Receiving a train fine that isn't yours

[Jimmy Grimble]

This has happened to me. Got a letter saying I have an unpaid fare which is now overdue and as such I now owe £89.50. How the bloody hell has this happened? And what on earth am I meant to do? Obviously I'm going to write a letter and ring them up but how am I meant to make them believe me?

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Peever]

Sorry for the un educated.... but how is it you can get a train fine? When I was over in England they had so many ticket checks....and wouldnt they force you to pay it then and there if you had no ticket?

 

[Tory Boy]

Ask for the evidence, and challengne it.

If it wasn't you then you have nothing to worry about.

I suspect some sneaky so and so has given your details when they got caught.

TB

 

[Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews]

you seem to see a lot of these questions posted, do people no longer use the term "stick it up your fuckin arse"? It seemed to work a lot in the 'olden days' however a Birdham Road address did seem to help with regards to bailiffs and the like

 

[seagullondon]

Just be honest to them really, tell them it wasn't you. There is no way they can prove it was you, someone must have just given your name and address, (do you have any enemies out there batman) and you won't have to pay it I am sure.

 

[Billy the Fish]

This has happened to me. Got a letter saying I have an unpaid fare which is now overdue and as such I now owe £89.50. How the bloody hell has this happened? And what on earth am I meant to do? Obviously I'm going to write a letter and ring them up but how am I meant to make them believe me?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Haha, more importantly you need to work out who doesn't like you and gave them your name and address.

 

[algie]

Haha, more importantly you need to work out who doesn't like you and gave them your name and address.

Yep this. Been there done that

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

Go very careful with the phone number, if you 100% know it's Southern Rail or whatever it's now called then fine but if not it could be a preium rate scam designed to get you to ring?

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

Haha, more importantly you need to work out who doesn't like you and gave them your name and address.

This is what concerned me!

 

[seagullondon]

Before you do anything i would ask [MENTION=1416]Ernest[/MENTION] , even though he is a bit of a mentalist, he is the train expert on here

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

As an aside, they've actually spelt my last name wrong on the letter they've sent me, but only by one letter; and it was sent to my old address. Can this work in my favour at all?

And it's definitely not a scam letter.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Isn't there cctv on all trains now, so you can ask them to show you the evidence that it was you?

 

[Gwm]

This has actually happened to me many many years ago. I suspected a so called friend used my name when caught. However they got my house number wrong. I wrote back stating it wasn't me, if it was they should have checked for ID which they clearly didn't. I imagine if you go down the same route by writing to them and challenging it in court etc they would not pursue it as they would not be able to produce any evidence of your ID at the time. If they did they would not have spelt your name wrong. Also for the sake of £89.50 is it worth their time and money ?

 

[Triggaaar]

I suspect some sneaky so and so has given your details when they got caught.

Ah, the irony of this happening to con boy.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

This has actually happened to me many many years ago. I suspected a so called friend used my name when caught. However they got my house number wrong. I wrote back stating it wasn't me, if it was they should have checked for ID which they clearly didn't. I imagine if you go down the same route by writing to them and challenging it in court etc they would not pursue it as they would not be able to produce any evidence of your ID at the time. If they did they would not have spelt your name wrong. Also for the sake of £89.50 is it worth their time and money ?

What was their response to this?

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Surely just explain that it wasn't you and see what they say. Try and get proof that you were somewhere else or ask that they prove you were on the train at the time stated?

 

[Ernest]

This has happened to me. Got a letter saying I have an unpaid fare which is now overdue and as such I now owe £89.50. How the bloody hell has this happened? And what on earth am I meant to do? Obviously I'm going to write a letter and ring them up but how am I meant to make them believe me?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Happens quite a lot, someone gets caught without a ticket and then gives a name of someone they know as the details are checked out on the Electoral Roll.

Respond to the letter and explain that it is not you and see what happens.

 

[Danny-Boy]

As an aside, they've actually spelt my last name wrong on the letter they've sent me, but only by one letter; and it was sent to my old address. Can this work in my favour at all?

And it's definitely not a scam letter.

Which operator was it? Southern, South-Eastern, FCC or whoever does the Bedford eservice?

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

The letter is from the Revenue Protection Support Services. It doesn't say which operator, but it was issued on a train from Birmingham New Street to Euston. So I'm guessing it's Virgin.


I'm in the process of writing a letter to them now. Being truthful and trying to make it as clear as possible it wasn't me! How likely is this kind of thing to go to court? Because I really could do without the hassle of that.

 

[Ernest]

The letter is from the Revenue Protection Support Services. It doesn't say which operator, but it was issued on a train from Birmingham New Street to Euston. So I'm guessing it's Virgin.


I'm in the process of writing a letter to them now. Being truthful and trying to make it as clear as possible it wasn't me! How likely is this kind of thing to go to court? Because I really could do without the hassle of that.

Don't worry, write to them and explain exactly what has happened. You're not the first this has happened to.