You may have received an initial letter from Southeastern trains, telling you that the matter has been ‘provisionally authorised for prosecution’. Or you may have received the Single Justice Procedure court paperwork, notifying you of the court date. Contacting a fare evasion solicitor early can prevent a criminal record.

We understand that it is deeply concerning to face a prosecution, especially if a criminal record could have an impact on your job, future career plans or travel plans. Reeds Solicitors specialise in this area and have an excellent track record in securing out of court settlements, avoiding any form of criminal record. What’s more, it does not matter where in the country you are – we can conduct all our meetings virtually.

You can read reviews for our Southeastern Trains prosecution representation work at the bottom of the page [click here]. For further information, consider reading our ‘fare evasion’ page.

Reeds Solicitors is an award winning and leading top-tier criminal defence firm. For legal advice and representation, please contact us through our contact page here. Alternatively, you can phone 0333 240 7373, or email us at fareevasion@reeds.co.uk.

For more information about Southeastern Trains Revenue Protection Policy, see their website here.

What should I do if I receive the initial letter from Southeastern Trains?

Southeastern Trains Prosecution Letter - Reeds Solicitors - May 2024

 

The letter gives you 7 days to reply to Southeastern trains. This is an opportunity to outline any relevant mitigation and address the circumstances of the ticket infraction. As part of our service, we would take over conduct of the matter and reply on your behalf to Southeastern trains, seeking an out of court settlement.

Detailed and persuasive written representations would be submitted and we would consider whether any supporting documents could increase your chances of success.

Southeastern trains are able to apply to trainline to view your ticket purchasing history. If further ticket issues would be revealed, we would need to carefully consider how to address this in the representations. You can see an example of the Southeastern Trains prosecution letter at the bottom of this page. Click here to be taken to the example letter.

 

What should I do if I have received a court summons?

Southeastern trains usually prosecute their cases at Bexley Magistrates’ Court, although some cases are prosecuted at Sevenoaks. The court summons may give you 21 days to enter a plea, or there may be a specified date in which you must attend court.

In order to avoid a conviction, our fare evasion solicitor would need to convince Southeastern trains to withdraw the court summons and offer an out of court settlement instead. Again, this involves outlining relevant mitigation and addressing any issues with the ticket infraction(s).

Why would Southeastern trains prosecute me over such a low amount?

Generally, the train companies argue that prosecutions are in the public interest because of the huge sums of money which are lost to the rail industry as a result of fare evasion. Prosecutions act as a deterrent, in theory discouraging others from evading their fares.

What fare evasion offences could I be prosecuted for?

Southeastern privately prosecute under two offences, depending on the circumstances:

s.5(3) of the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 – intentionally travelling on the Railway without having paid the fare.

This is the most common charge. The allegation is that you have intentionally travelled without paying the correct fare. Typically, this may involve ‘short tickets’ which do not cover the full journey or ‘sandwich tickets’ where the middle part of the journey is not covered by the tickets.

Railway Bye Law 18(1) & 17(1)- Entering a train for the purpose of travel without a valid ticket.

Southeastern will prosecute under this offence if a penalty fare has been issued and then the commuter has failed to pay it.

Could I end up with a criminal record?

Yes. If you plead guilty to the offence in the court paperwork, or if you are found guilty – you will receive a criminal conviction.

A conviction under s.5(3) of the Regulations of Railways Act would appear on a Standard and Enhanced DBS certificate for 11 years. This could have a serious impact on people in certain professions.

Unspent convictions also need to be disclosed on insurance and mortgage applications. Furthermore, there would be implications for visa applications.

How can a specialist Solicitor help me?

We have a vast amount of experience in a wide range of fare evasion cases. Our fare evasion solicitor has worked on countless cases involving Southeastern trains, and we also have direct contact details of the relevant decision makers which greatly assists in resolving matters promptly.

The starting point would be to arrange a virtual meeting, where we can obtain all of the information and background about the matter. Then will can draft written representations on your behalf, seeking an out of court settlement.

With the right approach, we are often able to resolve these matters on your behalf. We have an excellent track record of preventing criminal prosecutions in these cases. We offer fixed fees which cover all of the work involved – so you have complete clarity in terms of costs.

Case Studies and Testimonials for Reeds Solicitors

Case study 1 – Travelling on a Partial Ticket

P was caught traveling with a ticket, which only covered part of the journey into London Bridge station. He received the initial letter from Southeastern and replied but did not receive a response. He later received Single Justice Procedure paperwork, with a court appearance at Bexley Magistrates’ Court. He was concerned because his train history showed that he had been purchasing ‘short tickets’ over an 8-month period. Reeds Solicitors submitted representations on his behalf to Southeastern, carefully considering how to address the previous journeys and outline the client’s relevant mitigation points.
Southeastern agreed to offer an out of court settlement and the case was withdrawn. The client received no form of criminal record.

Case study 2 – Travelling without a Train Ticket

B travelled into London without purchasing a ticket. He boarded the train at his local station, where there were no barriers. When he arrived into London Bridge, he exited through an open barrier, although he was caught by a Revenue Protection Officer. He had been doing the same thing for over a year. B was extremely concerned about being prosecuted because had just started a new job in the finance industry. Reeds Solicitors submitted representations, making a careful judgment about which points to include in the representations and which aspects to leave out. Southeastern train offered an out of court settlement to resolve the matter.

Case study 3 – Travelling with ‘Sandwich’ Tickets

C purchased two tickets for each journey – one to get through the barrier onto the train and another to get through the barrier on arrival in London, with the middle part of the journey missing. This is known as ‘sandwich tickets’. C also gave incorrect details about her name, which was subsequently discovered by Southeastern. Reeds Solicitors submitted detailed representations, with various supporting documents. The Southeastern prosecutor said that they would normally prosecute this type of case but that they were persuaded by the mitigation to offer an out of court settlement on this occasion.

 

Often, obtaining legal advice at an early stage is crucial. For legal advice and representation, please contact us through our contact page here. Alternatively, you can phone 0333 240 7373, or email us at fareevasion@reeds.co.uk.

 

  • Fare Evasion Settlement I recently had a fare evasion case from southeastern. I immediately contacted Reeds and was put in touch with Nathan who helped with everything. Nathan spoke me through the whole process and shared his expertise on how to deal with it. My situation would have probably would have been a serious case of fare evasion, but Nathan was clear with how we would deal with it and took my case forward on my behalf, and managed to secure an out of court settlement for me. It is safe to say I have learnt my lesson on my end, but also if anyone is going through a similar situation, don’t panic and talk to Nathan, he is professional and extremely understanding, I could not recommend him highly enough.
    read more
    26/09/2024
    TFL fare evasion After receiving a court summons for travelling incorrectly with a 60+ Oyster my heart fell and I was panicked at the thought of a court hearing, criminal conviction and the possible implications on my career. After googling my options, several searches led me to Reeds solicitors and in particular Nathan.
    After an initial video call which was promptly set up and a conversation discussing my options, Nathan informed me of my possible chances of success. I decided to proceed with appealing and with Nathan’s help we drafted representation to the court. I have just heard today that thankfully the matter will be resolved out of court. This could not have been done without Nathan and I strongly recommend him to anyone in this position. For weeks I have been stressed but he helped to calm my nerves and I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. Fantastically professional and helpful.
    read more
    26/08/2024
    Rail Fare Evasion Having been stopped by an Revenue Protection Officer for travelling on an incorrect ticket, a quick search on the internet revealed how serious this could be for me, as the RPO informed me that the Train company would review all my history via the app (which would reveal repeat short fares), and the potential for any prosecution (and criminal record) to have a significant impact on my career.

    I reached out to Reeds via their contact form having read extensive positive reviews across multiple forums and dealt with Nathan. Firstly, I was contacted by Nathan's caseworker who helped to set up the initial consultation and was very reassuring and fluent communicator. Nathan is highly experienced in this field and will advise the best course of action to take. Having supplied all the information after my consultation, I felt very reassured I was in good hands with Nathan leading on my case.

    Nathan set to work engaging proactively with the Train company prior to me receiving any letters from them. After around 3 weeks, Nathan had managed to secure an out of court settlement helping to bring this matter to a close. I would highly recommend engaging with Reeds if you are facing a similar situation.
    read more
    Client
    26/07/2024
  • Calm and professional, very reassuring and, of course, gets the results We called in Nathan a few days before a scheduled case management hearing for a vexatious private prosecution being brought by GoVia Thameslink. He talked us through the process, what he could likely achieve, and clearly had done this many many times. Within 48 hours it was all done and dusted, out of court settlement. Can recommend using Nathan to make the whole things go away rather than trying to rage against the machine that is Thameslink. (And having spent £170k with them between us over the years, trust me we were raging!)
    read more
    26/06/2024
    A truly outstanding and empathetic expert with a winning mentality ! When we first engaged with Nathan on the video call we immediately knew we had made the right call to maximise our chances of success with our TFL case. He was a great listener, had real empathy for the challenge we were facing and, most importantly, his in-depth knowledge and considerable experience in this field enabled him to construct the best possible case ... which, needless to say, went on to secure the best possible outcome. We would recommend Nathan wholeheartedly !
    read more
    26/05/2024
    An expert when we needed it most - thank you Nathan! Nathan was incredibly helpful, knowledgeable and reassuring during a stressful situation concerning an issue with my son's railcard. He very promptly provided invaluable information, reassurance and clarity on the options going forward. Would thoroughly recommend Nathan and Abi at Reeds Solicitors for their extremely kind support and all round professionalism.
    26/04/2024
  • True expert and kind: Nathan, thank you! I contacted Nathan to work on my case after receiving a letter from TFL for the misuse of my mother's 60+ card. Nathan was extremely knowledge and explained the legalities of the situation in a very patient, constructive, kind and expert manner. His desire to truly help shone throughout the process. We collected the supporting documents and TFL dropped my case with a warning. I am so thankful to Nathan for his help, guidance and approachable attitude! I would pick him again any day for a fare evasion case, highly recommend.
    read more
    Client
    26/03/2024
    Amazing Work, Thank You! After receiving a notice of prosecution letter from Thameslink, I reached out to Nathan seeking advice.
    With this being the first time being involved in something like this, I had no idea how to begin to resolve this matter, which played a big effect on my mental heath.
    Nathan was amazing! He was very calm, proactive and experience and managed to resolve the matter within days!!
    I would highly recommend Nathan for anyone in a similar situation - he holds a wealth of knowledge in this area.
    I would like to thank Nathan and his team again! Your work is greatly appreciated!
    read more
    Client
    26/02/2024
    TfL Fare Evasion Being caught and receiving a letter from TfL have been drastically affecting my mental health. I desperately needed some professional guidance and help and I found Reeds fare evasion solicitors and they introduced me to Nathan Seymour-Hyde and arranged an appointment with me urgently. Nathan has been very calm and supportive with my case and guided me through how to prepare for a respond and explained to me about the implications of potential consequences and answered my questions. He listened to my concerns and worries and responded to TfL on my behalf.
    I am very grateful now that this is resolved with a very positive outcome. I can now celebrate and continue to live my life again.
    I must say thank you to you and your team for your effort and support for me. You are actually doing something very meaningful and helping a lot of average people who had to do this because they struggle financially and potentially saving their lives and future.
    read more
    Client
    31/01/2024
  • Gets Results! TfL attempted to prosecute me for using someone else's 60+ London Oyster card. I drafted my own appeal to their initial letter explaining my unique circumstances but TfL rejected it and continued to attempt their prosecution. At this point I reached out to Nathan Seymour-Hyde of Reeds because of his excellent reputation in dealing with fare evasion cases. He more than lived up to it!

    I explained my situation to Nathan and he clearly and calmly explained what we needed to do and what would maximise our chances of success. He was extremely reassuring and patiently answered all of my questions. After getting him the evidence he asked me to pull together, Nathan drafted a compelling and powerful appeal to TfL on my behalf. His deft work persuaded TfL to drop their prosecution against me and all fines - an excellent result!
    read more
    Client
    31/12/2023
    I would recommend them anytime. I was referred to Reeds by a friend and did not regret
    contacting them.

    Zoe and the team were friendly, reassuring and knowledgeable of all outcomes. I would recommend them anytime.
    read more
    27/11/2023
    Exactly what a lawyer should be Zoe was flawless with my case from start to finish. She was well prepared, extremely familiar with the facts, and answered every question I had quickly and clearly. When I felt unsure, she reassured me quickly and made me feel calm and confident. I cannot recommend her work more highly - exactly what a lawyer should be.
    E.W.
    13/10/2023
  • Transport Investigations Limited Matter - Great professional firm Very happy to have found this firm online. After reading the reviews and testimonials, I knew that Nathan Seymour-Hyde would be able to help me out - he did not disappoint. Turned around the whole situation in less than a week. Would highly recommend.
    S.
    20/02/2023
    TFL matter - Expert Guidance From Nathan Many thanks to Nathan who expertly and professionally guided my son through the process of collecting essential mitigating evidence that he would not have been aware of. And of course, for presenting the evidence in a professional letter to TFL that resulted in his case being dropped. First class service.
    Graham
    20/02/2023
    Fare evasion - TFL matter From the moment I received a letter telling me that I was going to be prosecuted, my heart dropped. I didn't know what to do with myself. My heart was pounding non-stop. I didn't want to get convicted because of one silly mistake. So I went online, searching for help and I came across Reeds Solicitors LLP. They completely saved me. They put me in touch with Nathan Michael Seymour-Hyde and he was brilliant right from the start. Nathan was very knowledgeable, he knew exactly what he was talking about. He dealt with my case professionally and he was a pleasure to talk to. Nathan wrote to TFL on my behalf and they dropped my case thanks to his clear and polished email. Once again Nathan if you're reading this I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart! Thank you so much! I am extremely grateful for everything you done for me. Thank you for taking my case and helping me out.
    read more
    Ismail
    13/02/2023
  • Govia Thameslink matter Nathan is super helpful and solve my case within a week. Very professional and know what he need to do then give me the best advice. Very delightful experience highly recommend.
    Lucy
    25/01/2023
    TFL matter - Highly Recommend Nathan I received the help from Nathan Seymour-Hyde. He helped me regarding a fare evasion accusation. From start to finish, I had huge support from Nathan, he was very professional and sympathetic. Thanks to his work my case had a successful outcome.
    Maggie
    20/01/2023
    TFL Court Case Nathan was really helpful in advising me and committed to helping me out of this case, spending long hours perfecting my draft and was always approachable when I had concerns.
    Sana
    20/01/2023
  • TFL 60+ matter I felt that from the very start that Nathan understood what I was going through. I had a requisition to attend court in 4 weeks and my mitigating circumstances for an OOC settlement vs TFL had already been rejected. Needless to say I had a very low chance of success at this point and had given up all hope. I approached Nathan and we went through numerous drafts, submitting more than 10 supporting documents. We were successfully able to settle out of court with TFL within a week of submission. I could not recommend Nathan enough, he is the best for fare evasion cases re TFL.
    read more
    F.N.
    20/11/2022
    Southeastern Trains Because I tried to avoid paying for the train fee and I was caught, the railway company opened a prosecution case on my name. My solicitor listened to my case, provided detailed information about what could be done, helped in structuring correctly the needed letters, and completing the other necessary procedures. Fortunately, my prosecution case was settled out of court, and I just had to pay a fine to the rail company, of around £350. This case had a successful ending only because of my solicitor, Mr. Nathan, who I am so thankful to
    read more
    D.P
    09/11/2022
    Transport Investigations Limited Above and beyond! Nathan Seymour-Hyde helped me with what was a somewhat unusual case - securing a much needed out of court settlement. I felt well informed throughout the whole process and it’s clear that Nathan’s expertise was the reason for the end result. I was well supported throughout the process with all my questions answered quickly and professionally. It’s clear Nathan cared about my case and I would 100% recommend this firm to anyone having similar issues.
    read more
    M.A.
    10/10/2022
  • Southeastern Trains Nathan Seymour-Hyde was extremely professional and responsive in dealing with my train fare evasion matter. He displayed sound knowledge of how such matters are viewed by train companies and tailored an approach bespoke to my case to give the best chance for a successful outcome. Nathan showed an attention to detail in establishing the facts and was sympathetic to my circumstances. Nathan is personable, diligent and I felt reassured my matter was in safe hands. I am grateful for Nathan's service and I would highly recommend him to anyone seeking a solicitor.
    read more
    T.A
    20/09/2022
    Northern Rail Nathan's advice was extremely valuable, and I am very glad I decided to get in touch with him for help. Northern Rail confirmed that they are offering me the opportunity of paying a fine with no criminal conviction. I'm extremely happy with this outcome - I was so distressed thinking about everything.
    M.A.
    12/09/2022
    TFL 18+ zip card Dear Nathan Seymour Hyde, thank you so much for representing me on my fare evasion case. I have managed to avoid a prosecution and get off with a warning, and it is all thanks to you that I can carry on with my future plans, unhindered by a criminal conviction. I am very grateful for all the hard work you've done.
    A.U.
    10/09/2022
  • Transport Investigations Ltd Nathan helped us with a fare evasion case against our student son. It was a very anxious time for us as a family. Nathan responded quickly to our out of hours request and professionally and courteously explained the potential consequences, outcomes and next step actions. He spoke kindly to our son and listened patiently, gathering the necessary details to assist our response, which was required within tight deadlines. Nathan called at times to suit us and worked in the background with Transport Investigation Ltd to better understand the issues and to prepare our best defence. The letter and evidence drawn up and presented was successful in withdrawing a court appearance and avoiding a criminal record. Nathan’s expertise in this area was evident throughout and I would not hesitate to recommend Nathan for matters relating to fare evasion.
    read more
    S.A.
    20/08/2022
    Govia Thameslink I received a Notice of Intention to Prosecute from a train company saying that I would not only be fined but likely prosecuted for an invalidated ticket. Nathan at Reeds responded to me within hours of me contacting Reeds for help. He arranged a meeting for the next business day, we spoke at length not only about the incident but about my background, and within 24 hours he had resolved the issue with the rail company. I was impressed by Nathan’s communication, his efficiency and how quickly he conducted and concluded the matter. After this experience I would say that Reeds Solicitors do exactly what they promise they would.
    read more
    P.A.
    13/08/2022
    Chiltern Railway Matter Thank you very much for the great news on the out of court settlement and going the lengths to achieve this for me. Without your proactive approach, the consequences would have been drastically different. No doubt no other specialist could have secured this level of success in such a short time, given the different advice they had all given me.
    M.E.
    13/06/2022
  • Transport Investigations Limited Matter From the moment I contacted Reeds I felt in safe hands. Nathan Seymour-Hyde phoned me very promptly about my situation and was sympathetic and easy to deal with. In my case, I had personally corresponded several times with Chiltern Railways’ agents, seeking an out of court settlement, but despite this they said they still intended to prosecute. Nathan developed a comprehensive argument to seek to settle the matter out of court, and a few days later he contacted me to say we had been successful. I would whole-heartedly recommend Nathan.
    read more
    W.B.
    05/06/2022
    TFL Freedom Pass Matter Nathan Seymour-Hyde was the most supportive and knowledgeable solicitor I have ever met. He showed tremendous support and guided me throughout the whole process. He patiently amended the representation letter many times and even worked on weekends given the tight deadline.

    I was extremely nervous and anxious, but I also knew I was in safe hands! Can’t be more satisfied with the service! It was definitely the best outcome one can ever imagine to receive a Warning Letter from TFL. Couldn’t have achieved this without Nathan’s expertise and support. I can now relax and live my life again, all thanks to Nathan and Reeds!
    read more
    L.M
    05/05/2022
    Thameslink Fare Matter Thank you so much for your service Nathan, I very much appreciate it. It really means a lot and you've potentially saved my job, so thank you once again.
    S.T.
    18/04/2022
  • TfL Counterfeit Ticket Case, Review, April 2022 I highly recommend Reeds Solicitors and Nathan Seymour-Hyde and I wouldn't go anywhere else. It was our first time we had contacted them as my child had committed serious offence with tfl. They had enough evidence to prosecute him and if he was prosecuted my child would have lost everything including his professional career. I really wanted to highlight that our case was a very difficult one.




    We contacted a few solicitors I must say I didn't find the other solicitors approachable at all and all we were told its very difficult for my child not to be prosecuted. Luckily when searching online, Reeds Solicitors were listed I gave them a call from my very first call they were so so amazing helpful, professional and very understanding this was just reception staff. We were then put through to Sofia who was again amazingly helpful and was very reassuring and totally understood and very sympathetic with us. She kept us updated all the way throughout and any questions I had even though i made many contacts via phone and emails she was always very prompt getting back to me.




    I would high​ recommend Nathan Seymour-Hyde. Nathan dealt with our case. He is very knowledgeable and very informative. always responded promptly to us. Really went that extra mile to help us. He was a breath of fresh air for us. Our case was extremely difficult to win and we really had no hope with the offence that was committed. We were very lucky to have been with Nathan. Nathan gave my son new life.




    I would highly recommend Reeds Solicitors they are also lot cheaper than others and more so they care for their Customers. I felt for Reed it’s not all about making money it’s also about, professionalism, customer service and caring for people. Whole team are so friendly and approachable. They all work as a team.

    Thanks a million Reeds Solicitors.
    read more
    P.R.
    18/04/2022
    Chiltern Railways Matter Thanks Nathan Seymour-Hyde for your expertise in resolving my case with Chiltern Railways. You were really responsive, kind and professional. Your insight into the specific concerns of those involved was clearly a huge factor in resolving my case out of court within 24 hours of our conference.

    I really felt that you understood the potential personal and professional impacts of the case.
    read more
    M.W.
    06/04/2022
    TfL Freedom Pass Matter I received a letter from TFL after being caught using my father's Freedom Pass. I found Nathan Seymour-Hyde incredibly professional, reliable and honest.

    I was hesitant at first as I haven’t had a solicitor before, however I am so pleased I chose Nathan to represent me. He responds fast to emails and provided a great statement for me which helped me win my case. I also found him incredibly reassuring through out the process and would highly recommend to anyone in need of a solicitor.
    read more
    J.I.
    30/03/2022
  • Southeastern Trains Matter I couldn’t recommend Nathan Seymour-Hyde and Reeds Solicitors more. From the very first email they were extremely fast at responding. Nathan was professional and extremely knowledgeable, and instantly helped to put my mind at ease. In my meeting he took the time to cover all the bases to form a really solid mitigation. He was friendly and approachable and showed real understanding of my situation. I was thrilled when in under a week since first contacting Reeds I received an email from Nathan informing me that Southeastern had agreed to an out of court settlement. I undoubtedly would not have had this result if it weren’t for the exceptional work from Nathan. Thank you so much!
    read more
    H.M.
    20/03/2022
    Chiltern Railways Matter via Transport Investigations Limited Nathan provided exemplary service and produced a positive outcome in such a way that I believe few other solicitors could have. I contacted Nathan with a short time-frame of a case that was being sought against me – he responded promptly and acted quickly. He explained the details of the legalities of the case and gave me reassurance through his detailed knowledge and extensive experience on similar casework. Through our conversation, he informed me of all of the possibilities of the case and explained his thought process and actions. Despite the odds seeming unlikely, Nathan provided a swift result and was genuinely elated to inform me that he had arranged an outcome that satisfied all parties. I cannot thank him enough for going above and beyond to ensure that this was resolved.
    read more
    B.A.
    19/03/2022
    Transport Investigations Limited matter Thank you Nathan, although a mere ’thank you’ is patently insufficient for your work and diligence in resolving this matter so favourably for my daughter and I.

    It’s been a chastening experience for my daughter, especially with her career at stake and I’m so grateful to you for the professional and swift way you have dealt with this matter. You certainly gave me confidence in the comprehensive way you went about the matter and I’m very glad to have found you and used your services.
    read more
    N.R.
    10/03/2022
  • Transport Investigations Limited matter Thanks to Nathan Seymour-Hyde, who created a detailed plan of action, and bought the best possible outcome to my case. Nathan replied instantly to queries and is very understanding towards anxious clients. I recommend you get him on your side, excellent job!
    K.M.
    01/03/2022
    Southeastern trains matter I am writing to express my sincere and heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to Nathan Seymour-Hyde for helping me deal with my difficult legal problem. We went through many solicitors who thought they wouldn’t be able to help my case. When we contacted Nathan he responded right away letting me know he would help me. He did what other solicitors thought was impossible, and saved me from getting a criminal record. For this I will always be grateful. He kept me regularly updated throughout the process, providing support above and beyond what was expected. The personal and effective responses made a difficult time a lot more bearable.

    I am extremely grateful for the insight and accurate expertise I received. I would highly recommend him to anyone who needs a professional, kind and understanding solicitor
    read more
    J.L.
    20/02/2022
    Thameslink matter I want thank you because I'm extremely happy with the withdrawal of the case and all that you've done for me.

    You dealt with the matter with real professionalism and seeked to understand things from my perspective. I honestly can't thank you enough for helping me to save my professional career and remove any implications of doubt. I feel much better and my worries are now eased.
    read more
    I.V.
    20/01/2022
  • TfL Matter - Freedom Pass I was accused of using my mother's freedom pass and received a court summons telling me I was going to be convicted of a criminal offence. I was incredibly stressed as in my profession a criminal conviction immediately jeopardises my employability. I contacted Nathan with a week to spare, and he was incredibly professional and helpful and met with me that afternoon. He was realistic from the beginning and kept in touch with prompt emails and phone calls even outside normal working hours. We managed to get a positive result through his efforts!"
    read more
    B.G
    20/01/2022
    TfL Matter Nathan I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for all the hard work you did on my behalf. If it weren’t for your analytical skills and knowledge, the matter wouldn’t have been settled by now. Your legal expertise and professionalism went above and beyond my expectations throughout the course of my case and I cannot thank you enough for your assistance.
    You are an excellent solicitor and I really appreciate your passion, dedication and skilfulness.

    I wish you all the best for the future and more successes to come your way.
    read more
    N.M.
    28/12/2021
    TfL Matter I received the scary letter from TFL. As a 27 years old young adult who had lot at stake, I started to panic and to call different firms. Nathan was the third (and the last) solicitor I talked to. From the first second I felt like he had experience with cases like mine. He was very professional, he had great questions and ideas and he was also able to offer a consultation outside of normal working hours.
    He has sent the reply on a Friday to TFL and I received and email from him telling TFL agreed to issue me with a Warning Letter. I was over the moon.
    I am grateful for Nathan and I highly recommend him if you have any problem with fare evasion
    read more
    C.B.
    20/11/2021
  • Thameslink Nathan was very quick in providing useful advise regarding my case making time to speak to me within a few hours of my request being sent through.
    It was a speedy, professional yet personable service with a good outcome at the end. I felt much less worried about the case knowing that Nathan was working on things in the background.
    read more
    Client
    20/11/2021
    Transport Investigations Limited The solicitor Service that I received from Nathan was excellent. He acted quickly and decisively without wasting any time at all. The actions needed to be taken were perfectly simplified and explained to me and it allowed me to fully understand my role in solving my situation. Nathan was very kind and caring, having empathy for my situation which was a massive help through the whole process. His comprehensive knowledge of the situation I was in, put me at ease and made me confident that he was the right person to help me. He is an excellent solicitor and the service that I have received from the company was second to none. I would fully recommend these services to anyone in any legal situation because of their excellent knowledge and understanding of legal processes and the speed of action and response they take .
    read more
    R.A.
    20/11/2021
    Transport Investigations Limited Case In November 2021, I received a court summons for train evasion fare, because I had travelled without a valid rail pass. It was a foolish and uncharacteristic mistake on my part wherein I did not realise the rail pass was expired until I showed it to the inspector. I sought out legal advice immediately. I contacted Reeds Solicitors, and spoke with Mr. Nathan Seymour-Hyde, who handled my case. From the very first email correspondence, Nathan was kind, professional, reassuring. He was also incredibly prompt in his responses, even before he was formally on board with my case. I immediately felt confident in his ability to attentively, quickly and intelligently manage my case, which was urgent, given that I had only a week before the court summons to get paperwork organised. Nathan handled the case expertly, relieving me of a huge amount of stress. Once he understood the particulars of my case by means of a video call, he proceeded to draft paperwork for an out of court settlement with incredible rapidity and attentiveness. Thanks to him, I managed to settle the matter out of court, which was a tremendous relief. I could not recommend Nathan more strongly: he was an incredibly competent, professional, organised and sharp-witted solicitor, but also a kind and attentive person, who did much to not only fight my case but to reassure me and to help me understand exactly what he could do for me, and how the legal system would work in this case. I will always be grateful to him for his help, advice and incredible professionalism.
    read more
    B.N
    20/11/2021
  • I highly recommend Nathan Seymour HydeHe helped out a family member regarding a fare Evasion accusation he was so professional from start to finish.
    Donna Evans
    10/11/2021
    Thameslink matter I want to thank everything Reeds Solicitors and Nathan Seymour-Hyde have done for me. Not only did they maintain a great standard of professionalism throughout the process, but they were understanding and caring too.
    S.B.
    01/11/2021
    TfL Matter I was facing possible prosecution by the TFL for fare evasion and, after seeing positive reviews, I chose Nathan Seymour-Hyde from Reeds Lawyers. From before we even started the case, he made sure to answer all my questions to help put my mind at ease, even talking to my dad who had questions of his own. Nathan approached the case very professionally and covered every possible angle of it to ensure a positive result with no criminal conviction, which I'm very happy to say we got. He was amazing from beginning to end and would most definitely recommend him to anyone who found themselves in the position I did.
    read more
    E.M.
    11/10/2021
  • Transpenniene matter I just wanted to let you know about the response I had received today through the post. Nathan, I want to thank you very much for all the support and guidance received to solve this matter. I am extremely happy about the result and very grateful for your help.
    S.A.
    08/10/2021
    Nathan Seymour-Hyde was an amazing solicitor and person to speak with. He promptly responded to emails and WhatsApp messages. However, what was even greater was his amazing advice. He explained each issue with clarity and cohesion and was extremely understanding and considerate of the nuances of a fare evasion issue. He went beyond the time frame of the consultation and did not rush or make me feel pressured at any point. He deals with the matter fast and we have got an amazing result with no criminal record. He is everything you want in a solicitor handling a fare evasion matter. I would highly recommend his service and this firm.
    read more
    Mario Smit
    20/09/2021
    Transport Investigations Ltd. Matter My son required a solicitor for a situation he found himself in, with a court date 10 days away and none of our family having ever experienced this type of situation before, I came across Reeds from an internet search as have significant experience with the type of issue my son was facing.

    I rang Reeds late on Thursday afternoon and on Friday morning I received a call from Nathan Seymour Hyde at the Reeds Oxford office. Whilst Nathan was attentive, he was also fair, realistic offering a dual perspective and put both mine and my sons worrying minds at ease especially regarding the short timescale and stated that there were no guarantees of success but that he would do his best.

    I appreciated the prompt call initially and Nathans overall honesty with regards to the potential outcome and he set out a plan and an agreed way forward. I can honestly say Nathan did everything he said he was going to do, he was available, he responded to e mails and sent the correspondence on our behalf in a timely manner.

    I’ll admit I’m naturally sceptical and I didn’t hold out much hope of a satisfactory conclusion when I first made the call to Reeds but I was absolutely blown away when I had a phone call and a follow up email from Nathan on Wednesday evening (4 working days after I had first spoken to him) advising of a satisfactory solution and outcome for all parties.

    I cannot tell you how grateful both myself and my son are and I would have absolutely no hesitation recommending Reeds especially Nathan to anyone, absolutely outstanding
    read more
    Q.M.
    11/09/2021
  • Thoroughly Recommended My solicitor has been extremely professional, and his confidence has put my mind at rest. Most importantly I got the result that I wanted! Thoroughly recommend!
    Client
    18/08/2021
    Out of Court Settlement The solicitor who took on my case took a statement; we spoke about my situation in depth. He was very honest and though the odds may have been against us, he was able to come up with a good plan of action. Throughout the process there was great communication between us and a week or so later, he informed me I was able to settle out of court with no criminal conviction.
    Client
    01/08/2021
NextPrev

 

 

Example of Southeastern Trains Prosecution Letter

Southeastern Trains Prosecution Letter - Reeds Solicitors - May 2024

 

Southeastern Prosecutions Letter Text

Southeastern Prosecutions

PO Box 601

ASHFORD

TN23 9XZ

[Date]

[Reference Number]

Dear [NAME],

On [DATE] you gave your details and were questioned by a member of rail staff with regard to an incident on Southeastern. The matter has been provisionally authorised for prosecution. To safeguard the interests of its fare paying customers, Southeastern policy is to prosecute all those who have been reported for alleged fare evasion.

Before I proceed further, I invite you to respond by completing in full the bottom section of this letter, making any comments about the incident on the reverse, and send it to the above address within 21 days.

You can also contact the prosecutions team at: Prosecutions.team@southeasternrailway.co.uk

If you were not the person stopped then please respond to the address or the email given. Please be aware that Southeastern uses Body worn video, CCTV and various software packages to combat fraudulent travel. Any fraudulent replies to this letter may result in further criminal proceedings.

Failure to respond will lead to the matter being progressed without further notification.

Signed

[Signature]

On behalf of the Prosecutions Manager

DO NOT SEND ANY PAYMENTS TO THIS OFFICE

Surname if different from above (BLOCK CAPITALS):

Forenames if different from above(BLOCK CAPITALS):

Date of Birth:

Address if different from above:

Postcode:

Email Address:

Telephone Number:

Occupation:

NI Number:

Signature:

Date:

 

Southeastern is the trading name of SE TRAINS LIMITED. Registered in England under company number 03266762 Registered Office address: 4 More London Riverside, London SE1 2AU.

General Enquiries

0333 240 7373