Caught using younger brothers 11-15 Zip Card

[tonycockram]

One thought I had would be as this is a first offence within TfL and how they don’t accept payment of fares and administration costs, would be to offer a payment to a charity that TFL would accept as a lesson in lieu of proceeding to court, and as part of receiving a final warning.
This would show willing to learn from the one off error, and might persuade them to forgo the court case, and probably isn’t something they normally see people willing to do?
I wonder what other people think about this route instead of waiting for the inevitable or going to a solicitor straight away? If a court summons is then issued, I feel you still have the opportunity to speak with manaks or similar dare evasion specialist solicitors to try a different approach?
I seem to recall even once a summons is issued there is still the potential to get TfL to go back to a final warning in the worst case when solicitors get involved?

 

[Hadders]

One thought I had would be as this is a first offence within TfL and how they don’t accept payment of fares and administration costs, would be to offer a payment to a charity that TFL would accept as a lesson in lieu of proceeding to court, and as part of receiving a final warning.
This would show willing to learn from the one off error, and might persuade them to forgo the court case, and probably isn’t something they normally see people willing to do?
I wonder what other people think about this route instead of waiting for the inevitable or going to a solicitor straight away? If a court summons is then issued, I feel you still have the opportunity to speak with manaks or similar dare evasion specialist solicitors to try a different approach?
I seem to recall even once a summons is issued there is still the potential to get TfL to go back to a final warning in the worst case when solicitors get involved?

TfL will not accept this. It is worth becoming familiar with their Revenue Enforcement and Prosecutions Policy, last updated in November 2025 to understand how they are likely to proceed.

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/revenue-enforcement-and-prosecutions-policy.pdf

 

[WesternLancer]

If I seriously need a solicitor to avoid criminal conviction then who would you recommend? If you were in my position with good career prospects potentially in the financial sector do u think it would be worth getting a solicitor?

You could get quotes

Firms we have seen mentioned on the forum (you can search the treads for cases where they have been mentioned to see if any similar to your perhaps - just put in the firm name in the forum search box)

Manak Solicitors

Fare Evasion Solicitors | Kent & London | Manak Solicitors

Manak Solicitors: Skilled legal defence for fare evasion cases. Rely on our experienced team to protect your rights, challenge penalties, and guide you through the process.

manaksolicitors.co.uk


Makwanas


Fare Evasion Solicitors London | High Success Rate | TFL Solicitors

www.makwanas.co.uk

http://www.grayhooperholt.co.uk/default.asp?id=30

https://penmansedgwick.com/fare-evasion/


Only you can weigh up if you think spending the money is worthwhile - eg if you expect to graduate - get a job in the city earning £50K a year, say, paying a solicitor c£800 now is a small percentage of our earnings potential. If you expect to graduate and sell insurance on commission then it might be a different calculation. That is at least a way to think about it.

It's often stated on here that a solicitor can not guarantee to prevent this going to court - but they may be able to present your case better than you can (or us advising you on here) - but it's a lot of money to spend if cash is tight now - which presumably it is or you would not have engaged in low level fare evasion to save v small amount of money.

 

[iamraymond]

You may also want to get your story straight as well.. you say you were caught on your third journey, but your appeal state it was the first time you had done this?

 

[tonycockram]

TfL will not accept this. It is worth becoming familiar with their Revenue Enforcement and Prosecutions Policy, last updated in November 2025 to understand how they are likely to proceed.

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/revenue-enforcement-and-prosecutions-policy.pdf

Fair enough, was just a morning thought while studying this.

 

[simonw]

You may also want to get your story straight as well.. you say you were caught on your third journey, but your appeal state it was the first time you had done this?

I've reread the thread and can't see where this is stated. Which post is this in. Tia

 

[iamraymond]

I've reread the thread and can't see where this is stated. Which post is this in. Tia

Op has edited their posts to remove this. If you look at post #6 it also makes reference to previously journeys.

 

[simonw]

Op has edited their posts to remove this. If you look at post #6 it also makes reference to previously journeys.

Thanks

 

[WesternLancer]

If I seriously need a solicitor to avoid criminal conviction then who would you recommend? If you were in my position with good career prospects potentially in the financial sector do u think it would be worth getting a solicitor?

Case just updated here in case if interest. Resolved with involvement of a solicitor and sum paid is quoted

Not a lengthy case to read through.

I need help with fare evasion case

On February 2026 I was stopped on TfL London overground and asked to show oyster. But I had my partners freedom pass as we share the same little black wallet. Sometimes she uses it and sometimes I use it with my oyster. I forgot she used it the previous day. I was in a rush and picked it up. I...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[wise007]

Update: didn’t get a solicitor, wrote a well written email explaining my situation and coming clean as well as giving reason for why the conviction wld effect me, I was let off w a warning and the letter came through today.

 

[30907]

Update: didn’t get a solicitor, wrote a well written email explaining my situation and coming clean as well as giving reason for why the conviction wld effect me, I was let off w a warning and the letter came through today.

Well done!

I am (pleasantly) surprised, as we rarely hear of written warnings, certainly without involving a solicitor.

 

[WesternLancer]

Update: didn’t get a solicitor, wrote a well written email explaining my situation and coming clean as well as giving reason for why the conviction wld effect me, I was let off w a warning and the letter came through today.

This update is important for others to see so thanks - we rarely see this outcome without solicitors involvement.
You have done well to achieve this.

 

[wise007]

This update is important for others to see so thanks - we rarely see this outcome without solicitors involvement.
You have done well to achieve this.

I mean I go to a top university so I did put as much effort as I could in to maximise my opportunity for a summer internship next year. Quite broke and don’t have parents that could pattern a solicitor so, anyone in a similar situation can j ask me.

 

[Manak]

This update is important for others to see so thanks - we rarely see this outcome without solicitors involvement.
You have done well to achieve this.

If it was only a one time usage, I am not surprised to see this outcome with the age of the OP.

 

[WesternLancer]

If it was only a one time usage, I am not surprised to see this outcome with the age of the OP.

Thanks for commenting, given your extensive experience.

 

[Manak]

Thanks for commenting, given your extensive experience.

My pleasure.

 

[AAA cha]

更新：我没有聘请律师，而是写了一份措辞得体的邮件，解释了我的情况并坦白了一切，同时也说明了定罪会对我造成什么影响。最终我被警告释放，信今天寄到

I'm sorry to bother you, but may I ask how you wrote your letter? I'm having the same problem, and I would be very grateful for your reply.

 

[Elecman]

I'm sorry to bother you, but may I ask how you wrote your letter? I'm having the same problem, and I would be very grateful for your reply.

Please start your own thread if you need any help as it’s forum rules to only deal with 1 Case on each thread as there are often differences between cases

 

[AlterEgo]

Please start your own thread if you need any help as it’s forum rules to only deal with 1 Case on each thread as there are often differences between cases

They do have their own thread.

 

[WesternLancer]

Please start your own thread if you need any help as it’s forum rules to only deal with 1 Case on each thread as there are often differences between cases

To be fair see post 43 above.

 

[muratd]

What was the outcome? Did you receive the letter and reply to it?

 

[WesternLancer]

What was the outcome? Did you receive the letter and reply to it?

if you need some specific advice for your own circumstances it is worth starting a new thread for people to give you advice.
Asking people who have not been back to their own threads in a while often doesn't seem to result in them coming back and giving an update, sadly.

If you are looking for a TfL case here is one where the person updated things on their outcome - but your circs might be different - which is the reason for starting your own thread

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/freedom-pass-misuse-requisition-to-attend-court.297308/page-2