Summons for bus fare evasion, please help! *resolved out ofcourt*

[EvaS]

Hi, this is my first time on this forum. I really need help.

 

Around 4 months ago I was caught using my dad's oyster card which had a monthly season ticket to it.

 

 

Until the ticket inspector told me that day that it was not transferable I had no idea about it.

I realise now how stupid and ignorant that sounds but I really didnt know,

I was under the impression that only photocards were not transferable.

 

 

Luckily I have never used my dad's card before as he always had it with him at work etc when I go out.

But unfortunately on this day i used it as he was off from work.

 

Recently I have received a courts summons asking me to plead guilty/not guilty etc.

I am really panicking right now and have around 2 weeks before I have to send the form.

 

 

I have read about out of courts settlement but I'm really not sure what to do and can't think straight.

I've always tried to keep out of trouble for everything and can't believe that I might be getting a criminal conviction because of a foolish mistake.

 

What do I do now, do i ring them up? or write a letter?

Also if I am to write a letter, how should I write it?

 

I am so worried about my future, university offer etc etc right now!

 

 

Any help would be great!!

 

 

Thanks in advance

[dx100uk]

you write a simple/short/no waffle grovelling letter

offering to pay all reasonable costs and equiv fines

to protect your good name

as it will ruin your future

 

 

you made a stupid one off silly mistake. etc etc

 

 

and you realise how serious this situation is etc etc

[EvaS]

Thank you.

What are the chances of them agreeing to it? Also is it better if i do it myself or get solicitors? I'm just really confused right now.

[honeybee13]

Hello there.

 

Just to add to what dx has said, you could promise never to travel without first buying your own ticket in future.

 

I don't think you need lawyers, very few people do.

 

Given that the case is in two weeks, I'm wondering if maybe you should ring as well. I would rather that one of our industry people confirmed that though. You can continue to negotiate right up to the court day and you can speak to the prosecutor on the day.

 

HB

[EvaS]

Thank you for your reply. I just rang them up, they said that they can't talk about it over the phone and advised me to send in an email. So right now I am trying to put together a convincing letter using the points mentioned above. Here goes!

[dx100uk]

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?446983-Intention-to-prosecute-Thameslink-trains-*SETTLED-OUT-OF-COURT**

[EvaS]

okay so here is my letter, any thoughts will be appreciated.

 

Dear sir/madam,

I wish to bring to your kind attention an important matter and write to request you to consider my application and take an appropriate decision.

 

 

I received some papers from Transport for London whereby I have been requested to complete the plea forms within 21 days and have been asked to plead guilty or not guilty.

 

I would like to respectfully state that I innocently used my father’s travelcard without realising the consequences.

 

 

I was under the wrong impression that I could use it since it was not a photocard.

 

 

I want to take this opportunity to inform you that I am a law abiding person and this is the first instance in which I have made a silly mistake in my life.

I have no previous offences at all.

I understand how foolish and ignorant my actions were and I assure you that I will never do it again.

I am deeply remorseful and upset about what has happened, please forgive me for my mistake.

 

I am 19 years old and have been given an offer from a university to pursue my higher studies.

At this stage any punishment given to me will have far reaching implications and will affect my further studies altogether.

It will also have detrimental effects on my future career.

 

 

As a student who is yet to start my life, I fear the consequences that court action will have on my entire future.

 

I spoke to one of your officers this afternoon with the view to arrive at an out of court settlement for this matter and the officer kindly advised me to send a written request in all the circumstances.

 

 

I will be glad to pay any fare and all administrative costs incurred, therefore can I please ask you to reach an out of court settlement? Please help me.

 

Once again I would like to reiterate that I did not intend to defraud the Transport for London in any manner whatsoever, but unfortunately due to the lapse on my part I have put the TfL officials also to unnecessary inconvenience.

 

 

I unreservedly apologise for my mistake and I earnestly believe that you would be kind enough to accept my apologies and reach an out of court settlement, having considered my unfortunate plight.

 

Please kindly look into this matter and grant me relief.

 

thanks!

[TylerH]

In my humble opinion there is a bit too much waffle. You haven't explained why this was an "innocent mistake" - I would try and convince the reader of this letter why you genuinely thought tickets were transferable. As an adult surely you're aware of basic rules and conditions of train tickets, I would take this to be a normal assumption so you'll need to convince them otherwise.

 

Finally I would never refer to this as a "silly mistake". The TOC aren't treating it as such so I wouldn't recommend you calling it this way; especially as you're now finding this is quite a serious issue for you.

[EvaS]

Thanks for the reply. I tweaked my letter a bit and sent it off. I got a reply in a few hours saying that they have accepted an out of court settlement

But now i have another issue. I have been given a ''letter of warning and conditions of withdrawal'' which I have to sign and send back to them.

I am applying for a DBS check for uni and one of the questions is asking me if i have any convictions,cautions,reprimands or final warnings. Does the letter I received from tfl count as a final warning? Should I put yes or no? I have to send in the DBS form asap so any quick advice would be great!

[BazzaS]

My undestanding is that cautions, reprimands or final warnings are issued by the police / youth offending teams.

 

Because of this I suspect that it wouldn't need to be disclosed. However, you could disclose it, noting the circumstances, to let them decide.....

Alternatively, don't put it in the main form, but note it in a covering letter.

[dx100uk]

hey well done a good result.

 

 

no that letter does not count as anything with regard to uni/jobs/immigration etc etc.

 

 

dx

[EvaS]

So it will not show on my DBS?

[dx100uk]

nope

 

 

dx