HELP! - Bus Fare evasion for 8 months (using brothers 16+ oyster)

[Morella94]

Hi there I am a 21 years old male and

 

 

got caught fare evading on the bus with my brothers oyster card (16+ oyster card)

 

the ticket inspector boarded the bus and asked to see my ticket I had used to board,

I showed him it and he told me to show the photo card.

 

 

Realising it wasn't me he asked why I had it,

AT THIS MOMENT I WAS SCARED FOR MY LIFE and told him it belongs to my brother who has autism,

and occasionally he boards the bus with me for school so that is why I had it.

Although my brother does have autism, he barely uses the card

 

I have used myself for travel FOR 8 MONTHS (which I deeply regret now)

what I had told the ticket inspector was a lie and I didn't know any better,

after all I get really cold feet when I am put under question and say the wrong things.

 

The letter came today asking to give details and comments regarding the case

(which I believe you are all familiar with)

- its the first letter you get after you're caught fare evading

 

I realise What I have done is wrong and I absolutely regret this deeply (I've been losing sleep over this)

I do not want a criminal conviction or be taken to court as

I am 21 yrs old and this is the start of my life

- it makes me cry of the thought of that

 

I am just wondering How I should reply to the letter to give details about the case,

and what should I mention, should I come clean about how long I have been using it for?

Been using it for 8 months, mainly for the bus 3 times a week and a few weekly travel cards for 2 months

 

regards-

Morella

[BazzaS]

What do you want of us? There is no "magic wand to wave" nor "magic letter".

 

You have fare evaded for 8 months.

There is no guarantee they won't prosecute,

so you may well end up in court / with a conviction.

 

If you were doing so for 8 months, I

t seems likely you would have continued if you'd not been caught.

 

 

How long did you expect to get away with it for,

and what did you expect when caught,

 

 

if you "do not want a criminal conviction or be taken to court as I am 21 yrs old and this is the start of my life

- it makes me cry of the thought of that :("

 

If you lie in the letter, they'll prosecute for sure.

However, you don't have to volunteer information they haven asked for.

 

So, don't lie, but if they are asking you about the journey you made reply about the journey you made.

Only discuss other journeys if they ask : but they may well ask!

[Morella94]

Of course there is no magic wond,

 

but this is probably my first ever wrong doing with the law per say,

and wanted advice before I do something even more stupid...

 

just advice on what to do.....

[BazzaS]

Of course there is no magic wond,

 

but this is probably my first ever wrong doing with the law per say,

and wanted advice before I do something even more stupid...

 

just advice on what to do.....

 

Which you have had: tell the truth but don't offer (incriminating) facts they aren't asking about.

 

"First ever wrong doing" : perhaps, but only the first time 8 months ago...... !

[Morella94]

Guys whats the best way to approach this?

[BazzaS]

Guys whats the best way to approach this?

 

Did you disagree with my advice of "tell the truth but don't offer (incriminating) facts they aren't asking about."?, or were you after a range of answers?? I'd be surprised if anyone disagreed!

 

Did you need further advice, and if so, for what specific query?

[martin2006]

Best way to approach this is to be honest, as advised, you dont have to incriminate yourself further unless they ask how long you have been faredodging, then of course you must answer truthfully, lying to them wont work as they will have records of when the card was used.

 

Read other like threads to see which way this may go.

 

Should you be prosecuted then im afraid you will have to take it on the chin and accept it.

[Morella94]

Thanks for the advice guys

 

I have next week friday until I have to reply to the letter, and will post it here so I know its good to go before sending

 

I WILL accept committing the offence and not deny it, as it is asking me to reply on the back of the letter within 10 days

This is the first letter I have received regarding the case and it was literally posted a day after I was caught,

 

I Just dunno if I should be completely honest at this point with THIS LETTER of how long I've been using it, I've already lied to the ticket inspector already saying that I used by brothers oyster card for one instance by accident

although I've been using it myself for 8 months (like I mentioned in the original post) - I got cold feet

 

I have a feeling they may prosecute me for not being completely honest upfront

Edited April 10, 2016 by Morella94

[martin2006]

It will probably be based on that letter and your responses, whether or not they choose to issue proceedings.

 

As stated, they will know when and where the card was used

and will no doubt request confirmation from the genuine holder

if those journeys were travelled by him or not,

therefore you have no other choice than to be honest if you wish to minimise the consequences of your actions,

not being completely honest now and then being found to have lied would be far worse

[Morella94]

P.S I have bought travel cards with my debit card on the oyster - TFL probs know I am the brother who committed the offence

[Morella94]

Hey guys anyone know any good solicitors for fare evasion that can help give me the BEST advice on how to handle this ....?

before I reply to the letter

[dx100uk]

waste of money

not allowed anyway

[martin2006]

Hey guys anyone know any good solicitors for fare evasion that can help give me the BEST advice on how to handle this ....?

before I reply to the letter

You have been given the best advice on a number of posts above.

We cannot recommend any solicitor, it is not site policy to do so.

[Morella94]

Hi guys, could you guys read the letter and tell me if it is good to go?

I will send it via email, Bearing in mind I am not trying to further incriminate myself in the letter so I only talked about the ONE instance I was caught with the card, although I have used the card for 8 months

 

I just want to come clean and pay up tfl what I owe, but don't want a conviction at the same time and admit to something they are not asking for Yet

I AM not trying to get away with this, only way to get through is to come clean with tfl

 

"Dear Sir/Madam,

 

On the (DATE), I was stopped by a Ticket inspector official on a London Bus who asked to see my ticket, unfortunately I had wrongfully scanned my brothers 16+ oyster card from my wallet. My little brother has the mental age of 3 and is not able to carry his own oyster and thus his oyster stays in my wallet. On this occasion, I wrongfully scanned his oyster card, in which my little brother was not present. I understand this is a big mistake on my behalf and I am deeply sorry for my error and will be sure for that to never happen again.

 

I realise what I did was wrong and would like to pay the fine/monies owed to TFL as I am truly sorry. I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that I am a law abiding person and this is the first instance in which I have made such a mistake in my life. I have no previous offences at all.

 

The whole situation has left me quite distraught and I would appreciate the opportunity to settle the matter without court proceedings to avoid even further stress, wasting everyone’s time and resources, and incurring further costs.

 

I openly apologise for my mistake and I earnestly believe that you would be kind enough to accept my apologies and reach an out of court settlement, having considered my unfortunate plight.

 

Thank you for reading, and I hope to get this resolved soon.

 

 

Regards,

USER"

[dx100uk]

not good IMHO..

 

 

what exactly does their letter state you have done.

[Morella94]

not good IMHO..

 

 

what exactly does their letter state you have done.

 

What do you mean by not good?

 

erm well.. its the first letter I have received after being caught by the inspector

JUST asking for my comments and background on the situation which I need to reply on the back of the letter

[dx100uk]

erm...what exactly are they accusing you of doing 'wrong' in the letter.......

 

cant ask the question any simpler....

 

then go thru the timeline of what happened what you were stopped

what did you say

what did the inspector say

did he confiscate any cards

swipe any cards

write down the numbers of any cards..

 

we need to know what access they might have gained

to gather info on if they will have scanned them

and know the history of usage.

 

no good you saying you've not used it for 8mts if they have

the means to prove you are lying...

 

slam dunk criminal record...

 

if you got one of those..

what harm would it do to your future..

employment etc etc

 

dx

[Morella94]

Well.... I believe the email i've just wrritten and about to send off, has adequate information about what happened on that day

and all they need to know

 

if you want background on the information it is on the original post if u haven't read it

 

thanks

[dx100uk]

stop hiding details

 

if you want our help

come clean

give us the info needed

 

there are no details whatsoever about the exchange with the inspector

contained in any of your posts.

 

all you've posted so far in post one

and in your reply to the letter

is a series of 'ole poor me' statements.

 

you post that appeal off in the form its in

and using the excuses you have mentioned.

a criminal record is guaranteed.

 

until/unless you give such info CAG is of no use to you.

 

your call

 

dx

[martin2006]

Morella you have already been advised in posts 2,4,6,7and 9 to TELL THE TRUTH

You have been advised that not doing so will only worsen your situation as TFL will already know about the 8 months of card misuse.

 

In post 3, you stated you didnt want to do anything "even more stupid"

 

Yet here you are, about to do exactly that if you send that letter/email the way it is.

 

BE HONEST or accept the consequences which will surely follow.

 

So, moving forward, what does that letter say, scanning it up or posting it verbatim minus any personal details would be a good start.

[BazzaS]

Hi guys, could you guys read the letter and tell me if it is good to go?

I will send it via email, Bearing in mind I am not trying to further incriminate myself in the letter so I only talked about the ONE instance I was caught with the card, although I have used the card for 8 months

 

I just want to come clean and pay up tfl what I owe, but don't want a conviction at the same time and admit to something they are not asking for Yet

I AM not trying to get away with this, only way to get through is to come clean with tfl

 

"Dear Sir/Madam,

 

On the (DATE), I was stopped by a Ticket inspector official on a London Bus who asked to see my ticket, unfortunately I had wrongfully scanned my brothers 16+ oyster card from my wallet. My little brother has the mental age of 3 and is not able to carry his own oyster and thus his oyster stays in my wallet. On this occasion, I wrongfully scanned his oyster card, in which my little brother was not present. I understand this is a big mistake on my behalf and I am deeply sorry for my error and will be sure for that to never happen again.

 

I realise what I did was wrong and would like to pay the fine/monies owed to TFL as I am truly sorry. I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that I am a law abiding person and this is the first instance in which I have made such a mistake in my life. I have no previous offences at all.

 

The whole situation has left me quite distraught and I would appreciate the opportunity to settle the matter without court proceedings to avoid even further stress, wasting everyone’s time and resources, and incurring further costs.

 

I openly apologise for my mistake and I earnestly believe that you would be kind enough to accept my apologies and reach an out of court settlement, having considered my unfortunate plight.

 

Thank you for reading, and I hope to get this resolved soon.

 

 

Regards,

USER"

 

My previous advice applies.

 

 

If you lie in the letter, they'll prosecute for sure.

However, you don't have to volunteer information they haven asked for.

 

So, don't lie, but if they are asking you about the journey you made reply about the journey you made.

Only discuss other journeys if they ask : but they may well ask!

 

It is only advice : you don't have to take it.

 

But if you lie and say "and this is the first instance in which I have made such a mistake in my life. I have no previous offences at all."

when they and you KNOW it isn't your first offence : why shouldn't they prosecute?

They'll know what you really mean was "this was the first time I got caught".

 

So, by all means do as you wish, as you don't have to take the advice. Just don't be surprised when they prosecute after being unconvinced by your lies.

[Morella94]

Alright guys note taken, and letter has been ammended

 

just one last question to ask,

my brother also received a letter in regards to his 16+ oyster card

how should I respond with this? Im guessing I should be honest as possible

saying I used the card and apologise sincerely just like in my letter, I won't be mentioned how long for tho?

 

[honeybee13]

I agree with both Bazza and dx, if we don't know what they say you did on the day, it's hard to advise. Have they said something about using another person's card intheir letter?

 

I would be bearing in mind that TfL can check the history of the card for the previous 8 weeks, I believe, so would be able to build up a picture of journeys made with it.

 

HB

[honeybee13]

Sorry, crossed posts. I can't read the letter you've posted, is it a jpeg? Apdf works better, if you're able to convert it.

 

I see it's addressed to Dear parent or guardian - is that you?

 

HB

[Morella94]

Sorry, crossed posts. I can't read the letter you've posted, is it a jpeg? Apdf works better, if you're able to convert it.

 

I see it's addressed to Dear parent or guardian - is that you?

 

HB

 

Hi this MIGHT help

 

but I cant get it clearer than this I am afraid