anxiouswriter
Member
Hello,
Context:
This Saturday I had an incident with a DLR fare evasion ticket inspector at Bow Church who checked my Oyster which was low on credit and showed I hadn't tapped in to begin my journey. I explained that this was not intentional and I was not aware that my balance was low as I had just used the ticket for a bus earlier that day (which doesn't show you remaining balance like the train does). He then offered me a fine or said he could share my details with TFL to allow me to explain myself directly. I foolishly went for the second because I thought this meant an appeal process, not that I would be reported for fare evasion. The next day I went back to the location and managed to get the details of fare inspector supervisor for that area who clarified what my options were but shared that unfortunately it's too late to revert to a penalty fare because his colleague has already submitted an irregularity report. I've been sick to my stomach since thinking about what this might risk for my future. This is my first time getting into any kind of trouble so I didn't know how serious it could get (or that there's nothing to argue really) and keep beating myself up about not just paying the fine right there and then regardless of my mistake. In preparation, I've drafted a response letter for when I receive my verification letter - can I please get feedback? I've tried to address my remorse, mitigating circumstances and ask for a penalty instead of prosecution
This is the text alone (Ommited personal details):
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is _____. On the 13th of September at 18:20, during my DLR journey to Bow Church, I was reported for not having validation on my Oyster card (ID: _____) for my journey. To confirm, my mobile phone number is _____, my date of birth is ____ and my email address is _____. My correspondence address is _____
At the time of the incident, a fare inspector explained to me that I could pay £50 then, £100 later, or he could give my details to TFL so I could explain myself to determine an outcome, which he described as an opportunity to appeal. I’ve now come to realise that the options were not made clear to me and that this was rather a report to escalate from penalty fare to prosecution, which I am pleading to avoid, given my co-operation and mitigating circumstances. I wholeheartedly apologise for not tapping in. I travel on the DLR quite frequently to get to work and always tap my card. This was not an act of trying to deliberately evade the fare; this was a lapse in memory and focus. For the past five years, I have suffered from chronic spinal pain from my lower back to my neck, which has developed into causing intense headaches and tension that contributes to sleep deprivation, and though I receive physiotherapy and self-manage my symptoms, this does not stop the pain completely, and I still have episodes. When I do have an episode, it tends to affect my ability to rest, which in turn impacts my focus and may cause me to have moments of confusion and forgetfulness afterwards, especially if I have taken a strong analgesic, which I did before beginning my travels. In my state, I rushed to get a seat on the DLR after getting there, as a train was about to leave, and I mistakenly did not tap in properly.
I have the utmost respect for TfL and its workers and had no intention of trying to evade the fare I owed for that journey. Immediately after the fare inspector made me cognizant of my mistake, that evening, using the Oyster website, I ordered £50 to be put on my Oyster card, for the precise reason that I would be able to pay for all my upcoming journeys with TfL. I truly and genuinely had and have every intention of paying my way as I use this service. Additionally, I have no prior history of fare evasion and routinely pay my fares with either my Oyster or debit contactless card. I ask that you please take all that I have shared with you into consideration for a formal warning or to allow me to pay the penalty fine to conclude this regrettable matter without prosecution.
I have attached a letter from a work health assessment as well as my letter from my initial GP investigations, detailing how my chronic pain affects my focus, especially during times of stress and physical movement as evidence to show you that what I tell you is the truth, as well as the email from autoresponse@tfl.go.uk, which proves that I did order £50 to my oyster that evening and have every intention of paying my fares. Lastly, I have attached the payment record from my other card (Contactless ending in 7370) to demonstrate that I had been paying for fares throughout the day and the days before. This is all to say that evasion is not in my character and will never happen again. I take full responsibility for my actions, regardless of my state, and I commit to slowing down and taking care to double-check that I have tapped in in the future, regardless of the circumstances, to avoid such careless mistakes.
With sincere regrets,
[NAME]
Context:
This Saturday I had an incident with a DLR fare evasion ticket inspector at Bow Church who checked my Oyster which was low on credit and showed I hadn't tapped in to begin my journey. I explained that this was not intentional and I was not aware that my balance was low as I had just used the ticket for a bus earlier that day (which doesn't show you remaining balance like the train does). He then offered me a fine or said he could share my details with TFL to allow me to explain myself directly. I foolishly went for the second because I thought this meant an appeal process, not that I would be reported for fare evasion. The next day I went back to the location and managed to get the details of fare inspector supervisor for that area who clarified what my options were but shared that unfortunately it's too late to revert to a penalty fare because his colleague has already submitted an irregularity report. I've been sick to my stomach since thinking about what this might risk for my future. This is my first time getting into any kind of trouble so I didn't know how serious it could get (or that there's nothing to argue really) and keep beating myself up about not just paying the fine right there and then regardless of my mistake. In preparation, I've drafted a response letter for when I receive my verification letter - can I please get feedback? I've tried to address my remorse, mitigating circumstances and ask for a penalty instead of prosecution
This is the text alone (Ommited personal details):
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is _____. On the 13th of September at 18:20, during my DLR journey to Bow Church, I was reported for not having validation on my Oyster card (ID: _____) for my journey. To confirm, my mobile phone number is _____, my date of birth is ____ and my email address is _____. My correspondence address is _____
At the time of the incident, a fare inspector explained to me that I could pay £50 then, £100 later, or he could give my details to TFL so I could explain myself to determine an outcome, which he described as an opportunity to appeal. I’ve now come to realise that the options were not made clear to me and that this was rather a report to escalate from penalty fare to prosecution, which I am pleading to avoid, given my co-operation and mitigating circumstances. I wholeheartedly apologise for not tapping in. I travel on the DLR quite frequently to get to work and always tap my card. This was not an act of trying to deliberately evade the fare; this was a lapse in memory and focus. For the past five years, I have suffered from chronic spinal pain from my lower back to my neck, which has developed into causing intense headaches and tension that contributes to sleep deprivation, and though I receive physiotherapy and self-manage my symptoms, this does not stop the pain completely, and I still have episodes. When I do have an episode, it tends to affect my ability to rest, which in turn impacts my focus and may cause me to have moments of confusion and forgetfulness afterwards, especially if I have taken a strong analgesic, which I did before beginning my travels. In my state, I rushed to get a seat on the DLR after getting there, as a train was about to leave, and I mistakenly did not tap in properly.
I have the utmost respect for TfL and its workers and had no intention of trying to evade the fare I owed for that journey. Immediately after the fare inspector made me cognizant of my mistake, that evening, using the Oyster website, I ordered £50 to be put on my Oyster card, for the precise reason that I would be able to pay for all my upcoming journeys with TfL. I truly and genuinely had and have every intention of paying my way as I use this service. Additionally, I have no prior history of fare evasion and routinely pay my fares with either my Oyster or debit contactless card. I ask that you please take all that I have shared with you into consideration for a formal warning or to allow me to pay the penalty fine to conclude this regrettable matter without prosecution.
I have attached a letter from a work health assessment as well as my letter from my initial GP investigations, detailing how my chronic pain affects my focus, especially during times of stress and physical movement as evidence to show you that what I tell you is the truth, as well as the email from autoresponse@tfl.go.uk, which proves that I did order £50 to my oyster that evening and have every intention of paying my fares. Lastly, I have attached the payment record from my other card (Contactless ending in 7370) to demonstrate that I had been paying for fares throughout the day and the days before. This is all to say that evasion is not in my character and will never happen again. I take full responsibility for my actions, regardless of my state, and I commit to slowing down and taking care to double-check that I have tapped in in the future, regardless of the circumstances, to avoid such careless mistakes.
With sincere regrets,
[NAME]
