Penalty Fare problem IRCAS

[Martynandemma]

Hi all,

 

does anyone know of a way to contact IRCAS directly as I am fed up with trying to appeal against a penalty fare that I feel was wrong.

 

I got a train to chelmsford a while ago & as I live in zone 5/6 thought Oyster cards were valid on overground trains as in the news in January they said you can now use oyster cards on overground trains.

 

I dont get a train very often so I asked my local oyster shop if I put £8 on my oyster will this get me to chelmsford, he said yes.

 

I was surprised to find out that oysters are not valid at chelmsford & so after a long conversation was given my penalty fare notice.

 

I have appealed & been told that they find in favour of the penalty fare. I have since appealed again & now I am appealing to them again. I know they will come back with the same answer but they give you no number to contact them. To be honest I will pay the £20 fine if I have to but I will not pay the admin fee of £55

 

I only get JSA of £60 a week & live alone so does anybody have any bright ideas ??

 

many thanks

[RPI]

If they've rejected your appeal then you may just be better paying what they ask for as they may well just cancel the PF and prosecute you instead.

[SRPO]

Whats a local oyster shop?

[Martynandemma]

where you top up your oyster card, usually newsagents.

 

Re the first reply, I am happy to pay the £20 fine because I want it out of the way but I dont see why I should pay a £55 admin fee, thats worse than what the baillifs charge for non payment of a car fine.

[RPI]

the only reason that admin costs would be added is because you have failed to pay within the 21 day deadline, bear in mind that any time after the 21 days they can cancel the notice without warning.

[Wriggler7]

And if the matter goes to Court, it will cost a lot more than £55.

[SRPO]

where you top up your oyster card, usually newsagents.

Therein lies your problem, would you ask the station ticket office staff what the best newspaper was?

Newsagents will say your oyster was valid to glasgow if it meant taking money from you.

The responsibilty to ensure you hold a valid ticket is yours & yours alone.

I know its not what you want to hear, sorry.

[Martynandemma]

but I have no way of contacting them & as I get £60 a week I cant pay in 1 go

[neeze9]

IRCAS telephone number 01730 235302

[Martynandemma]

thanks, do you know who that puts me through to ??

[Stigy]

thanks, do you know who that puts me through to ??

Ircas?

[Martynandemma]

Har har

 

I meant which department

[neeze9]

Its a human being! I searched the web and found the fax number then just played around with the numbers LOL

[Martynandemma]

ok thanks, will speak to them nicely on Monday morning

[Old-CodJA]

ok thanks, will speak to them nicely on Monday morning

 

 

Your best option in my view it to put a letter in to them asking if you can have extra time to pay the demand.

 

As others have pointed out, they can cancel the unpaid notice and the TOC may issue a Summons any time after the initial 21 day appeal period or at any time after they have notified you of a rejected appeal

 

I know it isn't what you want to hear, but many thousands of successful prosecutions of this type pass through the Courts year in-year out so, I suggest you ask them nicely if they will allow you extra time rather than telling them what you will pay, otherwise you may not get the answer that you are looking for.

[Old-CodJA]

Your best option in my view is to put a letter in to them asking if you can have extra time to pay the demand.

 

As others have pointed out, they can cancel the unpaid notice and the TOC may issue a Summons any time after the initial 21 day appeal period or at any time after they have notified you of a rejected appeal

 

I know it isn't what you want to hear, but many thousands of successful prosecutions of this type pass through the Courts year in-year out so, I suggest you ask them nicely if they will allow you extra time rather than telling them what you will pay, otherwise you may not get the answer that you are looking for.

[RPI]

They may well allow you to pay in more than one installment if you ask them nicely, maybe 27.50 one week and the same the next?

[danare76]

Definite IRCAS contact telephone number : 0845 4348 292

 

I spoke directly to a person not 5 minutes ago! Finally a contact number for these people!

[thornpuller]

How are these people allowed to charge the admin fees without warning? And how are they allowed to only give you 21 days to appeal and then increase your fee without giving you any notice/reminder? This seems like an extortionate system designed only to make money for IRCAS. They seem to rely on people forgetting/not reading the fine print on the penalty receipt. Having been out of town I have now come back to a £90 fine for thinking I could use my oyster card at a station I had never been to in my life. I was going to appeal but then misplaced the receipt...then received a letter dated April 14th on the 28th - saying I had to pay within 14 days of the letter! Quite the joke. What a completely unfair, profitising way to deal with your customers, Southwestern!