Update: £300 fine and a warning letter received off the back of my letter to them. Quick turnaround.

Not that it makes much difference but it isn't a freedom pass it's something to do with the fact he gets a war pension

Right letter is posted. I've decided to ring some criminal lawyers based in London tomorrow. TfL seem to prosecute most people and I don't think my circumstances pose an exception. Also can't see the letter making a blind bit of difference but at least I've said my piece. I'll be back when I hear more

Thanks for that suggestion. I've tweaked it slightly

Completely agree. I can be a bit of a div sometimes. My husband always complains that I never question anything and need to think more. If it were more humorous circumstances I would definitely be getting an 'I told you so'

Ok, but does anyone have any advice on my letter please?

Hi HB I have been given 10 days to respond. So far this is what I've come up with... Dear Sir/Madam In response to your letter dated 17th August, please find below my brief version of events as I recall them. My dad offered me his oyster card after I mentioned I was planning a daytrip to London from Birmingham to visit Old Spitalfields market. I took it at as the kind gesture he intended. On Saturday I entered the Underground at Euston Station, changed at Kings Cross and got off the tube at Liverpool St. Upon trying to exit at the barriers it said ‘seek assistance’. I decided to seek assistance in the form of buying a ticket as the card clearly wasn’t working and I wanted to continue my journey. I turned round in search of a ticket booth/machine as I was not familiar with the station. After walking a few feet away from the barriers I was approached by 2 men, one of whom asked if he could see my oyster card. After answering questions with regard to my journey and how long I had been using the card for (just that journey) I was cautioned and subjected to further questioning. The inspector said that I was using a pass that allowed my dad free travel on the tube and I agreed. I agreed that by using the pass I had not bought a ticket for myself and by that point I knew that I had made a huge mistake. I realise that I have made a grave error in judgement by choosing to use the pass and I am extremely remorseful. By not paying for my journey, TfL have not received my fare plus someone else is paying for the Oyster card, which I know is wrong. I cannot apologise enough. I seldom visit London, but when I do I purchase a ticket for the underground – bar this one occasion. This has been my first offence and I wish to offer my unreserved apologies. I would never think to walk into a shop and start using a product or service without paying, but this is effectively what I have done here and I deeply regret my actions. I understand that there must be consequences to my actions in order for TfL to recover their losses and to make it clear that fare evasion is a serious matter. To know that I have stupidly contributed to the millions of pounds worth of fare evasion losses experienced by TfL is not something I am proud of at all. I take full responsibility for my actions and have no one to blame but myself for making such a poor decision. I assure you that I am usually a law abiding citizen and I have absolutely no intention of repeating this mistake. Again, I would like to offer my sincere apologies. To be prosecuted and receive a criminal record would severely damage my career prospects and reputation. It’s highly likely that I will no longer be able to secure further contracts once my current one expires in December due to the stringent checks that I have to pass to work on projects dealing with confidential customer records. The thought of ruining my future has caused dreadful anxiety and sleepless nights over the past few days. If possible, I would be grateful for the opportunity to rectify my transgression by paying any costs incurred as a result of my stupidity including administrative fees and of course the fee of my ticket, as well as any penalty fine that you deem appropriate. Yours Sincerely

The revenue guy said to tell the card issuer that he had lost it in order to get a replacement. I'll post my letter tomorrow and start phoning round some solicitors for their advice.

*UPDATE* Returned home to a letter; "On Saturday 15th August you were reported to TfL for failing to produce a valid ticket, pass or photo card for your journey on the LU. The facts of this incident are being considered and I must advise you that legal proceedings may be taken against you in accordance with TfLs prosecution policy. If you have any comments to make about this incident please write them on the back... Return within 10 days." It says I don't have to reply, may harm my defence if I don't and failure to respond may result in the matter being progressed. So... I have already been working on a reply to this since I knew it was coming. However, from reading the letter does anyone have any useful advice/insights or should I post the letter here first? Thanks all

The questions you asked were a little prickly if I'm honest and it's only now that you've explained yourself that their context is understood. Don't forget we're all sat here behind a keyboard rather than talking face to face and it's very easy for things to be misconstrued.

Thanks capquest. Some people are helpful, then some just see the worst in everyone. I answered all of the questions honestly, the revenue inspector was more interested in me than my dad. I think he was trying to ascertain whether I had taken the card without permission which is fair enough. No one can claim they are 100% perfect

No he has always lived in Coventry. He is ex-RAF and receives a pension from them. I believe this entitles him to a pass. He also has membership at the victory services club in London and is able to offer family members discounted membership there.

Yes it's absolutely my only use. I don't often visit London and have always bought an all day ticket previously. I think as I was visiting my folks dad thought he was doing me a favour by giving me the card. He's just text me to say he feels bad and will cover any costs which I wasn't expecting. I'll come back when I hear any more. Hopefully in the meantime I'll start sleeping better now I've got this off my chest. Dx I won't waffle I can assure you. My writing style is quite different when it comes to letter writing

Thanks both I guess I'll sit tight. I've done A LOT of reading of various forums to the point I've ran out of threads to read. I kind of feel that a lot of people have made mistakes in using someone else's freedom pass (is that what my dad's card is?) and TfL have recognised this. Then I've seen those who deliberately used the passes have been taken to court. I know I've only used it once when I swiped through at Euston but it was in place of buying a ticket and therefore deliberate. Me wanting to buy a ticket when I couldn't get out at Liverpool St is probably a little too late in their eyes. I suppose I have up to 6 weeks to drive myself mad waiting!

if you read this and provide advice, thank you it's much appreciated. Secondly, yes I'm stupid and finally I know ignorance is not a defence (I have a Masters in Law, though you probably won't believe it after reading this). I'm expecting to receive a letter at some point from TfL and wanted to understand how to proceed... I mentioned to my dad last week that I was going to London on Saturday 15th for a day trip and he offered to lend me his Oyster card that gets him on the tube for 'free'. Thanks dad. Readers, I'm sure you can see where this ends up. I travelled from Birmingham to London and got off at Euston train station with a view to heading to Old Spitalfields market. Euston-Kings Cross-Liverpool Street. Went to leave the station at Liverpool Street, the barrier beeped and said seek assistance. Having just been at Kings Cross I noticed they had ticket booths and machines all over the place I figured it must be the same at Liverpool St, I'd just go to a booth and buy a full day ticket to get out and not bother with the so called Oyster card faff. That to me was seeking assistance. I turned round to walk towards the way I'd come from and check out the signs only to be chased by 2 guys asking to check my Oyster card. I said sure it's my dad's. The main guy took it from me, pulled a note pad out of his bag and asked where I was going. Then asked if my dad knew I had his card, to which I answered as above. He asked did I know why he'd stopped me, where I was from, how long I'd been using the card and how it came to be that my dad had given it to me. I explained just for that journey and reiterated he'd given it to me. He scanned the card then asked why I'd walked away from the barrier I told him it said seek assistance I wanted to find a ticket booth. Then he asked for my ID and started writing his Qs and my As and said I looked to young to be married which I found a bit odd, but said I was 29 - even though he had my D/L. Asked if I lived with my dad (no) and where he lived (Coventry). Then he cautioned me and said the card allows my dad free travel on the tube. It was at this point the penny dropped that I was in big trouble. Throughout the whole thing I didn't see any ID and they didn't tell me who they were so it was all a bit odd. He asked if I was entitled to any freebies and I said not that I'm aware. Did I agree that I had evaded a fare by using dad's card. Yes I did agree. How could I not. He confiscated the card and said if dad wanted another he'd have to apply for one saying he'd lost his. He asked me if I wanted him to read the notes back and I said no I've been watching him write it. Then he asked me to sign so that he wouldn't be able to write anything underneath after I'd gone and I can expect a letter. So here I am. I'm absolutely not blaming my dad, I take full responsibility for using the card without thinking about it. I'm not sure what his card was, I assumed it was a benefit he got being ex-military as he's previously offered for me to use his friends and family discount on a certain website he uses. Having said that he's 67 so it could be a senior ctizen card. Either way I realise that by using it it's meant that TfL haven't received my fare and someone else was paying for me to use dad's card which isn't right. I wouldn't walk into a shop and stand there using a product without paying , but that's essentially what I've done here and I'm mortified. My main question is, I know I'm guilty so do I instruct a solicitor from the point I receive the letter and get their assistance or respond and see what the outcome is? I am more than willing to pay TfLs costs for any losses/admin, pay a fine, settle out of court as it is not something I am proud of and do not want to have this hanging over me for the rest of my life. To receive a conviction would mean losing my job (I'm a contractor so always undergo record checks as I work on client sites in the finance sector) and will certainly not be able to apply for future contracts. I've calmed down a lot since Saturday but all I can think of is being sat at home on benefits watching Jeremy Kyle whilst my husband slaves away and it's not the life I want for either of us. On top of that my mum is in hospital today for a skin cancer operation, I found out on Weds that she had it and had been keeping it from me, got caught on Saturday by the revenue chaps and now it's the op so it's been a week of sleepless nights. Any help would be lovely. Thank you again MsD