Mistakenly used someone’s freedom pass

[Hadders]

Your should send copies of documentation that supports your medical condition, and refer to this in your letter.

 

[bee]

I accidentally grabbed the wrong wallet, but I didn’t change the story. We both have matching pink cards, and I mistakenly picked up the wrong one. I just didn’t realise I could include factors that may have influenced my actions.

Also, simply saying I grabbed the wrong wallet because they’re both pink probably won’t convince them, as they’ve likely heard that before. I’m trying to explain why I didn’t double-check if it was the wrong wallet

What I did is completely wrong. But, I’m in my final year of university and hope to work with the NHS. A criminal record would ruin everything for me.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Sep 2024 ==

Your should send copies of documentation that supports your medical condition, and refer to this in your letter.

thank you for your support.


I have a draft of the letter:


Reference: 000000/00



I have received your letter dated 00/00/0000 with reference 0000000/00. I confirm that I was the person stopped by TFL officer. I admit that I was travelling using a Freedom Pass belonging to someone else. The holder of that pass was not aware that I had taken it.



Due to the PTSD and OCD symptoms I developed after the ////// ///// incident, I often experience distraction. The flashbacks and intense anxiety from PTSD can impair my focus, caused me to grab the wrong wallet card. I am ashamed of myself, and is the only time that I have done this.



My usual travel is by means of ‘Pay As You Go’ using contactless via my bank card, Apple Pay, or, during university terms, with my 18+ Student Oyster Card. Occasionally, I also travel with my family by our car.



You may verify this on my bank statement transaction travel history I attached. I do not have access to the travel history of the Freedom Pass, but you will be able to check that the travel pattern is typical of that of the holder of the pass.



I understand that misusing Freedom passes is wrong, and a major contributor to revenue loss for Transport For London, and I apologise unreservedly for inadvertently contributing to this.



I assure you that I have learnt my lesson and that all my travel on your services will be by use of my Oyster Card or contactless as appropriate.



I am fully prepared to settle any penalties owed to TfL and sincerely ask if you would consider resolving the matter without involving the courts.



Yours faithfully,

First-name surname


Attached Files: medical report from a specialist at the NHS Wellbeing Service. (Conditions, treatment, and daily struggles).


Bank statements transactions - with highlighted frequent TFL transactions.

University enrolment letter (not sure is relevant).

Please advise me on any details that doesn’t look right.

Thank you,

 

[najaB]

But, I’m in my final year of university and hope to work with the NHS. A criminal record would ruin everything for me.

Not necessarily. Have you taken any official advice on the impact that a minor conviction for an offence which carries no accusation of dishonesty would have on your career options?

 

[bee]

Have you taken any official advice on the impact

Not yet, I am waiting for Monday to speak to someone regarding this matter.

 

[some bloke]

A criminal record would ruin everything for me.

The same NMC page may help with that.

Criminal convictions and cautions

www.nmc.org.uk

Here are some policies of academic institutions (for students as well as applicants).

nursing university school criminal conviction site:ac.uk at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

 

[Pushpit]

What I did is completely wrong. But, I’m in my final year of university and hope to work with the NHS. A criminal record would ruin everything for me.

I have experience in this area. It is something you need to declare when asked, and you will be asked. The implications are most unlikely to ruin anything, but it may well make your life difficult for a while. There could be questions asked about your honesty and attention to detail. If you fail to mention it when asked (e.g. on job applications) then the risk is much higher and could involve professional suspension, from which your career will not recover. But apart from that, this will probably come across as a byelaw crime relating to fare dodging, which is normally not considered that serious, particularly as time moves on. Moreover we are very short of staff and it's not unusual for people to have some problems on their HR record. Many jobs have one (or fewer) applicants per vacancy. Hence while you should never have done this, it won't in the end make that much difference. If you turn out to be good, honest and reliable at your job, it will soon become irrelevant, your reputation will be demonstrated.

 

[perfnom87]

You will see in the guidance on the NMC website that the declaration that you make is one of health and character. I can understand your initial reluctance to share here the impact that your conditions have on your daily life, but you will need to be honest and suitably open about this to the regulator.

 

[bee]

Part of my letter stated: “You do not have to reply to this letter but it may harm your defence if you do not mention something now which you may later rely on in court. Anything you do provide in writing may be used in evidence”.

Does that mean I will go to court no matter what I send them?.


Thank you,
B

 

[simonw]

Part of my letter stated: “You do not have to reply to this letter but it may harm your defence if you do not mention something now which you may later rely on in court. Anything you do provide in writing may be used in evidence”.

Does that mean I will go to court no matter what I send them?.


Thank you,
B

No it doesn't mean that. They may just issue you a warning letter.

 

[najaB]

Does that mean I will go to court no matter what I send them?.

No, it means exactly what it says and is basically similar to the caution given by police officers when they arrest people. And, in the same way, being arrested doesn't mean you're going to court.

 

[bee]

Dear Investigation Appeals and Prosecution Team

I have received your letter dated 00/00/0000 with reference 00000/00. I confirm that I was the person stopped by TFL officer. I admit that I was travelling using a Freedom Pass belonging to someone else.

I have been managing PTSD and OCD symptoms since my experience of the /// //// //// incident, and I struggle with distraction and sever daily anxiety. You may verify medical summary letter I attached.

Since the TFL incident, I have been deeply distressed and am concerned about how this matter could affect the future and goals I am striving to achieve.

I deeply regret that I mistakenly grabbed the wrong wallet card. I am deeply ashamed of my actions, and this is the only time I have ever done something like this.

I understand that misusing Freedom passes is wrong, and a major contributor to revenue loss for Transport For London, and I apologise unreservedly for inadvertently contributing to this.

I am a full-time university student balancing a part-time job and a volunteer role, and I am eager to pursue career with the NHS in the near future.

I assure you that I have learnt my lesson and that all my travel on your services will be by use of my Oyster Card or contactless as appropriate.

I am fully prepared to settle any penalties owed to TfL and sincerely ask if you would consider resolving the matter without involving the courts.



Yours faithfully,

 

[SuspectUsual]

I deeply regret that I mistakenly grabbed the wrong wallet card. I am deeply ashamed of my actions, and this is the only time I have ever done something like this

I’m not sure you can say its the only time this has ever happened. You just don’t know, do you? And if as you have said your OCD is a contributory factor, and causes you to (apologies if this is simplistic) over check some things and not check other things, surely statistically it will have happened before?

And if it was me, and a medical issue played a part in what I did, I’m not sure I’d be ashamed of my actions. To me using “ashamed” implies it was something you chose to do.

My advice would be to delete the second sentence - others may have differing views

 

[notmyrealname]

Might it be an idea to add a short paragraph about what action you have taken to make sure the mix up doesn't happen again? As I understand it, TfL want to know that people have learned their lesson from the incident and won't repeat what they did.

 

[Pushpit]

Personally I think it's OK and I'm not sure that TfL necessarily do that much exegesis on the issue of shame. The letter needs to come across as being the OP's own words, an honest account and own sentiments, which I think it does. TfL aren't that good about avoiding prosecution but this is one case where it may perhaps have a chance of working. I agree about ensuring it won't happen again, which should be easy to establish.

 

[bee]

Thank you to everyone who supported and helped me throughout this journey. I honestly don't know what I would have done without seeking help from this website. I'm truly grateful.

I would add this paragraph to the letter I’m sending.

“To ensure this mistake never happens again, I have now separated and labeled my card’s wallet to avoid any future confusion. I now keep my card’s wallet entirely separate from my mum’s wallet, and ensure that I check my card thoroughly before travelling.”

I deeply regret that I mistakenly grabbed the wrong wallet card. I am deeply ashamed of my actions, and this is the only time I have ever done something like this.

Would this be better

“I sincerely regret that I mistakenly grabbed the wrong wallet card. I am deeply ashamed of my actions, and this matter has left me feeling full of remorse”.

Or keep it as original. As I truly didn’t use mums pass before.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Sep 2024 ==

Hi,

Does anyone know how long it typically takes to hear back from TFL?.

 

[dh297]

Thank you to everyone who supported and helped me throughout this journey. I honestly don't know what I would have done without seeking help from this website. I'm truly grateful.

I would add this paragraph to the letter I’m sending.

“To ensure this mistake never happens again, I have now separated and labeled my card’s wallet to avoid any future confusion. I now keep my card’s wallet entirely separate from my mum’s wallet, and ensure that I check my card thoroughly before travelling.”




Would this be better

“I sincerely regret that I mistakenly grabbed the wrong wallet card. I am deeply ashamed of my actions, and this matter has left me feeling full of remorse”.

Or keep it as original. As I truly didn’t use mums pass before.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Sep 2024 ==

Hi,

Does anyone know how long it typically takes to hear back from TFL?.

did you received outcome from TFL?

 

[Leo12]

Did you receive any decision from TFL?

 

[Haywain]

did you received outcome from TFL?

Did you receive any decision from TFL?

If you have problems if your own please start new threads. Whilst you may feel your cases are similar it is easier for us to deal with one case at a time.

 

[John R]

If you have problems if your own please start new threads. Whilst you may feel your cases are similar it is easier for us to deal with one case at a time.

To be fair, @Leo12's own thread has been running for a couple of weeks now.

 

[Leo12]

To be fair, @Leo12's own thread has been running for a couple of weeks now.

Yes, I just wanted to to know what is the outcome of the decision.