That is definitely one thing that won't get repeated! It would be too irresponsible otherwise; I have 2 kids under the age of 7 to think about, and I don't want them to be taken away from me! Thanks again!

Thanks for your concern. If I had to end up in court, I was definitely going to plead guilty! There is no point trying to wriggle out of something like this. I am not a good liar. If I start lying I would just dig the hole bigger and bigger and get into more trouble than already is! Thankfully I can settle out of court.

I would like to start by thanking everyone for their time and support and thanks to firstclass and OC for your advice. I thought about calling but changed my mind in the end as I'm not very good talking. I sent a letter off last Friday apologising for my mistake and asked for the matter to be settled out of court. Over the weekend I was assuming going to court and I was trying to work out what time I needed to leave the house to get there in good time. Well, I received a reply this morning and they have given me the option to pay £250 to settle out of court. What a relief! I have never been to court before and don't really know what to expect. I really have to thank a site like this that gives help and advice to people in need of that. If I hadn't stumbled on this site I wouldn't know such a thing as out of court settlement existed! I feel very lucky and never again will I do a stupid thing like this again! Now I can concentrate on my childcare course and hopefully employment at the end of it. Thanks everyone again.

I read somewhere that a letter maybe better? The only contact numbers are on the 1st two letters from Tfl letting me know they may prosecute. If I did call, will I have to ask for the prosecution manager whose name is printed on the court summons? Thanks, really appreciate all this help.

Thanks firstclassx for your advice! I will try email them like you suggest. The sentence is so steep my heart almost fell out! Now I have to think how to compose the email..... Thanks again!

Thanks for that. Sorry couldn't reply straight away, had to cook for my kids and sort them out for bed as well!!! Then problem with the old computer...keep getting stuck and sticking!!! So are there any one around who can give more advice?

Hi I'm new to this and have been reading some similar situations and would like some help and advice. My situation: I picked up my partner's student oyster by accident one morning in a hurry thinking it was my oyster as both had same wallet. I used it on a bus then had to change bus due to nature of journey. I then noticed that it wasn't mine and had a fumble in my pocket to see if mine was there which it was. When the bus came, I got on and don't know what possessed me but of course I did the studpid thing and touched in with his card. Towards the end of my journey one of those ticket officers came on board and asked to check my ticket so I touched his card on the machine. Then she asked to see the photocard and not knowing what to say I said it didn't have a photo! But of course I showed the card and it had his photo. I told her it was my partner's but I had my own discounted card and showed it to her, and told her his card was a yearly pass. Next I received a letter from TFL stating that legal proceedings may be taken against me and if I had any comments to make. in an attempt to salvage his card as he needed it I wrote to TFL apologising that I had made a mistake and am sorry. However I mentioned that I didn't realised I was using it which was a lie but it was an attempt to get his card returned. As this is the first time something like this happened I didn't know that the card wouldn't be returned regardless. Now I have received a court summons for October 2nd. Alleged offence: being a passenger on a public service vehicle operated on behalf of London bus services being used for the carriage of passengers at separate fares, did use in relation to the journey a ticket which had been issued for use by another person on terms that it is not transferable. Contrary to regulation 7(1)(b) of the public service vehicles regulations 1990 si no. 1020 and section 25(3) of the public passenger vehicles act 1981. I do intend to plead guilty but weren't sure if its better to go and the same if absent. Then I started searching the internet for some help and came across this site and read about settling out of court. Could someone please help and advise and tell me if I will be able to settle out of court and how to do it? Any comments and advice will be much appreciated.