[HELP] my girlfriend received letter from LU after getting caught using my student's photocard

[zevot]

hi everyone,

 

Last month when the school at university just started, my girlfriend's student photocard was expired while my photocard wasn't, and my girlfriend's bank account has been in the status of over-draft for several months. And so, I thought I would let her use my card to save the costs of travelling by purchasing the travelcard on my photocard while her application for a new student photocard was then processing since 25th September.

 

After using it for a week, my girlfriend was stopped by LU staff after she passed the gate and the usual procedures followed.

 

But when asked for the reason why she was using my card, she didn't tell him the true reason but explained that as she has several wallets and she just changed to another wallet that day and didn't realise my card was in there.

 

Then, we received a letter today from the LU prosecutions dept which asked if she has any comments to make regarding the incident and write back to them within ten days. The letter also said legal proceedings may be initiated against her.

 

I have already read through the posts on this forum and on other sites but I still need the precious advice from helpful guys like yourself.

 

I have decided to write back to them as all of you have suggested that not replying will most likely lead to a court summons.

 

The main purpose of my letter would be to settle the issue and pay the fine outside of court so my girlfriend would not need to bear the criminal record for the coming 5 years.

 

Thus, I have questions regarding the content of the letter.

 

1) I know that first time convictions usually lead to a fine of smaller size but they would definitely know my girlfriend had been using the card for a week. So should I say that it's her first time conviction while she's been using it for a week? That seems conflicting.

 

2) Also, should she admit to them that she lied to the inspector and explain in the letter to them the true reason, which is to save travelling cost because of her poor financial condition? And I myself have never actually used the card during that duration?

 

3) As I mentioned, my girlfriend applied for a new student photocard on the 25th September, but that card never actually arrives and so she made another application after that. The card for the second application arrived later. And she has been purchasing monthly pass on the card since then. Should I mention this fact to show she was really waiting for her card to arrive?

 

4) how should I ask them to settle outside court and pay them all the fines and administration costs incurred by LU?

 

5) I have also seen people saying that they called up the prosecutions dept and talked to the prosecutions manager to drop the prosecution and directly pay the fines without going to court?

 

Sorry this's longer than intended but please kindly help!!!

 

Thanks a million!!

Edited November 30, 2009 by zevot

[Guest Old_andrew2018]

Bumping your thread

[timbo58]

IME the prosecutions department will make NO allowance for a persons financial position, it sounds harsh but they will be of the opinion 'if you can't afford it don't just take it anyway'.

This is, on the face of it, a relatively easy prosecution, I am not advocating any particular response as it may well just be 'hole digging' on your/her part: the inspectors obviously didn't accept her 'excuse' and the prosecutions people won't either.

there's more than a passing chance that you will be written to along with your GF as she has misused your pass and they may well suspect she has done this with your permission, and be looking at removal of your card also!