no, I'm going to get in some serious trouble for this", I stupidly decided to get a pencil from my bag and change the year to 2016 (only visible numerals) Upon ticket inspection, the inspector questioned the year, to which I just put my hands up straight away - of course he took details.. I admitted to this via a statement and made my sign this admission statement, whilst taking my railcard/ticket etc. I know I'm in trouble and I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm just trying to establish the LIKELY course of action.. . I presume they will write to me asking for my account of events? My questions are: 1) The best possible situation is out of court settlement - ADVICE FOR THIS PLEASE? How do go about asking this? What would make them want to pick this? Do I await correspondence and then send a letter with apologies and an offer (should I make an actual offer or let them propose such)? 2) The scenario of them looking to prosecute for fraud - what's the likelihood of this? I understand what I've done is fraudulent, however I haven't replicated/manufactured a ticket or pass in order to evade completely, somewhat mitigating? IF it did go for this, what would be the probable outcomes? Again, thank you all for your opinions and feedback - you all seem to have a much more educated understanding of this sort than most, so I look forward to more input..

Good evening, thank you for taking the time to read this. Any advice would be very gratefully received! In what is probably a familiar story for the regulars on this forum, I have come seeking advice having been stopped without a train ticket. I was interviewed under caution and having spent the day reading the internet in a panic am now expecting a summons in the next few weeks. I hope I've understood the usual process, but would be grateful for confirmation. To provide a little detail, I had been to the dentist in the next town over and dropped by car, but needed to get back to the office. A train arrived whilst i was queueing to buy a ticket so I got on. This is not uncommon in this area where buying a ticket on the train is often required, and trains are infrequent by London standards. I enquired of a conveniently placed member of transport police if this train was going the right way and sat opposite another (you'd think that might have nudged me out of my stupor) I didn't attempt to find the guard. Jumped off train 4 mins later and with no further thought headed towards my office. At which point I was promptly stopped & read my rights by another chap by the exit (no barriers here). Assuming I was about to be fined on the spot, I was polite and accepted that I had no ticket etc. I didn't attempt to run, talk my way out of it, or offer to buy a ticket. Instead he interviewed me under caution (PACE I assume) and sent me on my way. I now see that my existing understanding of how ticketing processes work in practice, is somewhat different from the legal situation. Today i was (very) stupid rather than malicious, but that is no defence and if this reaches court I would inevitably have to plead guilty. I am saving for a house, so even a 1000 pound fine would not be a complete disaster as I could pay it from savings. As ever, the criminal record is the big problem for future employment & mortgage. Would you suggest that i 1 - do nothing now except await the inevitable letter 2 - but then be ready to immediately send a grovelling letter and offer to settle out of court should I receive a summons Many thanks in advance for any advice (sympathy neither required nor expected), will happily provide any other useful details if required. Cost of journey was practically nothing & I have no previous record or penalty fares, speeding tickets etc.

on Friday the 17th April I was caught with my little bothers 11-15 Oyster card which is free for him I told the inspector that it was mine but he said I looked to old. I tried convincing him I was 15 but it didn't work out. I know it was wrong of me. I'm 18 but I have a 16+ Oyster card because I'm still in sixthform my travels are free for me I lost my 16+ oyster weeks ago and that's the reason why I used my little brothers Oyster card I told the inspector all of this as well and he took my details in a notebook and asked me to sign it ? I received a letter from Tfl asking me to fill in my details and to comment on my side of the story, they said In the letter I was caught with no valid Oyster card and I could be prosecuted. In the letter I replied back that it was wrong for me and that I was on my way to my aunts who just gave birth and I was desperate to visit her which is why I used my brothers and that I'm sorry aswell as telling them I tried to order a new Oyster card to replace my lost one but it wouldn't work. what I want to know is what actions could Tfl take could they fine me or take me to court even though I have a 16+ free travel valid for myself ?? Please help

Hi, Hopefully can help/ offer advice. I have received a letter from South Eastern's Prosecutions Office regarding avoiding payment of fare informing me that the matter has been provisionally authorized for prosecution and inviting me to make any comments regarding the incident. I was traveling with a zone 1-2 travelcard and I was caught at a zone 6 station, I normally have pay as you go top but on this occasion I didnt and I had also travelled by the same means in the 4 days prior to the offense date, I however had a zone 1-6 travel card the previous month and only got the 1-2 because I was working for an agency and hence not sure how long the job will last for and buy a 1 month zone 1-6 travel card but rather the 1-2 and I added a £15 which had been exhausted on the said day. I totally agreed I evaded fare because I did not touch in at the start of my journey but had to touch out at the end in the zone 1-2. I regret my action and had since suffered panic attacks and anxiety waiting for the letter to arrive. The total evaded fare was calculated to be around £55. I would like to settle out of court and pay any necessary admin cost because a criminal record is have devastating effect on me an my family simply because I have only ever worked within the NHS for the last 8 years and hence a record will render me completely useless. I am willing to settle out of court ASAP because lesson learnt for me, it is not worth the heartache whatsoever. Please advice because I have to send the letter today as I only just saw it, kids misplaced letter since it arrived. So I have to fax a copy today and also send it by recorded delivery for monday. Thanks in advance.

Hello there, I hope you lovely people can help and offer some advice... I received an 'unpaid fare notice' from First Great Western exactly 7 months ago because I didn't have my young persons rail card with me (it was stolen on the train). They treated me badly and the experience was very distressing (lady made me cry), I disputed the notice within the 10 days given, and sent a long letter as well as all my original documents to their address (tickets, notice, etc.), asking to be pardoned from the fine due to the bad treatment and the fact that the fine was too large and unreasonable for the situation (there was theft involved, and the treatment was bad). The problem that I have is that they have not been in touch, I have not received any letters, and they have not even informed me that they received my letter (it was sent via recorded delivery). Unfortunately (stupidly) I didn't scan anything and I have lost the letter I wrote as it was so long ago. I only have proof of ticket purchase on email. What should I do? Can they prosecute me later, even though I had no warning or letters? Is they haven't done anything within 6 months, doesn't that legally mean that time has expired for them to prosecute? It was all sent to a Reading address that was on the notice. I wish that they would have at least sent a letter in response, saying something to put my mind at ease. Thank you very much

Hi all, I was just wondering if anybody here would be able to help. Back in November I traveled from my home in Sittingbourne to London Cannon Street as I missed my regular train to London St Pancras. I showed my ticket at Sittingbourne and took the train to Cannon Street. When I got to Cannon Street I realised that my ticket was not in my wallet and was not with my photocard. I spent some good time looking for the ticket and could not find it anywhere. The ticket inspector at Cannon Street gave me a penalty fare and told me to appeal with a duplicate ticket (he told me I would get one easily) then it would be fine. Never at any time did I refuse to pay for a ticket on the spot then get it refunded. For the rest of the month I had to buy tickets and get them refunded, so this would not of been an issue. I went straight to Farringdon Station (where I buy my ticket) to get a duplicate, I had to fill in a form and told to wait 7 working days for a duplicate. I went back a week later and was told the form had been lost and that I would have to fill out another one. I then went back again to get a duplicate ticket but was told that they were unable to print a duplicate as the ticket was about to run out. This left me pretty stuck with the appeal, but luckily my ticket was recovered and I sent in proof (photocard/travelcard). My appeal was rejected as it did not come within 21 days, I sent another letter fully explaining the above but I am yet to hear back from them. In the mean time I have spoken to Passenger Focus who have been in touch with South Eastern who have rejected my appeal, the reason? Just because they can... The helpful man from Passenger Focus is now doing what he can and trying to speak to the prosecutor. I was just wondering would I have any legs to stand on in court? If I am to ring up today I will have to pay £103 (up from £43). I am so against paying this amount as firstly, I cannot afford to and secondly, I had already paid £537.

Hi, I can't sleep for worrying about this even though I'm exhausted! I was interviewed by a revenue protection officer on board a train in London in the middle of September, who suspected me of fare dodging. He interviewed me under caution, placed me under arrest and said that my case was being referred to the prosecutions department of the train company for consideration. I still haven't heard back from them and am worried they have sent me a letter which has got lost in the post. Is it normal to wait so long? The RPI had said it would take about 6 weeks for the train operating company (TOC) to contact me. I was travelling from south east London to East Croydon via London Bridge. I had a season ticket from my local station to London Bridge but no ticket for the onward journey to Croydon, which I had planned to buy at London Bridge. As it turned out, I was in a rush, the Croydon train turned up within two minutes of me disembarking from the inbound train, and I jumped on it thinking - mistakenly - that I could pay the difference on board or at the other end. Honestly! I was not until recently a regular train user as I had private transport to commute to and from work and have in the past paid on board trains for tickets, so genuinely did not realise I was committing an offence at the time, and it was never my intention to dodge a fare. I'm a reasonably well-paid professional person with no criminal record, so why would I want to jeopardise my good reputation and future career prospects over a fare of a few pounds? When the guard came round I said I needed to pay him a fare and asked if I could pay him the difference on my existing season ticket but he said he was issuing me with a penalty fare. I thought this was unfair and refused to pay it. It gets worse. I then told him why I thought this was unfair and that I had offered to pay him the regular fare. I felt I was being unjustly criminalised. Then I refused to give him my name and address when asked because I felt frightened of him. (He was a big, scary guy, which I accept is no excuse or defence, but I suffer from an anxiety disorder, was under a great deal of stress and behaved irrationally.) When told I faced prosecution and was being arrested, I said I would pay the penalty fare - twice - but the RPI said he could not take a payment from me, and did not say why. I also gave him my name and address. On the train the guard suggested I had given the wrong address because he rang a help desk, which told him I was not registered at the address given. But I am! I realise now that my lack of co-operation was a big mistake and I have accepted that I will be prosecuted. I wrote the TOC a letter straight away which I sent by special delivery, and emailed them, providing documentary evidence and a copy of my season ticket and Oyster card, as requested by them. But, three months on, I want to know if I should contact the TOC to check they have not already written to me? I do not want to find out further down the line that I was convicted in court in my absence because I did not receive their correspondence. More about the incident: When the guard arrested me on the platform at Croydon, I panicked and rang the police, telling them I was being detained by an unauthorised person. A police officer attended and supervised my interview with the guard at my request. Before the police turned up a fellow passenger intervened on my behalf, saying to the guard that he was shouting at me, and bullying and intimidating me, that he was a big guy and I was a woman, and the way he was treating me was inappropriate. The two men ended up arguing vigorously. The fellow passenger finally left, but refused to give me his contact details when i asked if he would be a witness. I gave him mine but he never contacted me. In my letter to the TOC I asked them to look at the CCTV on the platform, which would confirm my story about the passenger's intervention on my behalf. I also asked that the footage be made available in the event of prosecution which would show the two men clearly arguing. I don't want a criminal record but accept I may end up with one, which I believe stands for 5 years before I no longer have to declare it to employers. Could someone confirm this please? This would affect my employment and may even result in job loss. I am also an Australian and British citizen and fear it may adversely affect my right to re-enter Australia. As well as outlining all of the above, I said in my letter that I regretted the way in which the situation had escalated, that it was a genuine mistake that would never be repeated and that I would like to pay the penalty fare plus additional administrative costs. I also explained that in the past four months I had moved house, that the vehicle that I used to get to work was stolen, had had a brain aneurysm diagnosed and was presently being investigated for lung cancer. All of which possibly contributed to my unhelpful reaction to the guard. I supplied documentary evidence to back up all of this and gave the TOC permission to contact any of the relevant authorities to check the documents' authenticity, should they wish to do so. I also enclosed a letter from the council confirming my address (given to the guard) and a letter from a psychologist confirming that I had received cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety. I had a lawyer look over my letter before I sent it to the TOC. He recommended a barrister, should the matter proceed, and I will take his advice and hire the barrister if I receive a summons. The question is, should I contact the TOC to ask why I have not heard from them? The solicitor I saw told me that the TOC must bring a prosecution within 6 months of the offence, otherwise they are not allowed to pursue the matter further. I realise NOW that I was in the wrong on the train - I just didn't realise it at the time, which I realise (now) is no defence. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading this far.

A London banker who regularly avoided buying a train ticket on his commute to the City has been banned from working in the financial services industry. BlackRock director Jonathan Paul Burrows was caught by inspectors at Cannon Street station last year and admitted to avoiding the £21.50 fare from Stonegate in East Sussex. In total, Mr Burrows is believed to have dodged £42,550 in fares. The City watchdog said he "demonstrated a lack of honesty and integrity". "Mr Burrows has admitted that, on a number of occasions, he deliberately and knowingly failed to purchase a valid ticket to cover his entire journey," the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said. "As Mr Burrows held a senior position within the financial services industry and was an approved person, he should have been a role model for others and his conduct has fallen short of the standard expected for someone in his position," the organisation added. Mr Burrows boarded trains at Stonegate in East Sussex, where there are no ticket barriers Mr Burrows avoided paying the full fare by boarding the London-bound train at Stonegate - a rural station with no barriers - without purchasing a ticket. On arriving in London, he went through the barriers at Cannon Street Station using an Oyster travel card, incurring a maximum fare of £7.20. 'I was foolish' Mr Burrows, who is now banned for life from working in any regulated financial industries, has since paid back the £42,550, plus £450 in legal costs. Reacting to the FCA's decision, he said: "I have always recognised that what I did was foolish. I have apologised to all concerned and reiterate that apology publicly." However he added that "the size of the settlement [with Southeastern] could be said to have led to a distorted perception of the scale of my wrongdoing". "While I respect the FCA's decision today, I also regret it, coming as it did after a 20-year career in the City that was without blemish. "I recognise that the FCA has on its plate more profound wrongdoing than mine in the financial services sector, and I am sorry that my case has taken up its time at this critical juncture for the future of the City and its reputation."

hi hope some one can help . i was issued a unpaid fare notice a ecm via east coast trians . here is the story. i was going to a job interview. paid for a return ticket via my debit card . i was very nervous and prior to going for the interview threw my home bound ticket away in the office bin of the company . coming home i still didnt know i had thrown the wrong ticket away and was issued with a unpaid fare notice. tried to explain to the guard but it fell on deaf ears. i phoned the company on the way home in the train and they found the ticket in the bin and posted it to me . very kind of them . i sent appeal letter in detailing again what had happened but they still want the fine and now admin charges on top. it seems really harsh .how should i conduct this further,

Hi there, about 2 months ago I got on a bus using my wallet to tap, I assumed my contactless took the payment, I had my oyster but wasn't sure it had money, got on the bus no issue I didn't really take notice it beeping or anything like that. I was approached by a conductor during the journey but I couldn't find my contactless, I didn't show my oyster because I didn't think it took the payment. The conductor took my detail and said I'd get a letter and I could respond with my bank statement recording my journey. Checked my statement and nothing had been recorded, checked my oyster balance and it had sufficient funds. I responded to the letter with this info and told them I assumed my Oyster card must have had sufficient funds to pay for the journey. They responded that it hadn't and nor did it have sufficient funds to cover me and that they will notify me of their decision. Last week I received a court summons! I am a uni student about to graduate, I've got no evidence to prove I paid and don't know what to do?! I accept that no payment has been recorded and so I would be due to pay the fare and possibly a fine but I really can't afford a criminal conviction. I didn't intend not to pay, if I hadn't it was pure accident, and this would be the first time I've been so careless in not assuring my payment was acknowledged. know I could possible settle out of court by emailing the prosecution team at tfl but I don't know what to include in my letter? lease could someone assist me, my hearing is in 3 weeks and my career is about to go down the loo if I plead guilty, even if I plead not guilty I have no standing and they'll probably find me guilty anyway. All help will be much appreciated thank you!!

My son got on a train to Euston failed to tap in his Oyster card as he was late for work whilst on the train realised he had left his wallet at home . He got off at Euston and tried to explain the situation to one of the ticket officers who immediately sent him over to the ticket police . He was interviewed for an hour during the interview admitted to not tapping in his Oyster card at bushey station for 2 weeks therefore saving him £4 per journey . The officer interviewing him remarked that he had been very helpful with his information said he would be passing his information on and he would get a fine but not a criminal conviction . A few weeks later he received a letter asking him to verify that he was the person in question . He signed the letter and sent it back . Today he has been sent a court summons . He would like to avoid a criminal conviction but knows that a hefty fine will be payable .. . Any advice .?.

Please I need help! I have just received a court summon for fare evasion, on violation of the railway Act. Basically, I borrowed a friend's annual season ticket and was caught. I was on a night shift coming back for night and she was on a long day. I was very honest that I did it to save money. I only borrowed once or twice because our shifts were not always the same plus I have my own oyster card as well as I have a 6 yr old I drop and pick up from school using the bus if I'm not working. I don't want to have a criminal record and I want to do out of court settlement before the court deadline. How will I do that? Who will I contact to? It is my first offence as well. Help will be greatly appreciated

I took a train from Paddington to Castle Cary back in June, and realised upon arriving that I had forgotten to bring my Young Person's rail card. This was a genuine mistake, and I hold a valid rail card. I was asked to pay for a brand new fare on the spot, which was £100. As I couldn't afford to pay at the time, I was later sent a letter asking me to pay a penalty of £152. My original ticket cost about £23 as it was both an advance fare and reduced further by the rail card. I have sent two letters admitting my mistake and providing evidence of my valid in date rail card, but they've rebuffed my attempts to reason. I understand that it is my responsibility to be able to present it at the time and this was a fault on my part. However, what I don't understand is how not showing my rail card invalidates the 'Advance' part of my ticket. I feel that the penalty is grossly unfair and I am genuinely unable to afford it. I'm being put into the same category as somebody who never purchased a ticket in the first place, which seems absurd. What, if anything, can I do next?

I booked train tickets for the same train (23:30) on 4 successive Fridays and opted to pick up my tickets at Kings Cross station. On the first Friday I forgot my ticket reference and was suprised to find the ticket office shut and I later discovered Kings X shuts all ticket offices at 22:00 but there is an excess ticket window that doubles up as an out of hours ticket office. On that occasion I boarded the train without my tickets and the inspector agreed to look at my online booking (I don't have internet enabled phone but train has wifi and I had my laptop). I turned up at the station on the 4th and final Friday to pick up my tickets for the 23:30, and got an "unable to issue tickets at this time" message. I went to the excess ticket window expecting to give my credit card and get my tickets. Instead the officer asked for my booking reference, I gave it to him. He correctly quoted my destination and told me that my tickets had been printed in the machine. I thought this meant that he had just printed them. I went back and searched all the ticket machines - no ticket. It was now almost departure time and it was the last train so I hurried and got on. The ticket inspector asks for my ticket I explain that I don't have it. She says she will accept an online booking reference. No problem says I and log on with wifi on my laptop and then to my horror I find that the 4th of the 4 journeys had been booked on an earlier train more expensive train (and I dispute it was my error but it is moot anyway). I hadn't noticed because I was sent 4 different confirmations and had just checked the dates. They were all supposed to be for the 23:30. The long and short of it is I was issued an unpaid fare notice which I will dispute but I am prepared to file in small claims for. The reason is because I entered into a contract to pick up my tickets at Kings X and by reason of the ticket office being shut and the failure of out of hours window clerk to issue tickets I was not able to do so. Had I done so I would have realised the booking mistake before boarding and not gotten on the train and simply gone by coach the next day. The fare for the 23:30 was 13:30. The 4th ticket that was for an earlier train was 29.00 and the unpaid fare notice was 96.80. So I would be taking out a small claim for the recovery of at least the 96.80. I'm interested in the legal aspect and the likelihood that the train company will show up to defend the small claim anyway. I have told this story before elsewhere and would like to mention that I am not a fare dodger or a threat to the train company's revenue. An honest error was made somewhere possibly by me although I would dispute that but it is not one that warrants punishing a fare paying customer in that way.