'Innocent mistake!' Man threatened with court action over £1.90 ticket error

Despite offering to rectify the mistake, Williamson has been threatened with prosecution, raising questions about proportionate responses to minor infractions.

The university graduate was travelling to London via Manchester for his driving theory test when the conductor informed him his ticket was invalid due to the railcard's terms and conditions.

So, this afternoon I got home to find a lovely letter from @northernassist telling me about how they wanted to prosecute me for using the below ticket to travel on the specified route at a peak time.
I paid £1.90 less than the fare they say I should have paid.
A thread 🧵 pic.twitter.com/BhcxSvGtnQ

— Sam W (@SamMarkWill) October 8, 2024

The railcard's terms stipulate it cannot be used for fares below £12 between 4am and 10am, Monday to Friday, except in July and August.

Williamson, unaware of this restriction, had used his railcard for similar journeys during the summer without issue.

"I said, 'I am really sorry, this is my mistake, can I buy a new ticket?'," Williamson recounted.

However, the conductor informed him he could not purchase a new ticket or pay a penalty. Instead, a travel incident report was filed.

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Williamson described the situation as "quite stressful", feeling that prosecution was an "unreasonable" response to "fundamentally, a difference of £1.90".

Northern has asked Williamson to explain the incident in writing within two weeks, warning of potential legal proceedings. The rail company maintains that all passengers have "a duty to buy a valid ticket" before boarding.

Williamson expressed disbelief that an "innocent mistake over a confusing and opaque rule that only saved me £1.90, will lead to a punishment of hundreds of pounds and a criminal record".

He criticised the lack of clarity when purchasing the ticket through Northern's app, calling for the company to make it more evident that "an anytime ticket is not any time with a railcard".

In a post on social media platform X, seen by millions of users, he called for "ambiguous" railcard rules to be more clearly publicised.

Williamson argued he should have been given the opportunity to resolve the issue with the conductor on the spot.

"Why would anyone get the train if this is how they will treat you," he remarked.

I am deeply concerned by reports of Northern Rail fining and prosecuting passengers for innocent mistakes when using their railcard at peak times.

I have written to their Managing Director to relay my concerns regarding this practice. pic.twitter.com/Dl9HGnSq11

— Gill Furniss MP (@GillFurnissMP) October 9, 2024

Northern's stance, however, remains firm. The company emphasises that the "overwhelming majority" of passengers comply with ticket regulations.

Reacting to the story, Labour MP Gill Furniss wrote on Twitter, "I am deeply concerned by reports of Northern Rail fining and prosecuting passengers for innocent mistakes when using their railcard at peak times.

"I have written to their Managing Director to relay my concerns regarding this practice."