Terrified - used husband's season ticket and lied and said it was mine

[badwife]

Hi.

Im really hoping someone will respond quickly to this - I've not had a wink of sleep.

 

I used my husbands season ticket on the train yesterday, and got stopped by an inspector.

 

At that point I said it was mine.

He asked for my photocard I said I had left it at home,

 

he then confiscated the card (an annual gold card - 4 months still to run),

took my address and made me sign a paper that had something at the bottom about the Prosecutions Dept.

 

I dont know what I was thinking

- I gave my name and address, so of course they are going to very quickly

realise that the season ticket is in my husbands name and not mine.

 

I have not yet told my husband, but obviously will have to tell him today.

He is going to be furious.

 

In my defence, I have a network rail card, which is in a blue travel wallet

- exactly the same as my husbands.

 

I keep in the hall drawer - he doesn't usually put his there,

so I took it from the drawer and put it in my bag without checking it.

 

I got to the station, realised the mistake but could not return to the house as my husband was out

and I had no keys.

 

I absolutely recognise that I should have bought a ticket,

I dont know why I was so stupid as to then use the ticket,

and I cant explain why I didnt just confess to the inspector

- there were two of them,

 

I felt foolish and incredibly embarrassed in front of everyone on the train

and persisted with my ridiculous story.

 

The inspector told me to call the Prosecutions Dept

and give my photocard details and the travelcard would be returned

- but obviously not, as I lied to him.

 

I recognise I dont have especially compelling argument - plain stupidity.

 

How can I make this right?

 

Should I call the Prosecutions Dept,

give them the ref number and come clean over the phone?

Or should I write a letter?

 

I have read on here such differing advice and I am so terrified,

not least because I now need to tell my husband before he looks for his ticket,

and explain to him what will happen next.

 

I will do anything I can to settle this quickly and without having to go to court.

I'm mortified.

 

Its a bank holiday Monday, so I cant phone Prosecutions Dept til Tuesday.

But is it better to write or phone?

What about my husbands ticket - will he get it back,

and if he pays for travel in the interim, would that extra cost be refunded?

 

I am so, so sorry - have never done anything like this. Never will again.

 

I have some personal circumstances that are causing a great deal of stress

(emotiional and financial) though I wont get into that here,

and Im not sure if it will seem like a sob story to try to present them in my defence.

 

Grateful for any advice.

Edited May 4, 2014 by citizenB
spacing to make reading easier

[rebel11]

Hi badwife

 

Welcome to CAG

 

First thing to do is calm down, as you say it's a genuine mistake. You really should of been upfront with the Inspectors, you realize that, it's happened, case of trying to resolve matters. We've got people who work in the industry who should respond as soon as they are available. Bear in mind it's a Bank Holiday weekend.

 

They normally send out a letter asking for your version of events. You will need to wait for the letter. Once you get the letter update the thread with the details.

 

I think it might be an idea for you husband to call them tomorrow, he only needs to explain that you picked up the wrong Travelcard and were stopped and request that his Travelcard is returned back to him.

 

They will only speak to him as it's his card (Data Protection).

[Conniff]

I can't see how you can say 'it's a genuine mistake', it may have started out that way but when the error was realised and with time to rectify it, deceit was the chosen route.

[unclebulgaria67]

I can't see how you can say 'it's a genuine mistake', it may have started out that way but when the error was realised and with time to rectify it, deceit was the chosen route.

 

Agree.

I think the possible way out of this mess, is to write an apology letter to the prosecution department

of the rail company concerned,

 

explaining what has happened and the mistake you made with a panicked explanation to the ticket inspector.

 

If you explain that you had picked up the wrong ticket card at home

and that you had your own network rail card in an identical blue wallet, they might accept.

 

Supply details of your own rail card that would have allowed travel on the same journey.

You might have to pay whatever the penalty fare is for the journey,

as you did not have the correct rail card with you.

[JohnSwansea]

Hi

 

I agree with the comments above, all you can do now is be completely up front with them.

 

I doubt they will want to discuss in detail on the phone.

You might want to call them to check that and to confirm address to write to,

but I am sure they will want a written submission from you.

 

On your questions.

Will husband get his ticket back and any additional fares refunded?

I *think* he will,

but on this the train co will need to be satisfied that he did not agree to you taking his ticket.

 

They may well need confirmation from him that he did not do so.

And he will need to retain the original replacement tics,

they will be needed before any refund will be considered.

 

As for your personal circumstances,

I would not go on about them too much.

If there genuinely tragic circumstances the train co might take them into account,

but they have heard all the excuses under the sun before,

and anyway your circumstances cannot excuse lying to the inspector.

 

You may want to consider hiring a solicitor.

There are some who specialise in train ticket cases

and have lots of experience negotiating with train co prosecution departments,

and they will have contacts there and may be able to accelerate the process.

 

Will of course cost hundreds but may be best way to sort out asap

and also make sure does not escalate, as train cos sometimes take abuse of season tickets

very seriously because of the potential for significant loss of revenue.

Edited May 4, 2014 by honeybee13

[badwife]

I have evidence (bank statements showing payments to train company) that I have bought tickets in the recent past, using my network card. Would this help me in my argument that this is a first-time offence, or would it just aggravate circumstances?!

[dx100uk]

I would await any letter that might arrive

 

then comeback here.

 

in the meantime, get the OH to phone them upi and ask for the card back.

 

dx

[Old-CodJA]

I would not get too stressed about this, it will help to know which rail company or route this occurred on in order to assess how likely a hard line will be taken

 

Don't give exact details, just the name of the train company will suffice. I assume that you have told your husband now. Let us know how that goes. It isn't for us to judge, but this is always a delicate situation. I have read your first post and understand the explanation that you have given, but what will go through the prosecutions staff mind is 'Did your husband know that you had his season ticket, or did you take it without his consent?'

 

It is probably best not to contact them at all until they contact you because then you will have the unique reference number allocated to your case and will know exactly who you need to respond to.

 

Your husband may call and ask for the return of his season ticket, but do not be surprised if that is declined until further questions have been answered. The TOC staff are very unlikely to discuss the detail of a case involving you with any third party unless a lawyer acting on your behalf.

 

I know that sounds worse than it is in practice, the main thing to remember is to stay calm and await the letter, you will then know what it is you are dealing with

[badwife]

Thanks for your comments, I really appreciate your help.

 

The company is FCC.

 

I have told my husband. He was supportive, and not as angry as I expected. Although hes worried about asking for his ticket back, and having to admit he didnt know I had it, thereby effectively accusing me of theft. He did not know I had it. I did not know either - I only discovered I had picked up the wrong one when I got to the station, as I thought I had my network railcard and did not actually check inside the travel wallet til I was at the station. I know it was stupid to go ahead and use the ticket, and even worse to try to lie and say it was mine. This is why I want to write and explain myself asap - to sit tight and wait for them to contact me feels like I'm trying to continue the lie, whereas to come clean might appear to be trying to do the right thing? I do have a unique reference number - I was given a form after I gave my details to the inspector.

 

Thanks again guys - I appreciate your advice.

[rebel11]

Hi badwife

 

What does the form say?

 

Thanks for your comments, I really appreciate your help.

 

The company is FCC.

 

I have told my husband. He was supportive, and not as angry as I expected. Although hes worried about asking for his ticket back, and having to admit he didnt know I had it, thereby effectively accusing me of theft. He did not know I had it. I did not know either - I only discovered I had picked up the wrong one when I got to the station, as I thought I had my network railcard and did not actually check inside the travel wallet til I was at the station. I know it was stupid to go ahead and use the ticket, and even worse to try to lie and say it was mine. This is why I want to write and explain myself asap - to sit tight and wait for them to contact me feels like I'm trying to continue the lie, whereas to come clean might appear to be trying to do the right thing? I do have a unique reference number - I was given a form after I gave my details to the inspector.

 

Thanks again guys - I appreciate your advice.

[badwife]

The form said that I was questioned (the inspector crossed out 'cautioned') - it said that I had been asked if I had a valid ticket - I said I thought I did, and did I have any thing to add - I said no. And there was one other question to which I answered no, but I cant remember what it was, I'm sorry. I then signed it, and was given the tear-off slip at the bottom of it, which has a reference number on it, and the prosecution address.

[rebel11]

Hi badwife

 

old-codJA is the industry expert, it's good that you've told your husband, I know you want to be pro-active and send of a letter, best to wait for old-codJA to advise regarding your next step.

 

The form said that I was questioned (the inspector crossed out 'cautioned') - it said that I had been asked if I had a valid ticket - I said I thought I did, and did I have any thing to add - I said no. And there was one other question to which I answered no, but I cant remember what it was, I'm sorry. I then signed it, and was given the tear-off slip at the bottom of it, which has a reference number on it, and the prosecution address.

[Old-CodJA]

The form said that I was questioned (the inspector crossed out 'cautioned') - it said that I had been asked if I had a valid ticket - I said I thought I did, and did I have any thing to add - I said no. And there was one other question to which I answered no, but I cant remember what it was, I'm sorry. I then signed it, and was given the tear-off slip at the bottom of it, which has a reference number on it, and the prosecution address.

 

 

I may be wrong depending on which form was used, but is likely that the last question would have been something like "Do you agree that you would have left the railway without paying your correct fare if I had not spoken to you?" or words to that effect. If you answered "No" when asked that question, that will be helpful and the fact that the staff making out the report crossed out 'cautioned' and wrote 'questioned' will indicate that they are likely to write asking you to produce your photo-identity card or give your written explanation before taking any further action.

 

Wait until the letter arrives, but get prepared to answer promptly. Take a clear colour photo-copy of your own ticket in readiness and the case that it is in if you are saying that it is identical to that containing your husbands' season ticket.

 

When you get the letter from the TOC come back to us and tell us exactly what it says. You can copy the letter into your thread, but leave out all reference numbers and names etc. making sure that there is nothing published on here from which you can be identified. Unfortunately, with very busy offices dealing with these matters at many TOCs it may take some time for that letter to arrive.

 

Until he gets his season ticket back your husband should pay for daily or weekly tickets and on doing so should ask for a receipt each time in order that an application for refund can be processed if his application is successful.

 

The key to being successful in appealing these matters is to be entirely truthful at the earliest opportunity. Where an offence has been committed the TOC are not obliged to settle without Court action, but will always consider such representation in all cases.