Hi there, this is my first post - I hope it is in the correct thread. I live in London usually walk to work as its a 15 minute journey (I occasional cycle) but if I have meetings that day I will hop on the bus from A (home) to B (work). Sometimes just one way. Last week I hopped on the bus, got on the back entrance and tapped my contactless bank card on the reader, and proceeded to go and sit upstairs without further issue. Crucially, I had my headphones on when I tapped in, I also had them on on the upper deck just before my stop I noted that two inspectors had boarded the bus. As I left the bus I instantly got out my card to let the inspector scan it (inspectors are common on my route) the machine said my card had been declined due to insufficient funds. I had used my card the previous evening on the same bus route, I didn't realise my card had been declined when I tapped in because it was a busy bus I was very foolishly playing music through my headphones so I didn't hear the 'double beep'. Confused that my card had been declined I let the inspector scan again. The chip on my card is slightly worn, which I believed could possibly have been the cause of the issue, but the inspector confirmed it had been declined due to the lack of funds. I stupidly hadn't checked my balance on that account in the morning and a few prior purchases had indeed been withdrawn from my account. I apologised immediately when they asked if they could take my details I was in total shock. I asked if we could do so downstairs as I was about to alight the bus (this happened minutes away from my stop). I then gave them my full details on a random notepad they handed to me. They asked me if I had any ID on me, which I did not. The inspector didn't issue me a penalty fare and instead said I should receive a letter about the incident in which I would be asked to give my full account. The inspector did not caution me, or interview me in any way, when they asked me to put my details down it was just on a notepad, with no other information. They did not explain that anything I said would be used as evidence - which from reading elsewhere I see is common thing for them to do, so have they handled this incorrectly or was this simply because this all happened when I was approaching my stop? To add to the confusion - users on another forum suggested that my card could have been declined by the both the bus and the RI's machines because a transaction from the day previous hadn't gone through (due to insufficient funds). When I logged on to my contactless transactions online this was indeed the case, I had to go through a process to "re-verify" the bank card for use on TfL services and pay for the previous journey. On the occasion of the previous journey the green bus panel light 100% flashed - I remember seeing that. (Edit: I have been told RI's cannot tell if your card has insufficient funds, is this correct? They definitely said something along the lines of 'it's been declined for insufficient funds') On my part, this was a genuine and honest mistake. I wish I could wake up and start that morning again and check my bank balance and transfer funds into that account. I'm also aware I shouldn't have had my headphones on, and that I should have been aware of the display on the machine when tapping in. A string of errors on my behalf. I have been unable to sleep or eat in the past week as I'm so terrified about getting a criminal record which could jeopardise my job prospects. I work in a professional field and often have to travel to countries requiring visas. I have just received the standard letter from TfL asking for my side of the story. Is it wise to get a solicitor involved to look into settling out of court? If worst comes to worst? This is the first time n my life I have been involved with any kind of inspector or law enforcement and I have no prior cautions or criminal convictions and it is truly tearing me apart to even think of the consequences of my stupid, preventable actions.