I really hope so. I’m stressed enough it is about the pregnancy without this on my conscience too, kicking myself for being so ditsy! This is what I have drafted so far but I fear it maybe explains everything a bit too much. I also worry they won’t believe I’m pregnant but I guess I could attatch a doctors letter as edivence - but might be uneccesary! Thanks for your help, reassuring to see others in similar situations have settled matters out of court.example:
To whomever it may concern,
Thank you for your letter dated 27th January 2019. I have read and duly noted the contents.I am writing to accept the offence I made for using the wrong Oyster card on the 137 bus from London Hilton Hotel to Clarence Avenue. I’d been staying with my brother and and mistakenly took his oyster card instead of my own as they were both left on his bedside table. Please find attached photos of my own Oyster card.
I was in a rush and I did not realise it was his card until after I’d tapped in on the bus. I recognise I should have addressed my mistake there and then but I was already running late and I didn’t want to delay myself or anyone else on their journey. I am currently seven weeks pregnant and feeling nauseous, forgetful and out of sorts in general, and my head was a bit all over the place. When the inspector asked for my ticket I admitted my mistake straight away, telling him I was sorry but I had accidentally taken my brothers card.
I was not offered an on the spot fine or told anything about how TfL would proceed with my case other than my brothers card being confiscated, and that it would be quicker for him to purchase a new one altogether than to try and get the one I had used back from TfL. It is here I seem to be misinformed about the seriousness of my actions - had I known it was a criminal offence to use another Oyster card I would have got off the bus immediately after realising.
I will absolutely never think of doing it, or anything similar in terms of fare evading, ever again. I fully recognise the mistake I made and hold myself accountable. I am sincerely sorry for my actions and feel somewhat ashamed to be going through this procedure. This is my first ever offence of any legal matter, and the first and only time I have been stopped for having an invalid ticket across any TfL network as you will have on your records.
I am asking for TfL to allow me to pay the reasonably incurred costs in full to dispose of the matter without Court action in order to prevent getting a criminal record. I will take full responsibility for covering the cost of any fines charged as well as administration fees in order to avoid the matter progressing to court. As it stands I am currently between jobs and a criminal conviction would make it a great deal harder to become employed, something I cannot afford especially right now with a baby on the way. My partner is in part time education and we rely on us both being employed to cover living costs, which will of course grow once the baby is born.
A criminal record could also hinder my application to tenancies for housing which I will be relying on soon my partner and I plan to move into a new property before the arrival of our child. We both also have family in the United States, and a criminal record would make it much harder to visit the country.I have never been in trouble with the law and can assure you that I will not make any similar mistake again now that I have made this misunderstanding.
Once again I deeply apologetic, I have been feeling very stressed and anxious about this situation and hope we can find a resolution before matters get taken to court. I would appreciate your consideration and I sincerely hope that you can show some leniency in this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
Thanks again for anyone taking the time to read & help me! (Edit: have lost paragraph breaks in the copy and paste but you get the idea)