Still awaiting letter from TFL.

[zest121]

I was stopped over 3 weeks ago after mistakenly using a family members freedom pass. The pass was in my wallet and I had mistakenly used it to tap rather than my normal oyster card.

I explained this to the inspector at the time and asked them to let me out and re tap in with my oyster in which I did but they still took the freedom pass from me.

I gave over my personal details as asked by the inspector and was told that that I would be receiving a correspondence letter within 5 working days.

It has now been over 3 weeks and I still have not received this letter by post.

After doing some research online, I have found the email address IAP@tfl.gov.uk in which I have sent multiple emails stating to them that I have not got this letter and if they could either resend this by post or even better send me it via email.

I have had no response whatsoever apart from the automated reply emails they give and I am not sure what to do next? I would like to plead my side of the story but now I am worried that they think I am intentionally not replying back and I will be taken to court and found guilty over an offence I have not committed.

Has anyone been in a similar situation where they did not receive a letter or any replies from TFL? Any help or advice on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[skyhigh]

It has now been over 3 weeks and I still have not received this letter by post.

After doing some research online, I have found the email address IAP@tfl.gov.uk in which I have sent multiple emails stating to them that I have not got this letter and if they could either resend this by post or even better send me it via email.

I have had no response whatsoever apart from the automated reply emails they give and I am not sure what to do next? I would like to plead my side of the story but now I am worried that they think I am intentionally not replying back and I will be taken to court and found guilty over an offence I have not committed.

Just wait. It's still early yet.

 

[zest121]

Just wait. It's still early yet.

Yes thanks that is understandable, just the reason I am worried is because I have seen other threads here where people have received a letter sent to their address after a few days and it has been over 3 weeks in my case.

How long do you think I should continue waiting? I have sent multiple emails already so I'm hoping that proves I am not avoiding TFL. I just want to tell the truth and explain my side of the story.

 

[spag23]

As the OP has received automated acknowledgements of their emails, there seems to be little danger of their being successfully accused of not engaging. If anything, TfL might be getitng a little annoyed at being bombarded with correspondence that they have to spend time associating with a new case that may not yet even have a case number. As others have said, just hold off with your reply till you know what you're replying to.
Carrying someone else's Freedom Pass cries out for a plausible explanation.

 

[ChewChewTrain]

They will be intrigued to hear why you had your relative’s Freedom Pass in your own wallet. But, as skyhigh says, for now you simply need to be patient. I wouldn’t recommend “chasing them up” by email anymore, but if you do, watch your tone for your own good. You are not in a strong position here and Freedom Pass abuse is taken very seriously by TfL. If you avoid court then you’ll have had a very good result. And that’s before taking any previous times you used the Freedom Pass into account.

I’m not having a go. Just trying to give you a realistic overview.

 

[John R]

You've made them aware, so if a letter has been sent and gone astray they should eventually link the two up. Suggest you hold fire from any further chasers, which may not do you any good, and as ChewChewTrain noted, think carefully about your explanation as to why you had someone else's Freedom Pass in your wallet, which would seem rather unusual.

 

[zest121]

The reason to why I had it in my wallet is because I was travelling with that person the prior day and I normally swipe on their behalf and unfortunately I forgot to give it back.
This has happened to me before as in forgetting to give it back but I have never used it to travel myself.

I used my own oyster the next day to travel somewhere outbound and when returning inbound, I had accidentally swiped the freedom pass, it was a complete lapse of judgement and I explained this to the inspector at the time.
I'm sure this can be proven with my travelling history right but I don't recall ever registering my Oyster card, is this needed?

I understand abusing a special oyster card such as a freedom or child pass is something TFL take very seriously but I have never done such a thing.

I appreciate the advice and I guess I will just wait for a response.

Thanks.

 

[WesternLancer]

The reason to why I had it in my wallet is because I was travelling with that person the prior day and I normally swipe on their behalf and unfortunately I forgot to give it back.
This has happened to me before as in forgetting to give it back but I have never used it to travel myself.

I used my own oyster the next day to travel somewhere outbound and when returning inbound, I had accidentally swiped the freedom pass, it was a complete lapse of judgement and I explained this to the inspector at the time.
I'm sure this can be proven with my travelling history right but I don't recall ever registering my Oyster card, is this needed?

I understand abusing a special oyster card such as a freedom or child pass is something TFL take very seriously but I have never done such a thing.

I appreciate the advice and I guess I will just wait for a response.

Thanks.

I think you could probably register your Oyster card now, and that may be of help in terms of access to info that shows you use it regularly. Experts will clarify but I had the idea that once registered with TfL, retrospective journey use for some period will then be available to you to view.

 

[MikeWh]

I think you could probably register your Oyster card now, and that may be of help in terms of access to info that shows you use it regularly. Experts will clarify but I had the idea that once registered with TfL, retrospective journey use for some period will then be available to you to view.

Yes. All you need to do to add a card to your online account is answer (a) question(s) about your recent travel history.

 

[Titfield]

The reason to why I had it in my wallet is because I was travelling with that person the prior day and I normally swipe on their behalf and unfortunately I forgot to give it back.
This has happened to me before as in forgetting to give it back but I have never used it to travel myself.

I used my own oyster the next day to travel somewhere outbound and when returning inbound, I had accidentally swiped the freedom pass, it was a complete lapse of judgement and I explained this to the inspector at the time.
I'm sure this can be proven with my travelling history right but I don't recall ever registering my Oyster card, is this needed?

I understand abusing a special oyster card such as a freedom or child pass is something TFL take very seriously but I have never done such a thing.

I appreciate the advice and I guess I will just wait for a response.

Thanks.

Sorry to be pedantic but these two statements are at odds with each other. (1) if there are two identical or similar cards in a wallet you may select and use the "wrong" card because you do not check the card sufficiently well before use ie if you had examined the card more closely you would have realised it was the wrong card and not used it, selecting the other card for use instead. (2) It was a complete lapse of judgement suggest that you either deliberately selected and used the wrong card or having realised on examination knew it was the wrong card you had selected but either way consciously and deliberately chose to use the wrong card knowing that it gave you a pecuniary advantage. The word judgement implies consciously making a decision being in possession of the facts or information.

 

[zest121]

Sorry to be pedantic but these two statements are at odds with each other. (1) if there are two identical or similar cards in a wallet you may select and use the "wrong" card because you do not check the card sufficiently well before use ie if you had examined the card more closely you would have realised it was the wrong card and not used it, selecting the other card for use instead. (2) It was a complete lapse of judgement suggest that you either deliberately selected and used the wrong card or having realised on examination knew it was the wrong card you had selected but either way consciously and deliberately chose to use the wrong card knowing that it gave you a pecuniary advantage. The word judgement implies consciously making a decision being in possession of the facts or information.

As I said already, it was not intentional and it was a complete mistake. Both oysters were in my wallet both in identical cases so I had a lapse (which means blunder, error or mistake). If you think me saying judgement is suggesting I did this deliberate/realisation then I offer my apologies for my poor wording as this is not the case whatsoever.

As said, I also used my own oyster that very morning so If I was intentionally using it, I would have used the freedom for my outbound travel and this is why I have asked regarding the registration of my oyster so that I can prove this.
TFL can also look on the history travel of the Freedom Pass and that will show everything they need to know.

I have no reason to lie here, I am just asking for genuine help, advice and support because I have never had an issue like this before.

I know it sounds unusual but unusual things may happen and unfortunately it has happened to me and I've been having the worst luck as of recent which includes my identity being stolen a few days ago, somebody has made opened a pre paid card and current account in my name.
I would also call that very unusual for me personally as I am very careful with all my personal information especially online and having a strong background in IT but it happens I guess.

Thank you @WesternLancer & @MikeWh, I am going to register my oyster as soon as possible.

 

[John R]

I have no reason to lie here, I am just asking for genuine help, advice and support because I have never had an issue like this before.

If you look at the advice for those seeking assistance at the top of the board you'll see that we do sometimes challenge in considerable detail what people say. The reason isn't to catch people out, but if you like to do a dry run of the type of sceptical challenge that you are likely to get (even if you don't see it - it will just form part of their consideration) from those assessing your case and deciding whether to prosecute or not.

Of course, in some instances the story we are first given is so full of holes that it's not hard to know what was the underlying cause of the problem - not saying for one moment that is the case here though - so it is useful to tell the poster that the investigator will in no way believe their story.