Used someone else's Freedom Pass, waiting for letter from train operator

[lovelycat]

Hello

 

It happened to me as well. Almost the same situation. The only difference is that I did not know that I am not allowed to use it. Ive been here in this country for 1 year and 7 mos. But this is the only time ive used my aunties freedom pass. These things were not discussed to me by anyone. It happened yesterday in London bridge station. I will just paste the letter I have wrote. Im waiting for their letter and this incident is really killing me.

 

 

To whom it may concern,

 

I am writing to you to apologize for using my auntie's freedom pass. I really did not know that I am allowed to use that. I thought it's free so i just grabbed the pass from the table. My aunti doesnt even know that I used it. Im going to meet my friend in London bridge for a job interview on Thursday, March 22 2012. It was the first time i have used it and in the train only. I have 2 oyster cards. One is with my picture and the other one is just the normal one (spare one). The reason why i am not using the one with picture is because I dont want to lose it . I want to keep it as a remembrance. Unfortunately, that day I couldnt find my normal osyter card (spare one). So luckily I have my oystercard with photo. And I saw my auntie's pass and brought it coz i thought I can use it. I really dont know some of the rules and regulations about this. I am really sorry. I know I have to pay a fine for what I have done. But I do not have a very huge money in my bank account. I am willing to send you my bank statements and payslips if it's required. I dont want to end up in jail please. I am only staying in my auntie's house as I could not afford to pay for rent. I am just in a Post study work visa and working part time for an agency as a healthcare assistant.I will go back to my country aug 2013 as my visa will end already, I do not have a stable job at the moment. I just lost my temporary job last week that's why I am going to attend for an interview on that day in Stanmore for ICE Enterprise. I am just depending on the agency for on call shifts. I hope you accept my sincere apology. I promise it will not happen again. I have learned from my mistakes. My auntie is really mad at me. I am really stressed out with this issue. I could not concentrate anymore. I really regret this. This is really depressing and it's killing me. From honest to goodness, I really did not know. These things were not discussed to me by anyone. My auntie doesnt even talk to me now. If I only knew that this is an offense, I would have not used it.I am really sorry.

 

anyone help me please. what should i do.

[honeybee13]

Hello and welcome to CAG.

 

I've moved your post to a thread of its own, as the one you posted on was started some time ago. I also received your PM of a copy of the post above and will give you as much advice as I can on the forum. I hope the transport guys will be along later, they're the experts not me.

 

You probably need to wait for the letter to see what the train company intend to do and this can take 6-8 weeks as a rule, I believe.

 

You may have noticed that not many people with the same problem as you come back to tell us what happened, so that makes it harder to predict what you should expect. But Freedom pass misuse isn't well regarded and I'm not sure whether the train company will be sympathetic to someone not knowing the rules. I have a feeling that might be your responsiblity.

 

Anyway, with luck the transport guys will be along today.

 

My best, HB

[sailor sam]

HB is correct in saying that it is your responsibility to check the terms and conditions which i'm sure are printed on the rear of the pass. Ignorance of the rules won't wash i'm afraid.

 

Please Note

 

The advice I offer will be based on the information given by the person needing it. All my advice is based on my experiences and knowledge gained in working in the motor and passenger transport industries in various capacities. Although my advice will always be sincere, it should be used as guidence only.

 

I would always urge to seek face to face professional advice for clarification prior to taking any action.

 

Please click my reputation 'star' button at the bottom of my profile window on the left if you found my advice useful.

[lovelycat]

Thank you so much for your reply. I feel so stupid and ignorant. I just want to come back to my country my auntie doesn't speak to me..

 

That's the truth I just thought that I could use it. I do not want to lie and tell them a different story. Should my auntie write them about her card? Or should I just wait for the letter first?

 

 

Many thanks

[lovelycat]

Thanks for your reply .. This is a lesson to me. I need to read the terms and conditions I'm so dePressed . The company I'm working for just sacked us because they said the campaign has ended already. That same day we were told to leave. Is it okay to fire someone without weeks notice just because we are frOm an agency?

[sailor sam]

Thank you so much for your reply. I feel so stupid and ignorant. I just want to come back to my country my auntie doesn't speak to me..

 

That's the truth I just thought that I could use it. I do not want to lie and tell them a different story. Should my auntie write them about her card? Or should I just wait for the letter first?

 

 

Many thanks

 

You will just have to wait for the letter. As far as I know, they usually prosecute for Freedom offences due to the cost of the scheme and the fact it is publicly funded. However, if this is your absolute first offence at this type of thing, they may be lenient.

 

Please Note

 

The advice I offer will be based on the information given by the person needing it. All my advice is based on my experiences and knowledge gained in working in the motor and passenger transport industries in various capacities. Although my advice will always be sincere, it should be used as guidence only.

 

I would always urge to seek face to face professional advice for clarification prior to taking any action.

 

Please click my reputation 'star' button at the bottom of my profile window on the left if you found my advice useful.

[assisted blonde]

In answer to your question yes they will be able to fire you if you were on a fixed contract or a casual worker from an agency etc. There is no real protection until you have been employed for a year, the company do have to pay you for the work you have done though.

[lovelycat]

In answer to your question yes they will be able to fire you if you were on a fixed contract or a casual worker from an agency etc. There is no real protection until you have been employed for a year, the company do have to pay you for the work you have done though.

 

Okay. Thank you.

[lovelycat]

I will update you with this incident. My auntie phoned the council and reported that her card was confiscated because of me. They told her that they will report it to the borough and will give her a call back. I am so scared. I dont want to end up behind bars. Im supposed to find a job now but I could not. I am willing to pay fine but i do not have huge money in my bank. my last pay was only 300 pounds and that will last me til I get a job. Im hopeless

[lovelycat]

i really appreciate all your replies sir.

[sailor sam]

I will update you with this incident. My auntie phoned the council and reported that her card was confiscated because of me. They told her that they will report it to the borough and will give her a call back. I am so scared. I dont want to end up behind bars. Im supposed to find a job now but I could not. I am willing to pay fine but i do not have huge money in my bank. my last pay was only 300 pounds and that will last me til I get a job. Im hopeless

 

I think you can safely discount that as as a possibility.

 

Please Note

 

The advice I offer will be based on the information given by the person needing it. All my advice is based on my experiences and knowledge gained in working in the motor and passenger transport industries in various capacities. Although my advice will always be sincere, it should be used as guidence only.

 

I would always urge to seek face to face professional advice for clarification prior to taking any action.

 

Please click my reputation 'star' button at the bottom of my profile window on the left if you found my advice useful.

[honeybee13]

Hello again.

 

I expect the guys will comment, but I think you may need to be careful about what your aunt tells people. If she knew about you using the pass, I believe she could be in trouble too.

 

HB

[rambo]

I catch people using other peoples freedom passes all the time.

It really annoys me off when someone moves to this country and does this.

You will recieve a conviction, and IMO, rightly so.

Edited March 25, 2012 by dx100uk
edited for obv reasons - dx siteteam

[assisted blonde]

Bit harsh rambo the OP sounded genuine to me in this case.

[MrGates]

Can i ask what made you think you could use the pass even if you know the pass wasnt yours? Im sorry to say but how can you genuinely say it was a mistake and say you wasnt told you couldnt use it. You wouldnt take someone else credit card and say when stopped by police maybe that you wasnt told you couldnt use it.

[assisted blonde]

Sometimes if English isnt your first language it could be confusing working out what certain things allow you to do ,the OP may have thought it was like a ticket that once purchased could be used by anyone, if it didnt have a photo on, I dont know I dont have any Oyster cards, passes or anything like that as I really dont use public transport, I was just going on what the OP said, while I agree ignorance is no defence it may be in this case it was genuine ignorance and not deliberate fraud in which case I have some sympathy with the OP.

[rambo]

Freedom passes have the photo of the user on them.

If I moved to china and someone gave me a pass with a photo on it that was not mine, I would not use it.

IMO, the OP knew exactly what they were doing.

[assisted blonde]

Ok didnt know a pass had a photo on it

[lovelycat]

i am so stupid for using my aunt's i really did not know that it's being paid by public. i thought it's just like the normal oyster card that she can top up for 1 month unlimited and i am free to use it because it's unlimited. This is what happened. I used my card to ride a bus to angel station because that's the one im holding that time. and when I reached angel station, I kept my own card and used my aunt's just to try it in the tube... if im going to be convicted. are they gonna arrest me? im so scared

[lovelycat]

Sometimes if English isnt your first language it could be confusing working out what certain things allow you to do ,the OP may have thought it was like a ticket that once purchased could be used by anyone, if it didnt have a photo on, I dont know I dont have any Oyster cards, passes or anything like that as I really dont use public transport, I was just going on what the OP said, while I agree ignorance is no defence it may be in this case it was genuine ignorance and not deliberate fraud in which case I have some sympathy with the OP.

 

sorry. may i know what OP means? thank you very much

[lovelycat]

Can i ask what made you think you could use the pass even if you know the pass wasnt yours? Im sorry to say but how can you genuinely say it was a mistake and say you wasnt told you couldnt use it. You wouldnt take someone else credit card and say when stopped by police maybe that you wasnt told you couldnt use it.

 

i really did not know that you cannot share that with others. Credit card is a different thing I just used my aunt's because i thought she's topping unlimited for a month.

[lovelycat]

I catch people using other peoples freedom passes all the time.

It really annoys me off when someone moves to this country and does this.

You will recieve a conviction, and IMO, rightly so.

 

Ive been in this country for 1 year and 7 mos . I did not do any thing against the law like for us students. I am paying my tuition fee, i am paying my tax. If they said I can only work for 20 hrs a week as a student I obey that. It;s just this thing. I completely did not about this. I am leaving your country soon because I cannot stand the cost of living anymore.

[lovelycat]

By the way, I lost my agency job the other day. They sent me my p45 and there's a letter with their explanation on it. They said i didnt work for them for 12 weeks. So they need to like fire me. I can send my p45 to tfl and my previous agency's contact number ( the 3 month contract one). They can prove that I am not working for them anymore. I dnt know what will happen to me, I dont have any means for my living. I just wish that ICE enterprise will call me and tell me im hired.

 

so basically ive lost my 2 jobs.

 

I don t know where to get money for paying my fine. Maybe they will just put me behind bars instead.

I will just leave everything to God. This is an offense I need to pay for it..

 

Thank you for all your replies. Godbless

[MrGates]

You need to calm a little, these cases are hardline yes but as far as jail is concerned that will not happen.

[assisted blonde]

You wont be put in prison for this, even if they do take you to court, it will probably be a fine and you can ask for time to pay.