Caught using a 11-15 when im 19

[monim]

I got on the bus and the inspector came and caught me using an 11-15 oyster card. This is my brothers card and I had to give my information and also my brothers oyster. This is the first time that happened

Im very worried right now what should I do? Im going durham university this year to study accountancy and if this goes in my dbs my career will be over before it has even started. If anyone has similar experience i would be happy to get some advice thanks

 

[furlong]

Firstly how old are you?

 

[skyhigh]

Firstly how old are you?

19, as per the thread title.

 

[SuspectUsual]

This is the first time that happened

First time you used his pass or first time you were caught using his pass?

 

[WesternLancer]

I got on the bus and the inspector came and caught me using an 11-15 oyster card. This is my brothers card and I had to give my information and also my brothers oyster. This is the first time that happened

Im very worried right now what should I do? Im going durham university this year to study accountancy and if this goes in my dbs my career will be over before it has even started. If anyone has similar experience i would be happy to get some advice thanks

Welcome. You are right to take this seriously

Unfortunately TfL prosecute people in the majority of cases for things like this, freedom of info requests quoted here indicate about 15,000 prosecutions a year for people committing various types of fare evasion.

See this thread for some initial answers

TfL Prosecution

Hello everyone, I want to ask for advice on a TfL prosecution case. Context: I’m 19, not in education or employment On 16 June 2026 I was caught using my younger sister’s Zip Oyster photocard on a bus, to which I was not entitled The card is heavily worn — the photo and expiry date are...

www.railforums.co.uk

I don’t think you should automatically regard this as career ending in terms of your university place however.

Ask any questions you need to to try and understand what’s likely to happen. People here will be happy to answer those questions and help you understand your options.

 

[monim]

First time you used his pass or first time you were caught using his pass?

First time caught and I used it about 5 more times before that

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Jun 2026 ==

Welcome. You are right to take this seriously

Unfortunately TfL prosecute people in the majority of cases for things like this, freedom of info requests quoted here indicate about 15,000 prosecutions a year for people committing various types of fare evasion.

See this thread for some initial answers

TfL Prosecution

Hello everyone, I want to ask for advice on a TfL prosecution case. Context: I’m 19, not in education or employment On 16 June 2026 I was caught using my younger sister’s Zip Oyster photocard on a bus, to which I was not entitled The card is heavily worn — the photo and expiry date are...

www.railforums.co.uk

I don’t think you should automatically regard this as career ending in terms of your university place however.

Ask any questions you need to to try and understand what’s likely to happen. People here will be happy to answer those questions and help you understand your options.

I see so theres nothing I can do now? I cant keep this out of court? And It will go on my enhanced dbs?

 

[SECR 65]

You could instruct a specialist fare evasion solicitor. That would come at a cost (likely between £500 and £1000). They may be able to secure a final warning from TfL. This is, obviosuly, not guaranteed.

Forum members are able to provide a list of firms previously used by those in situations with TfL.

 

[Manak]

This case is capable of achieving a warning which avoids a criminal record and court proceedings.

 

[monim]

This case is capable of achieving a warning which avoids a criminal record and court proceedings.

How can I achive that? By just getting a solicitor at fixed rate?

 

[SECR 65]

How can I achive that? By just getting a solicitor at fixed rate?

Most likely yes. You are unlikely to be able to achieve a warning without the help of a solicitor.

Manak is one firm often used on the forum. Here is the relevant part of their website, including contact details:

Fare Evasion 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

 

[WesternLancer]

Most likely yes. You are unlikely to be able to achieve a warning without the help of a solicitor.

Manak is one firm often used on the forum. Here is the relevant part of their website, including contact details:

Fare Evasion 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

And of course there are 3 or 4 others we know of from people on here who have mentioned they have used them if the op wishes to ring round for quotes initially.

 

[MrJeeves]

This case is capable of achieving a warning which avoids a criminal record and court proceedings.

That sounds like a great guarantee. And if it doesn't, will your hypothetical client get their money back?

 

[AndroidBango]

That sounds like a great guarantee. And if it doesn't, will your hypothetical client get their money back?

'is capable of achieving' is not a guarantee at all.

 

[WesternLancer]

I got on the bus and the inspector came and caught me using an 11-15 oyster card. This is my brothers card and I had to give my information and also my brothers oyster. This is the first time that happened

Im very worried right now what should I do? Im going durham university this year to study accountancy and if this goes in my dbs my career will be over before it has even started. If anyone has similar experience i would be happy to get some advice thanks

IIRC the offence is spent in One or two years. Well before your degree is over.
Check with the professional body over what other levels of disclosure could possibly ever be expected.

Check with the university website about what if any disclosure is required as part of the university admissions process.

TfL prosecutes about 15,000 people a year for fares related issues. Plenty of them will be students on degrees relating to professional training courses

But you are correct to take it seriously.

If you want to feel you’ve given it your best shot at avoiding a conviction though see if your family can support you with the cost of a solicitor or if maybe a summer job might help you raise the funds for that.

 

[monim]

How many letters am i supposed to receive? I only received 1 so far under my brothers name about the oyster card. Which I replied back. Am I supposed to receive more letters home?

 

[SargeNpton]

How many letters am i supposed to receive? I only received 1 so far under my brothers name about the oyster card. Which I replied back. Am I supposed to receive more letters home?

If the letter was in your brother's name, why did you reply back to it? Or doesn't he know that you were using his card?

 

[monim]

If the letter was in your brother's name, why did you reply back to it? Or doesn't he know that you were using his card

He didnt know I used his card plus they told us to reply back which we did. Nothing else happened after that. What do you think?

 

[SargeNpton]

I think that, if you haven't already done so, you need to let your parents/guardian know. At the very least, your brother needs to know as, at some stage, TfL may take away his card.

 

[monim]

Hi all,


I’ve received a Single Justice Procedure Notice from TfL for using a non-transferable pass issued to another person (Reg 7(1)(b) PSV Regulations 1990). In June 2026 I was stopped on a bus using my younger brother’s Zip 11–15 Oyster. When the inspector said the photo didn’t look like me, I said it was my brother’s. The card was seized. The charge is for one journey (£1.75 fare). TfL says it will ask for at least £250 costs. I have to respond by 3 November.


Background: in April 2026 my family was attacked at home during a robbery. My dad’s hand was cut with a knife and he needed nerve surgery, and he hasn’t worked since. He was paying for my travel at the time, as I was a full-time A-level student with no income. I used my brother’s card during that period, not just on the day I was caught. I’m 19, I’ve now started university, and I’m not working.


I have a police letter of support, the crime reference letter, and my dad’s hospital records.


Here’s the email I’m planning to send to TfL asking for an out-of-court settlement:

Hello,

Case no: [removed]
Name: [removed]
DOB: [removed]
Address: [removed]


I got a letter about using my brother’s Zip Oyster card on a bus in June 2026. I want to be clear from the start that I take full responsibility for this. I used his card during that period, including on the day I was stopped, and I knew it wasn’t mine to use. That was my decision and it was wrong. I’ve stopped and I won’t do it again.


I’d like to give some context about what my family was going through at the time, not as an excuse but so you have the full picture.


In April 2026, my family was attacked in our home during a robbery. My dad was cut on his hand with a knife and needed surgery on the nerve in his finger. He hasn’t been able to work since. He was the one supporting us, and at the time I was a full-time A-level student with no money of my own. It was a really difficult and stressful time for all of us, and things are still hard now. Our landlord is trying to evict us, and the police have written a letter supporting us being rehoused.


I’ve just started university and I’m not working. I’m worried about how a criminal record could affect my future, and I’d like to put this right properly. Would TfL consider letting me settle this out of court? I’ll pay back the fares I owe and a reasonable amount towards your costs, in instalments if possible.


I’ve attached the police letters (crime reference [removed]) and my dad’s hospital records.


I’ll still submit my plea before the deadline, but it would help a lot to hear from you before then.


Thanks,
[Name removed]


My questions:

1. Does the email look OK, or should I change anything?
2. Is it right to say I used the card “during that period”, or should I only talk about the journey I was charged for?
3. What sort of settlement amount should I expect?
4. Anything else I should do before the deadline?

Thanks.

 

[AlterEgo]

They've taken your previous correspondence into account and have charged you with the offence. What did you send them the first time? It is now too late to undo this unless you get a solicitor *fast* - you are going to court.

TfL do not settle out of court. They either issue a warning (rare), or they prosecute (nearly all cases). You will not have the option to settle and pay outstanding fares. Unfortunately they take this sort of misuse very seriously as it is endemic in London.

 

[WesternLancer]

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Hi all,


I’ve received a Single Justice Procedure Notice from TfL for using a non-transferable pass issued to another person (Reg 7(1)(b) PSV Regulations 1990). In June 2026 I was stopped on a bus using my younger brother’s Zip 11–15 Oyster. When the inspector said the photo didn’t look like me, I said it was my brother’s. The card was seized. The charge is for one journey (£1.75 fare). TfL says it will ask for at least £250 costs. I have to respond by 3 November.


Background: in April 2026 my family was attacked at home during a robbery. My dad’s hand was cut with a knife and he needed nerve surgery, and he hasn’t worked since. He was paying for my travel at the time, as I was a full-time A-level student with no income. I used my brother’s card during that period, not just on the day I was caught. I’m 19, I’ve now started university, and I’m not working.


I have a police letter of support, the crime reference letter, and my dad’s hospital records.


Here’s the email I’m planning to send to TfL asking for an out-of-court settlement:

Hello,

Case no: [removed]
Name: [removed]
DOB: [removed]
Address: [removed]


I got a letter about using my brother’s Zip Oyster card on a bus in June 2026. I want to be clear from the start that I take full responsibility for this. I used his card during that period, including on the day I was stopped, and I knew it wasn’t mine to use. That was my decision and it was wrong. I’ve stopped and I won’t do it again.


I’d like to give some context about what my family was going through at the time, not as an excuse but so you have the full picture.


In April 2026, my family was attacked in our home during a robbery. My dad was cut on his hand with a knife and needed surgery on the nerve in his finger. He hasn’t been able to work since. He was the one supporting us, and at the time I was a full-time A-level student with no money of my own. It was a really difficult and stressful time for all of us, and things are still hard now. Our landlord is trying to evict us, and the police have written a letter supporting us being rehoused.


I’ve just started university and I’m not working. I’m worried about how a criminal record could affect my future, and I’d like to put this right properly. Would TfL consider letting me settle this out of court? I’ll pay back the fares I owe and a reasonable amount towards your costs, in instalments if possible.


I’ve attached the police letters (crime reference [removed]) and my dad’s hospital records.


I’ll still submit my plea before the deadline, but it would help a lot to hear from you before then.


Thanks,
[Name removed]


My questions:

1. Does the email look OK, or should I change anything?
2. Is it right to say I used the card “during that period”, or should I only talk about the journey I was charged for?
3. What sort of settlement amount should I expect?
4. Anything else I should do before the deadline?

Thanks.

I'm not an expert of TfL cases and they are tricky because they seem to prosecute in general. I'm assuming that is what is happening here.

But in your post of 6 July above (post #15) you said you had received a letter and you had replied to it - what did that letter say and what did you say in your reply? Your draft here is some mitigation relating to your circumstances - did you tell TfL any of that sort of thing in whatever reply was sent that is referred to in post #15, back in July?

I didn't think it does any harm to send more mitigation now, but I don't know if that will work or not.
ref your draft it might be worth adding to this section something specific that asks them clearly if they would withdraw the court action.
"I’ve just started university and I’m not working. I’m worried about how a criminal record could affect my future, and I’d like to put this right properly. Would TfL consider letting me settle this out of court? I’ll pay back the fares I owe and a reasonable amount towards your costs, in instalments if possible."

Separately, and not because of this court action but due to the general difficulty of your family financial circumstances, I suspect that it is worth approaching your University hardship fund to see if they can help you, now that you have started at University

As an aside a court fine etc can be paid in instalments as I understand it - but it will be important for you to complete the court income declaration and request that as part of the court process. Declaring your income correctly to them should ensure that the fine level is reduced according to the relevant formula.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Wednesday at 18:31 ==

They've taken your previous correspondence into account and have charged you with the offence. What did you send them the first time? It is now too late to undo this unless you get a solicitor *fast* - you are going to court.

TfL do not settle out of court. They either issue a warning (rare), or they prosecute (nearly all cases). You will not have the option to settle and pay outstanding fares. Unfortunately they take this sort of misuse very seriously as it is endemic in London.

Think this cross posted with my own.

Would it be correct to say there is the ability to advance this sort of mitigation to the court - either as part of the SJPN process, but it might be more likely to at least be clearly listened to if the person opted for the case to be heard in person, an thus opted for an in person trial at the magistrates court, rather than an SJPN plea.
Whether that mitigation would make any significant difference to the outcome of the court process when the magistrates considered it - I can't say.

If the OP did opt to go to court in person there is some useful info from another thread that sets out how to carefully prepare for what will happen on the day in court.

 

[monim]

Thanks for replying.

To clear up the July letter: it was sent to my brother, since the card is in his name. He replied apologising, did 4 hours of volunteering and got his card back. I never received anything myself before this charge, so TfL hasn't heard any of my circumstances yet. The SJPN is the first thing I've had.

does that change anything? Given TfL has never seen my mitigation, is it still worth sending it to AP@tfl.gov.uk asking them to withdraw, or is it too late now that I've been charged?

On the solicitor:
Is it worth getting one in my situation, given I've admitted it and the evidence is clear?
Can anyone recommend a solicitor or firm that deals with TfL fare evasion cases? Happy for a PM if that's better.
Roughly what should I expect to pay for them to write to TfL asking for a withdrawal?
Is there enough time to do this before the 3 November deadline?
If it does go ahead, I'll plead guilty online before the deadline and include my circumstances and finances.
Thanks again.

 

[Haywain]

Roughly what should I expect to pay for them to write to TfL asking for a withdrawal

A solicitor will cost you around £800. That is likely to be more than being prosecuted will cost you. If convicted you will be fined, and the amount of that is calculated based on your earnings, as well as a victim surcharge (40% of the fine amount), and costs. TfL may also seek to recover unpaid fares if they see a clear record of them.

 

[WesternLancer]

On the solicitor:
Is it worth getting one in my situation, given I've admitted it and the evidence is clear?
Can anyone recommend a solicitor or firm that deals with TfL fare evasion cases? Happy for a PM if that's better.
Roughly what should I expect to pay for them to write to TfL asking for a withdrawal?
Is there enough time to do this before the 3 November deadline?
If it does go ahead, I'll plead guilty online before the deadline and include my circumstances and finances.
Thanks again.

Ref solicitor- See posts 9 to 14 above ref some of the questions you are asking here. Might cover some of them.

It’s a lot of money to pay to avoid a conviction for what is probably a relatively minor offence in the great scheme of things I would tend to think.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Thursday at 00:12 ==

To clear up the July letter: it was sent to my brother, since the card is in his name. He replied apologising, did 4 hours of volunteering and got his card back. I never received anything myself before this charge, so TfL hasn't heard any of my circumstances yet. The SJPN is the first thing I've had.

Thanks for explaining

does that change anything? Given TfL has never seen my mitigation, is it still worth sending it to AP@tfl.gov.uk asking them to withdraw, or is it too late now that I've been charged?

I don't suppose it does any harm to send it to TfL, since it shows you are engaging with the process, regret what you did etc - but I fear you should not get your hopes too high. They can broadly be assumed to work to their stated policy over things like mitigating factors
that policy is here:

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

On the solicitor:
Is it worth getting one in my situation, given I've admitted it and the evidence is clear?
Can anyone recommend a solicitor or firm that deals with TfL fare evasion cases? Happy for a PM if that's better.
Roughly what should I expect to pay for them to write to TfL asking for a withdrawal?
Is there enough time to do this before the 3 November deadline?

Time is clearly limited now you have got papers with a court deadline, but if you were to consider paying a solicitor that would be a question you could ask them before they started doing any chargeable work for you I suppose.

If it does go ahead, I'll plead guilty online before the deadline and include my circumstances and finances.

Presumably accompanying paperwork you were sent tells you how you can plead and the process involved in submitting the necessary stuff regarding your finances and mitigating factors you want to alert the court to. You can presumably opt for the matter to be heard in person which might mean that the hearing is further away, allowing you time to save up funds for example.

As things progress feel free to ask any questions you wish as it's likely people here will know the answers or can give you an informed opinion.

Now you are a student you might be able to access some free advice or help from your students union advice service - it may be worth asking them.

 

[323235]

If there is any possibility that avoiding a criminal record is more important than the fine verses solicitor fee difference (which generally seems to be in the hundreds of pounds difference), then you should definitely consider paying a solicitor (if sending them mitigation fails) , to see if a lawyer can get you a warning letter instead, as we often hear about the specialist firms mentioned on the forum that deal with TfL matters frequently getting warnings in many instances.