Would be really grateful if anyone could offer any further advice as to legal advice I should seek and possible actions I can take inbetween now and the interview under caution. My Mother would like to attend this with me. Is this suggested? I re read my first post and if I didn't seem remorseful to some posters (I feel I did) I must apologise. I am just trying to put down my situation and help myself and my family in any way I can. Like I've said previously I know people have been able to settle out of court and this is preferred to me than to gaining a criminal conviction so that's why I asked. I cannot change the fact that I used the card at this point unfortunately I just need some help on where to go next. I have never been in trouble before.

Thank you for this.

I realise that what I have done was not allowed. I haven't yet been summoned to court nor had an official interview regarding the matter. Yes, ofcourse I am looking for advice about avoiding this as from reading previous threads this seems the most likely outcome. Is settling out of court not another way that the law has found enables people to accept responsibility? This is just the route that I would prefer. Granted I am not automatically deserving of the thing that I desire because I have acted in this way but can I not still ask?

Sorry for the misunderstanding. My friend cancelled it for my Mother to receive a new one. I had been using hers. And yes I did speak to the person who posted the letter calling me to the interview. Thank you for your help. My Mother was not aware and is upset with me for this but sort of sympathies with my financial troubles but stresses I should have been honest which I agree with. I am sorry for using it and for getting caught. It was not intended to be a long term offense, just one to help me avoid costs for a period of time and save that money. I continued because I was able to and My Mother hadn't been using the card for some time. Thank you for your reply.

I was caught on the London Tube using a Freedom Pass in the name of my Mum and cautioned. I have an interview under caution lined up and prior to this, speaking to the Travel Investigations Unit dealing with my case that there may be a chance to settle this out of court as they recognize the damage a criminal conviction could do to my future. I am willing to take responsibility for this but if possible ofcourse avoid a criminal conviction. I know I should have thought of this before I began using it but at the time my lack of means to pay for transport was enough for me to disregard this. Does anyone have any experience with this? I have looked over several threads on this forum and can see that it is a rare occurrence for them to agree to settle but when does it happen? Will they take into account my age (just past 19) who has only recently gained his much sought first employment? Is it cheeky of me to try to go this route? If I do decide to try this who should I send my letter to? I also couldn't answer for how long I had been using the Freedom Pass and didn't want to guess and lie. Will they scold me for this? I genuinely couldn't say. Will they be privvy to this information from their database? Even if my friend has voided the one that was confiscated from me so that he could get a new one to use. How far back on the history of the card are they able to see? I would like to begin my defense and cross reference situations in my life that have had some affect on my lapse of judgement in this matter. Thank you for any help you may offer me