Thank you HB, will do!

Hi Guys, Thanks for the information. I have just spoken to FCC, and they have adjourned the case. I will have to write to them again, with the signed letter from the shop and all other evidence I have. I guess I will have to be very apologetic in this letter and maybe have a character statement from somebody who knows me in the community? Any tips on what I should stress in my letter? I have other charges on there that I regret and will need to deal with too. Thanks, Paul

Hi Honeybee, thanks for your help. I will take on the right tone as you said, when contacting them. Thanks, Paul

Hi, yes my journey started in zone 2 (Denmark Hill), changed at zone 1 (Kentish Town), to get on the underground to Highgate in Zone 3. I was asked to touch my Oyster at Kentish Town. That's why I bought a weekly 1&2 Oyster to cover the zone 1 journey, and this is where all my problems started. Thanks Paul

Hi Bazza, thanks, I will try calling them early tomorrow. Should the correct contact be on the summons, or on the reply letter I was sent? I will try to find similar threads on this; Also, any advice on drafting a letter for the newsagent to sign? Kind regards, Paul

Hi again, sorry what is a eDBS? And I also forgot to mention, I had a 23456 travelcard on me as well which would have covered part of my journey, and showed them this at the time, along with my visa receipt for the Oyster top up and have photocopies of both. Is this not worse anything to my case? Thanks again, Paul

Hi BazzaS, I have not tried this approach, and would not know who to contact. I was not really given the opportunity, only when I had to write to them to explain my side. How would I go about this? If I get a letter from the newsagent signed would this help? From what you say, it doesn't seem that the court will take any of the circumstances into account. Doesn't seem very fair. Are there any steps I can take that you recommend? Will pleading guilty be best? Not sure what to do now, as time is running out Thanks, Paul

Hi Honeybee, went to the CAB, and they put me onto a free legal advice centre. I was told I would get a record if I plead guilty, so I guess my option is to fight the case. Do you have any advice on how I should structure a letter for the newsagent to sign and stamp, as to acknowledging their error? I was told this could be pretty vital; Not sure if the newsagent would write this for me, or even sign it, even though I have evidence of my receipt. Thanks, Paul

Hi Honeybee, thanks. My court date is the 10/1/13 (this friday). The law/byelaw is no. 18(1) made under Section 219 of the Transport act 2000. If I plead guilty and pay the fine do you know if I will still get a criminal record? I am going to the Citizen's Advice bureau tomorrow, but not sure how much they can help. Thanks again, Paul

Hi Honeybee, you said to continue to negotiate with them, can you elaborate on this? I have not really had any chance to negotiate with them at all. I am concerned I will get a criminal record; Would it be any use getting a letter signed by the shop owner acknowledging the error? Thanks

Hi, OK thank you

Hi, I am being prosecututed by TFL/national Rail for failing to have funds on my Oyster card. An inspector asked for my Oyster card when coming off the train and to my suprise I had no funds on it. The previous day, I had bought a weekly 1&2 travel card from a newsagents that was to be put on my card. Before they could do this, I was told I had £3 outstanding to clear. I cleared this, then paid with my debit card, for the weekly travelcard. So when I was told by the inspector I had no funds I was shocked, but thought olk I have my receipt. I showed them this but was told it was not the correct one. You need two which I did not have; the one I had was for the visa charge. I told him that a mistake must have been made at the shop, as I had the exact price for the 1&2 on my receipt. He said this could be for anything! I asked him how much does a weekly 1&2 cost, and he claimed he didn't know! I said you really don't know how much a weekly costs and you are an inspector!? He really was being as awkward as possible. To cut a long story short, he wanted me to pay an on the spot fine which I did not have the money for as I was on income support, and the travel card I paid for was a lot as is, at the time, and he insisted I intended to travel without paying when I had a receipt that showed that I had paid, but not the exactly correct one, and I did not intend to do so. The shop that made the mistake, put the funds back on my card when I went back I showed them my receipt and apologised; But now I am being prosecuted for this, as when they writ to me to get my view, I explained the situation, sent them my visa receipt but they still want to go ahead. So, do I risk a criminal record? Can I get the shop to write a statement on my behalf? On the summons form it says if I plead guilty it will cost me around £160.00! It seems so unfair when it was the shop that made the mistake not me. What is the best course of action, as I cannot afford a lawyer, and I have never been to court before and don't really have the money to pay the fine as I am on income support again. Do I have no chance? Thanks, Paul

Hi, thanks. Shopuld I piost this in the transport forum too? Thank you

Hi, I am being prosecututed by TFL/national Rail for failing to have funds on my Oyster card. An inspector asked for my Oyster card when coming off the train and to my suprise I had no funds on it. The previous day, I had bought a weekly 1&2 travel card from a newsagents that was to be put on my card. Before they could do this, I was told I had £3 outstanding to clear. I cleared this, then paid with my debit card, for the weekly travelcard. So when I was told by the inspector I had no funds I was shocked, but thought olk I have my receipt. I showed them this but was told it was not the correct one. You need two which I did not have; the one I had was for the visa charge. I told him that a mistake must have been made at the shop, as I had the exact price for the 1&2 on my receipt. He said this could be for anything! I asked him how much does a weekly 1&2 cost, and he claimed he didn't know! I said you really don't know how much a weekly costs and you are an inspector!? He really was being as awkward as possible. To cut a long story short, he wanted me to pay an on the spot fine which I did not have the money for as I was on income support, and the travel card I paid for was a lot as is, at the time, and he insisted I intended to travel without paying when I had a receipt that showed that I had paid, but not the exactly correct one, and I did not intend to do so. The shop that made the mistake, put the funds back on my card when I went back I showed them my receipt and apologised; But now I am being prosecuted for this, as when they writ to me to get my view, I explained the situation, sent them my visa receipt but they still want to go ahead. So, do I risk a criminal record? Can I get the shop to write a statement on my behalf? On the summons form it says if I plead guilty it will cost me around £160.00! It seems so unfair when it was the shop that made the mistake not me. What is the best course of action, as I cannot afford a lawyer, and I have never been to court before and don't really have the money to pay the fine as I am on income support again. Do I have no chance? Thanks, Paul