Fare evasion - not at address

[harry241]

I was stopped for using a freedom pass that isn’t mine and gave my ID and details over. My ID has my old address that I have not changed yet. I didn’t think straight at the time about the letter going to that address. I cannot find a contact number to make sure that I receive the letter. I have emailed IAP@tfl.gov.uk but received an automated reply. Discussions in other threads seem to say that they only tend to give automated responses. Who can I contact to ensure I receive the letter and do not get a more serious outcome.

 

[island]

Assuming it was TfL officers who stopped you, that is the correct email address. They have thousands of cases on the go so it will take a while for them to read and process the email.

If the ID is your driving licence you need to sort out getting the right address on it as it's another offence to not update your licence when you move.

 

[harry241]

Assuming it was TfL officers who stopped you, that is the correct email address. They have thousands of cases on the go so it will take a while for them to read and process the email.

If the ID is your driving licence you need to sort out getting the right address on it as it's another offence to not update your licence when you move.

Okay, thank you.

I will, it’s my provisional which is due to expire and I do not have a full license. In the meantime, is there anything I can do or anyone I can contact more directly to ensure I receive the letter?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@harry241. You could always consider taking out Royal Mail redirection.

https://www.royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail/redirection

Not cheap, it's £39.50 for up to 3 months, or £58.50 for up to 6 months, but it's an option, and likely better than you being taken to court and not knowing about it.

 

[Titfield]

I would be inclined to send a brief letter (by tracked mail ie signed for ) that just outlines your old address and your new address.

For what it costs and the time taken to do it, it is a small price to pay to try and head off a potential issue.

Do you know the people at your old address? Could you at least ask them to keep an eye out for any post for you and to let you know?

I think this is one of those times that as many belts and braces as possible are advisable.

 

[harry241]

Thank you all for your responses. I will do as suggested and hope I receive the letter in good time.

Does anyone know typically how long they take to send the initial letter?

 

[spotify95]

@harry241. You could always consider taking out Royal Mail redirection.

https://www.royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail/redirection

Not cheap, it's £39.50 for up to 3 months, or £58.50 for up to 6 months, but it's an option, and likely better than you being taken to court and not knowing about it.

True, but the likely outcome is that the OP will be taken to court anyway. They said they mis-used a Freedom Pass, which TFL take extremely seriously, and which they almost always prosecute for.
Still, a good idea, because if the post is caught and it does go to court via a SJPN, the OP can plead guilty and get a reduction in the fine level.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Apr 2024 ==

Thank you all for your responses. I will do as suggested and hope I receive the letter in good time.

Does anyone know typically how long they take to send the initial letter?

From what I've read on these boards, TFL tend to send their letters (often referred to as a Verification Letter) quite quickly, usually within a month. But they have up to 6 months to take action via the Bylaws.

@Hadders has some good advice for replying to the letter (when you receive it), as follows:

Transport for London take misuse of a pass you aren't entitled to use very seriously and a prosecution under the TfL Bylaws is the usual outcome.

As for what happens next TfL will send you a Verification Letter, normally within a couple of weeks. The letter will ask you to confirm or deny the incident and ask you to give any mitigating circumstances which you would like them to take into account when deciding how to proceed.

I suggest you mention the following in your reply:

- That you are sorry for what has happened
- What you have learned from the incident
- That you are keen to settle the matter without the need for court action
- Offer to pay the outstanding fare and TfL's administrative costs in dealing with the matter

 

[harry241]

Does prosecution mean a criminal record?

 

[WesternLancer]

Does prosecution mean a criminal record?

Generally yes, (if found guilty). But others will post and explain what type of record results from the typical TfL prosecution - and how long that stays on 'your record'. Not something I know about but it is often explained to people on other threads who ask similar question to help them know what to expect so I am sure someone will post helpful info regarding that.

 

[spotify95]

Does prosecution mean a criminal record?

If you are prosecuted and found guilty (or plead guilty), yes this is a criminal conviction and will result in a criminal record. Most employers won't take this as the end of the world, as long as it is declared correctly and you are honest about it. Some employers may require you to declare any convictions as soon as you receive them.

Note - after a certain period of time (unsure how long for) criminal convictions become spent, though others will be able to help more with this.

So when you receive the letter from TFL, it is still worth replying to it in case they give you a warning or a settlement offer (though as mentioned before, this isn't normally the case).

 

[pedr]

A conviction which is punished by a fine is “spent” under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act after 12 months. Where the act applies - which is in most UK-based scenarios where someone has good reason to ask about convictions - a person can answer the question disregarding any spent convictions.

There are circumstances where the Act doesn’t apply, such as jobs which require higher-scrutiny DBS checks or if foreign governments are asking about criminal convictions.

 

[island]

As well as the above, prosecutions for byelaw violations (which is pretty much all TfL does) are non-recordable and would not normally appear on standard or basic DBS checks at all.