Im a final year student studying in Liverpool. This morning I was using the MerseyRail service and did something utterly and completely regretful and stupid that’s been bugging me all day. In an empty carriage I put my foot up on the seat - something which I always do subconsciously without thinking about on trains and buses (but after today will not think twice about it again!) Anyway - I was approached by 2 'MerseyRail enforcement officers' who took my name, address, description of what I looked like and read me my rights 'you have the right to remain silent, anything you do say may be given in evidence'. The entire process lasted a good 10 minutes and said i'll be receiving a letter from MerseyRail in the post in 4-8 weeks and could be prosecuted for it. Im training to be a teacher and im going back to America to complete my second summer working at Camp America with children, ive planned a year out in Australia for September 2011 and ive also got a fieldtrip coming up in China within the next 2 months - a LOT of reasons to be genuinely worried about what has happened today. Stupidly, I gave him a name very similar to mine E.G Edwardo Kelly instead of Edward Kelly with my correct surname. Then I have him a proper address and postcode for a house in Ireland (but not my address or postcode). I know providing false information is a criminal offence - but at the time I was 's**ting' myself... all that I could think about was criminal record, criminal record, criminal record = not being a teacher = not going back to Camp America = not going to China = not going to Australia = a large part of my life GONE INTO SMOKE. Part of me knew that these guys were not police officers and I didnt trust them with giving them my details anyway! I know the normal procedure for this 'feet on seat' offence is to issue the offender a £50 fine via post. But what will happen if that letter doesn’t get to my address or be under my correct full name? What happens if they then issue further court summons which i don’t ever receive? Ive got no idea about the entire system - and although i’ve done a stupid thing today out of the ordinary I still cant believe this is happening right now. Ive got tons of university work, teaching paths and travel plans to concentrate on - and who would have thought a simple ride on a train by myself today would have come to all this. Should I get in contact with MerseyRail to give them my full correct details? I really don’t know what position im now in and to say its worrying me is an understatement. Passengers that have a habit of resting a foot on the seat – BE WARNED. I’ve certainly learnt the lesson.