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I'd heavily caution people against this. The railway operators are both litigious and invested in fraud detection technology. And they love going on fishing exercises

Consistent 100% delay repay will absolutely get flagged



What's fraudulent about this?


I don’t think it’s fraud on the DR side if you actually take the trains and intend to travel.

If you didn’t actually intend to travel, then claiming DR is fraud.


I wonder how this works if you intend to travel should the train be on time, but become aware of the delay (or likelihood of it) and change your plans - what counts as proof of intent?

It would be better if the law was changed so that any transport company selling a ticket is forced to refund if they couldn't fulfil their obligation, regardless of whether the ticket was used or intended to be used. Can't provide the service? Then don't sell it!


If you choose not to travel, then you are eligible for a refund, rather than Delay Repay: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/help-and-assistance/compensat...

There’s differences in consumer rights effectively between a refund and compensation (like DR)


What’s fraudulent about traveling without intending to travel?


Claiming delay compensation if you don’t have intent to travel is the fraud part.

Easiest example is if you have a season ticket, but you have the day off. You weren’t going to take the train to work that day, so no intent to travel. If you claim DR, then that’s fraud for the compensation.


But you end up hundreds of miles away from home, who could possibly argue that you moved halfway across the country without intent?


I didn't claim it was fraudulent, as IANAL (but I probably agree that it isn't). I should have put "fraud" in quotes as they are not too strict when claiming that. "fraud"/"abuse"/"irregularity" detection systems

It doesn't have to meet a legal definition of fraud for them to be able to shake you down either. They do plenty of fishing exercises and allegations without much of a strong case, hoping you'll pay up.

The government is very very hands off when it comes to the railway - law unto their own (except for the operators owned by the government - no escaping blame there!).

A lot of railway legislation offences are strict liability offences - ie there is no excuse and no proof of intent required. It is from there comes a lot of their bullying behaviour and a belief of what they say goes.




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