train fine (C2C)

[leebrett69]

A friend of mine got cought bunking the train not so long ago, he says that he did not give them any form of I.D and they did not take an acurate description. He also gave inacurate hand writing and the incorect signature

 

He says that if he sends them a letter back saying he has not travelled on a train for over a year and someone must of faked his details. Would this mean by law they could not fine him because they got no way of telling it was him.

 

Would just like to no if he is correct. As he said he done it years ago and it worked. Thanks

[SRPO]

He could try, but then he could also be charged with perverting the course of justice.

[leebrett69]

i doubt it because if there is absolutely no proof that it was him (unless it was taken to court) and he was pointed out. By law they cant do a thing.

[SRPO]

So why ask if you already know the answer to your own question?

The description of the person stopped would come from the officer not the statement if a trial took place.

[perplexity]

Fraud is not correct, and fraud is what it is.

 

[andydd]

A friend of mine got cought bunking the train not so long ago, he says that he did not give them any form of I.D and they did not take an acurate description. He also gave inacurate hand writing and the incorect signature

 

He says that if he sends them a letter back saying he has not travelled on a train for over a year and someone must of faked his details. Would this mean by law they could not fine him because they got no way of telling it was him.

 

Would just like to no if he is correct. As he said he done it years ago and it worked. Thanks

 

But he gave them his name and address I assume. ?

 

How does he not know that the Revenue Protection Officer doesnt have a excellent memory and can describe him perfectly ?, also most of the c2c trains and stations have cameras, so he will no doubt be caught on one of them at least.

 

It sounds like your friend is going to play a very dangerous game.

 

Andy

[neeze9]

C2C are very tenacious in finding fraudulent evaders ... take them on at your peril!

Good luck

[leebrett69]

He said he gave them the correct adress and name and says he done it before with a different train network (national express). He got a letter back stating the law, that they cant fine him because they could not prove it was him but this was a few years ago.

[timbo58]

he's a damn fool, as others have said there is a very good chance he will be identified by CCTV and FWIW the pictures these show on the railway network are, for the most part, excellent quality.

[RPI]

We've had many cases like this, C2C will still go ahead and prosecute in your "friends" absence I expect which will result in a bigger fine, as for the inaccurate hand writing, some TOC's will go to the lengths of employing a hand writing specialist to examine any signatures etc (which bumps the legal cost's up if found guilty) so best of luck to your "friend"

[leebrett69]

ok il have a word with him. thanks for your advice

[Old-CodJA]

This guy will almost certainly face prosecution.

 

It could mean that he will be summonsed to Court, where he will have to attend to try to carry through his claim that he has been the 'victim of an impostor' and be faced with 'dock identification' by the Inspector.

 

There may well also be CCTV evidence as all stations and many trains are covered and quite often the record of some, more important issue at around the same time has been preserved, but the evidence for such a case can be available as a secondary benefit.

 

This isn't something new, it is such an old method of attempting to avoid a liability that it is being specifically targeted by some prosecutors and their staff. The Courts take a very dim view, resulting in very hefty punishments when you are caught out.

 

Don't forget, it might have worked before CCTV was so common and before properly trained RPIs & other authorised staff came on to the scene, but it is a particularly silly practice now.

[perplexity]

In the event of an imposter using my details for false pretences I'd be reporting that to the police, insisting that the incident is fully investigated with regard to who would be likely to pick on me in such a fashion, the arrest of the culprit being the prime concern.

 

Anything short of that stinks.