using someone elses freedom pass

[xabbix]

I borrowed my mums freedom pass yesterday and got on the bus. The driver said he would let me on but warned me that if a inspector got on they could cancel my mums card.

 

Im really worried in case they have cancelled it or the bus driver has either reported it or cancellation it himself.

 

my mum really needs her card so im so worried. Can the bus driver cancel her card? Or am i very lucky and it was just a warning! Please help :/ thank you

Edited May 6, 2013 by xabbix

[dx100uk]

very lucky

 

don't worry

 

dx

[honeybee13]

Hi, i hope this is in the right place!

 

I borrowed my mums freedom pass yesterday and got on the bus. The driver said he would let me on but warned me that if a inspector got on they could cancel my mums card.

 

Im really worried in case they have cancelled it or the bus driver has either reported it or cancellation it himself.

 

my mum really needs her card so im so worried. Can the bus driver cancel her card? Or am i very lucky and it was just a warning! Please help :/ thank you

 

Hello there.

 

Yes, it sounds as if you were lucky, but I really recommend you never use the pass again.

 

Have a read around the forum about the trouble people have got into for using a Freedom Pass that wasn't theirs. You can be taken to court and fined hundreds for doing this. Plus your Mum would have aggro trying to get her pass back or getting a new one.

 

You're the first case I've read on the forum where the bus driver let someone travel and warned them what could happen without doing anything else. Did they take any of your information like name and address and do you still have the pass please?

 

You need to understand that Freedom Passes are funded by taxpayers and the authorities take a very dim view of people abusing them.

 

My best, HB

[xabbix]

Deleted

Edited May 6, 2013 by xabbix

[xabbix]

Do bus drivers have any special powers in relation to fare dodging?

[honeybee13]

Do bus drivers have any special powers in relation to fare dodging?

 

I'm not sure what you're asking here. Usually inspectors deal with fare dodging.

 

HB

[xabbix]

I was wondering if whether a driver could report someone for fare dodging/using someone else's pass

[honeybee13]

I was wondering if whether a driver could report someone for fare dodging/using someone else's pass

 

I'm not sure, someone will know, but how is he going to report you if he doesn't have your details?

 

If you have a history of doing this it might be different, I suppose.

 

HB

[xabbix]

deleted

Edited May 6, 2013 by xabbix

[rambo]

Bus driver is a disgrace.

He should have withdrawn the pass.

[honeybee13]

Thank you for the comment. I believe you understand the system from experience, rambo?

 

HB

[firstclassx]

I was wondering if whether a driver could report someone for fare dodging/using someone else's pass

 

They can withdraw tickets and submit a report to their own revenue protection teams and/or TfL. Combined with the CCTV, they'd probably stand a good chance of catching somebody.

 

That said, it seems as though your bus driver chose not to do this and you've gotten lucky. Somewhat irritates me that you don't seem to be particularly remorseful, just worried about being caught...

[Nystagmite]

I was once accused of stealing someones pass. It had my name and photo on it... It sounded in my case as though the driver believed I wasn't disabled, therefore, not entitled to the pass that the council had given me.

[xabbix]

They can withdraw tickets and submit a report to their own revenue protection teams and/or TfL. Combined with the CCTV, they'd probably stand a good chance of catching somebody.

I am remorseful and deeply disturbed by the fact its a criminal offence which i was ignorant to. If i recieved a conviction my whole career would be out the window and the years of studying and hardwork would have been for nothing.

But i did not come on here for people to judge me or to make people feel sorry 4 me. I came for unbiased advice and non-judgement, it is also very hard to show remorse via a internet forum. Therefore i apologise for not seeming remorseful but i really am.

Thank you for your reply.

 

That said, it seems as though your bus driver chose not to do this and you've gotten lucky. Somewhat irritates me that you don't seem to be particularly remorseful, just worried about being caught...

 

[xabbix]

^^ i have no idea what happened to my reply!

[xabbix]

And just for background information, i rarely ever get the bus, usually i drive everywhere. It was my first time getting on a bus for over a year. I live in the middle of nowhere and the local shops all shut at 5. After a few drinks and at half 10 at night i had to go out, i couldn't drive to get to a busier town to top up my oyster card due to drinking (the nearest town is at least a 2 hour walk through country lanes) and did not have enough money for a cab (at least 25 to nearest town). I also have one bus an hour so in a panic my mum lent me her card and i ran all the way to the bus stop. I am not a repeat offender and if i had time to stop and think i would not have taken it, if i had known earlier i would have to go out i would have topped up my card in preparation.

 

i was actually a lot more worried about my mum than me as i assumed the offence was a fine only, after reading posts on this site i see how wrong i was and wish i knew how serious of an offence it was.

 

I am deeply grateful to the bus driver and thank him so much for warning me, it gave me a real wake up call and taught me a lesson i will never forget.

 

Maybe regular users of public transport know of the seriousness of this offence, for people who use public transport so rarely it would be useful if there was a greater emphasis on just how serious this offence could be.

 

Thank you everyone for your help.

[BazzaS]

 

Maybe regular users of public transport know of the seriousness of this offence, for people who use public transport so rarely it would be useful if there was a greater emphasis on just how serious this offence could be.

 

Thank you everyone for your help.

 

I am fortunate that it had been very rare for me to be involved in situations which have deteriorated into violence.

 

Accordingly, imagine my surprise when I discovered that if someone dies as a result of an incident of a violent nature, that it might be murder or manslaughter (unless I had a statutory defence such as "self defence").

 

Clearly : Reducto ab absurdum, but it makes the point.

 

Using your logic, should it be that we should rely on regular brawlers to educate me : or how about I do my research and not rely on others to warn me of the obvious.

 

Using someone else's concessionairy pass is a form of fraud.

The fact that the card is supplied with a photo card is a giveaway that it is for only that person's use : let alone the terms & conditions they agree to.

 

I'm all for "user education" : but this isn't some "nit-picking" Byelaw : it should be self evident it is a form of fraudulent misuse of a pass.

[xabbix]

I'm beginning to get a bit fed up and frustrated with this site. People come on here seeking help after they have made a mistake either through ignorance or a deliberate offence and people are all to ready to demonise those who are vulnerable. Everyone has made a mistake either via speeding or another minor offence.

 

murder is a very serious offence, it is silly to compare.

 

I have found this site has a few good people who are un-biased and helpful but like firstclass and bazzaS sound as if they are all too ready to judge.

 

I have already sent a request to delete my account which has been ignored. Therefore if any administrators see this, please delete me.

[xabbix]

And bazzaS, im sure you are aware of the general defence of mistake within the criminal law, if your not then a mistake is a denial of mens rea. If the offence requires proof of intention, knowingly or subsequent recklessness then a mistake will suffice. And that's a subjective test btw!

[honeybee13]

I borrowed my mums freedom pass yesterday and got on the bus. The driver said he would let me on but warned me that if a inspector got on they could cancel my mums card.

 

Im really worried in case they have cancelled it or the bus driver has either reported it or cancellation it himself.

 

my mum really needs her card so im so worried. Can the bus driver cancel her card? Or am i very lucky and it was just a warning! Please help :/ thank you

 

Hello there. This is your original post

 

I and others have tried to reassure you that the events you describe are unlikely to lead to you being reported. If you are, then you can come back here and we'll advise you on a reply if you think it would help.

 

We don't normally remove threads unless it's for legal reasons, it's site policy.

 

If you like, the thread can be closed if you don't want to continue the legal argument.

 

HB

[xabbix]

Thanks for your reply. I was reassured on the first day i posted and that isn't my issue. Its just the people who make negative comments, i just feel its really unnecessary for people to try and belittle others when they want help.

 

It would be useful if you could close this post but i would be very grateful if you could delete my membership too.

[sailor sam]

Thanks for your reply. I was reassured on the first day i posted and that isn't my issue. Its just the people who make negative comments, i just feel its really unnecessary for people to try and belittle others when they want help.

 

It would be useful if you could close this post but i would be very grateful if you could delete my membership too.

 

Why? Because you are not hearing what you want to hear? You (by your own admission) abused a scheme which is purely provided for those that are entitled to it. So why are you surprised at getting 'negative comments'. Speaking as an ex-bus driver myself, I am astonished that one of my 'colleagues' would of turned a blind eye in this way. The driver is entitled to withdraw any pass which he has reason to believe is being miss-used. He then has to submit a report along with the complete pass (photo card also if applicable) to his manager. This is then investigated as if it were submitted by an inspector and followed up by the appropriate action.

 

The concessionary scheme costs each LA millions per year and is probably one of the biggest burdens to the council tax payer. So i'm sorry, don't come on here expecting any sympathy or help if you choose to deliberately abuse it. We are not here to condone fraud. We are here to assist in genuine cases where people may have made a mistake.

[xabbix]

Like i said before i do not want sympathy, i came for a couple of answers end off.

 

I knew it was wrong and people saying it is wrong is fine. What isnt fine is the rudeness and tone, just like yours! You should remember the saying that if you have nothing nice to say then do not say it at all. and im not just talking about my post. I've gone on posts where people ate deeply sorry and have seen comments such as 'i hope they throw the book at you', that's internet bullying and thats why i wish to leave this site!

 

all i wanted when i came on here was just general knowledge, no advice, not to make people feel sorry for me.

[sailor sam]

Err, I didn't say "I hope they throw the book at you" and I wasn't being rude, just telling you how it is. I also answered your question in regards to what action a bus driver can take, so I have satisfied your query anyway. Perhaps if you don't want to hear these things, then perhaps you should of thought twice about abusing the system in the first place. AND if you ever would of ended up in court, I think you would find yourself being told a few home truths by the mags as well! Would you regard that as bullying as well?

[xabbix]

No and that comment about throwing the book wasnt re this post or re you, like i said its been on other peoples post. I have looked at quite a few other posts on here and im disgusted by how horrible people have been to the original poster when they have stated very clearly that they are distressed.

 

Thank you for answering my query but your tone is clearly not pleasant and as i repeat its not people saying stuff which is negative, i am now fully aware of the seriousness. Whats getting to me is how belittling people are when this is meant to be a help site.