Urgent - Potential court issue

[Sun]

Hello, I will need your help urgently as I am really worried that I will need to go to court. Normally, I travel to work to zone 2. However, when I traveled through zone 1 to get to another end of zone 2, I was being checked by an inspector at Finsbury Park few weeks ago. I could have told them that I didn't go through zone 1 when I was at Finsbury Park (zone 2), but I want to be honest and told them the fact as I am a Christian. I have now received the letter to explain to them for the first time being checked by inspector today/ tomorrow, so it's urgent.

Unfortunately, I was being checked again this week in zone 1. I was in a hurry as my boss asked me not to be late. Therefore, I need to travel though zone 1 to allow me to go to the other end of zone 2 quicker. I should have bought ticket for zone 1, but didn't have my wallet with me. The inspector said it's the second time, so they will issue me a letter to go to court.

I do understand that it's my fault, but considering that I am honest and ensure than it won't happen again. I would like to pay for the penalty fine without taken into the court and criminal record. Otherwise, there will be a serious impact to my career. Please advise the possibility of going to court and how to avoid.

Please help!!! Many thanks!!!!!!

 

[bb21]

Did you touch in at the beginning of your journey?

How much money do you have on your Oyster card for PAYG purposes?

Where did you travel from?

 

[Deerfold]

Did you use Oyster or paper tickets?

Do you pass through Zone 1 often without paying? If you do, did you admit this?

I'm not sure what the relevence of being a Christian has to do with being honest unless paying the right fare is excluded from that for some reason.

 

[maniacmartin]

What ticket did you have?

 

[carriageline]

I'm not sure what the relevence of being a Christian has to do with being honest unless paying the right fare is excluded from that for some reason.

He is Christian enough to tell the truth, But not Christian enough to be honest and buy the correct ticket, and not defraud the TOC/TfL/whoever. Bit hypocritical. Case of "being a Christian when it suits me"

OP:-
How comes you say "your honest and won't do it again", surely you said that the first time you did it? I can't see them being paying much attention to you being honest and saying "I won't do it again", after all you didn't learn your lesson the first time? Why does the action have to be so serious (ie court) before you decide not to do it again? Surely your morale/'Christian' beliefs should tell you what is the correct thing to do is. Again, if it will affect your career, why didn't you think of that earlier?

Anyway,

If you have no wallet, where do you keep your ticket/oyster?

What did you say to the inspector in both cases? Who has sent you the letter?

 

[revenueadvice]

Its amazing the amount of times I've heard "I am a man/woman of God, why would I try and avoid my fare."

Sorry but I am not religious at all...I don't care if you're the Pope you still need a ticket!

 

[Sun]

Did you touch in at the beginning of your journey?

How much money do you have on your Oyster card for PAYG purposes?

Where did you travel from?

I traveled from Hatfield by using seasonal ticket. My destination is in zone 2, so I thought it doesn't really matter to go through zone 1. I admit that this is not right and really want to know what to do and response to the company. Thanks.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Hi, I know I have done it wrong in a stupid way. This is what has happened. Can anyone help?

Don't want to go to court...... I am not trying to find excuse, but just want to know what to do and the possibility of getting criminal record.

 

[bb21]

I traveled from Hatfield by using seasonal ticket. My destination is in zone 2, so I thought it doesn't really matter to go through zone 1. I admit that this is not right and really want to know what to do and response to the company. Thanks.

Am I correct to think that you have a Hatfield - London Zones 2-6 Travelcard season ticket, and that it is a paper ticket? Did you travel into King's Cross and back out?

 

[Sun]

Am I correct to think that you have a Hatfield - London Zones 2-6 Travelcard season ticket, and that it is a paper ticket? Did you travel into King's Cross and back out?

Yes, correct ticket that you mentioned.

No, I travel to Finsbury Park all the time.

 

[Sun]

What ticket did you have?

It's a seasonal ticket to London zone 2 - 6 during peak time.

 

[Sun]

Did you use Oyster or paper tickets?

Do you pass through Zone 1 often without paying? If you do, did you admit this?

I'm not sure what the relevence of being a Christian has to do with being honest unless paying the right fare is excluded from that for some reason.

I got a paper ticket. Did admit travel through Zone 1, but not often.

 

[Sun]

Yes, London Zones 2-6 Travelcard season ticket (paper ticket). Travel to Finsbury Park to change to first capital connect instead of King's Cross as it's for zone 2 only.

 

[Haywain]

We may not be getting through here. What we are trying to establish is where the journey had started when you were stopped. It was somewhere in zone 2, but where? And how had you got from there to Finsbury Park?

My guess is that you had come off the underground at Finsbury Park and it was a member of TfL staff who stopped you as you headed for the National Rail platforms.

 

[bb21]

Yes, correct ticket that you mentioned.

No, I travel to Finsbury Park all the time.

I'm confused. What journey did you do on the first occasion, and what did you do on the second occasion?

 

[Squaddie]

It sounds as though the OP travels from Hatfield to the southern part of Zone 2, passing through Zone 1, every day but only has a Zones 2-6 ticket because the likelihood of being stopped in Zone 1 is so small.

If that's the case, then this is a case of long-standing fare evasion and it's probably a little cheeky to ask how he can avoid punishment.

 

[transmanche]

It would really help if the OP could clarify exactly what their 'normal' journey is - and as bb21 requested, the exact journey they were undertaking on both occasions when they were stopped - plus details of where they were stopped and by whom (TfL or FCC).

 

[island]

Its amazing the amount of times I've heard "I am a man/woman of God, why would I try and avoid my fare."

Sorry but I am not religious at all...I don't care if you're the Pope you still need a ticket!

Actually the Pope as a head of state probably has diplomatic immunity!

To the OP: I agree we need to know what journey you were making when you were stopped in zone 1.

 

[reb0118]

I'm not sure what the relevence of being a Christian has to do with being honest.......

"Thou shalt not bear false witness."

I don't remember "Thou shalt not bunk your fare from Sunday school" that said it is tantamount to stealing so St. Peter may have that noted down in his book - not a good place to be arguing technicalities!

If the OP is a Catholic then he can receive absolution from his local parish priest (redemption is required though!) however if he is a Presbyterian like me then he is screwed unless he is one one the elect and then it does not really matter what he does as his place in heaven is assured.

My advice is not to bring religion into it. You may find yourself judged in a much higher court..........

 

[34D]

Its amazing the amount of times I've heard "I am a man/woman of God, why would I try and avoid my fare."

Sorry but I am not religious at all...I don't care if you're the Pope you still need a ticket!

Off-topic - there was an archbishop caught with no ticket in first class of a Leeds-London train once.

You have to be George Osborne to get away with that.

Agree with other posters that we need to know (for both occasions) where you were stopped, where you had come from and by what route.

Had you used the Overground from Highbury round towards Willesden?

 

[talltim]

Actually the Pope as a head of state probably has diplomatic immunity!

And he's got his own station.

 

[Hellfire]

And he's got his own station.

Well, I never knew that.

 

[jon0844]

I expect he has free travel everywhere, including heaven. But obviously not HS1.

 

[Deerfold]

Despite the OP being in a desperate hurry they've not answered the questions we need to be able to help them in 3 days - I doubt we'll see them again.

 

[Merseysider]

I've been following this thread with some interest.
I think the horrible truth:

It sounds as though the OP travels from Hatfield to the southern part of Zone 2, passing through Zone 1, every day but only has a Zones 2-6 ticket because the likelihood of being stopped in Zone 1 is so small.

If that's the case, then this is a case of long-standing fare evasion and it's probably a little cheeky to ask how he can avoid punishment.

may have scared OP off.