A woman is warning railcard users after being threatened with a criminal record if she didn't cough up £1,100 fine despite buying a train ticket - as her card was out of date. Tash Bacarese-Hamilton had been traveling home from a funeral in Leicester to London St Pancras on an East Midlands Railway [EMR] service on October 14th when her ticket was checked. The 22-year-old was stunned to discover her railcard had expired in April so tried to explain to the inspector she had not been notified about her out-of-date railcard and this was a simple 'human mistake'.
However, she claims EMR staff showed no 'compassion' to her situation and was told she would receive no leniency and would receive a penalty notice. Tash was then hit with a £1,100 fine via email three weeks later (Image: Kennedy News/@Tasha.bh) Tash was then hit with a £1,100 fine via email three weeks later and was told if she didn't pay she would face court and a criminal record.
The performer said when she had purchased the £40 train fare through the Trainline App, she added on her 15-25 railcard before paying to get her discounted rate. She has now paid the £1,100 penalty to avoid a criminal conviction but says the penalty was a 'slap in the face' for an honest 'human error'. However East Midlands Railway suggested the whopping four-figure bill did indeed show leniency as travelling without a valid card could result in 'a criminal conviction and/or a criminal record', but they offered to 'settle out of court'.
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