Facing a fare evasion allegation can shatter your peace of mind, potentially leading to hefty fines, a criminal record, and long-term impacts on your career, travel, and personal life. At Manak Solicitors, our dedicated fare evasion solicitors, led by renowned expert Samir ‘Mr Fare Evasion’ Moftah, have successfully resolved over 1,000 cases, negotiating out-of-court settlements with major operators to avoid prosecutions and protect your future.
Don’t let a momentary lapse or misunderstanding escalate into a lifelong consequence- with our proven track record and deep understanding of UK transport laws, we position you as the authority in your defence, ensuring the best possible outcome.
Fare evasion, often referred to as ticket dodging or fare dodging, encompasses any act of travelling on public transport without paying the correct fare or possessing a valid ticket. This can range from innocent mistakes, such as forgetting to tap your Oyster card or using an expired railcard, to more deliberate actions like short-faring (buying a ticket for a shorter journey than intended) or using someone else’s discounted pass, such as a Freedom Pass or student Oyster card.
In the UK, fare evasion is not just a minor infraction; it’s a criminal offence that costs the rail industry an estimated £240 million annually, prompting aggressive prosecution policies from operators like Transport for London (TfL) and national rail companies.
Common examples of fare evasion include:
- Travelling without a ticket or failing to produce one when requested.
- Using an invalid or counterfeit ticket, such as a forged railcard or borrowed Oyster card.
- Altering journey details to underpay, like claiming a child fare as an adult.
- Boarding trains without validation at unmanned stations and avoiding inspectors.
These actions can trigger investigations by revenue protection officers, leading to penalty fares, warning letters, or full prosecutions. If you’ve received correspondence from a train company or their agents, such as Transport Investigations Limited (TIL), it’s crucial to act swiftly. Ignoring it can result in a court summons, escalating the matter unnecessarily.
At Manak Solicitors, we are the UK’s leading authority on fare evasion defence, with a 100% success rate in out-of-court settlements for most operators (high success with TfL).
Led by Samir Moftah, who has over 12 years of experience and handles all cases personally, we offer:
- Free 15-Minute Initial Discussion: Assess your case and outline strategies.
- Out-of-Court Negotiations: We contact prosecutors directly to secure settlements, often within days, avoiding court altogether.
- Court Representation: If prosecution proceeds, we build robust defences, highlighting mitigating factors like honest mistakes or procedural errors.
- Re-Opening Cases: Assistance in setting aside convictions if you were prosecuted in absence.
- Visa and Career Protection: Tailored advice for professionals, students, and non-UK residents to minimise DBS impacts.
We handle cases nationwide, including remote consultations via Zoom or Teams. Our fixed-fee structure ensures transparency: £200 for initial consultation, market-leading fees for further work.
What sets us apart as the absolute authority on fare evasion?
- Proven Success: Over 1,000 settlements since 2021, including complex cases with multiple offences.
- Strong Relationships: Excellent rapport with prosecutors at TfL, Southeastern, Northern Rail, and others, facilitating swift resolutions.
- Nationwide Coverage: We defend against all major operators, including:
- Transport for London (TfL) (/services/fare-evasion/transport-for-london/)
- Southeastern Railways (/services/fare-evasion/south-eastern-railways/)
- Northern Rail (/services/fare-evasion/northern-rail/)
- South Western Railways (/services/fare-evasion/south-western-railways/)
- Govia Thameslink (/services/fare-evasion/govia-thameslink/)
- Chiltern Railways (/services/fare-evasion/chiltern-railways/)
- West Midlands Railways (/services/fare-evasion/west-midlands-railways/)
- C2C Rail (/services/fare-evasion/c2c-rail/)
- Cross Country (/services/fare-evasion/cross-country/)
- Transport for Wales (/services/fare-evasion/transport-for-wales/)
- LNER (/services/fare-evasion/lner/)
We prioritise your well-being, understanding the stress involved, and work tirelessly to protect your reputation.
