Welcome to the forum!
Transport for London take misue of Zip Oyster cards
very seriously and prosecution under the TfL Bylaws in the Magistrates Court is the usual outcome. How old are you? Are you entitled to your own card? What were the circumstances around you using the card?
The Verification Letter is an opportunity to give any mitigation that you want TfL to take into consideration when they decide how to proceed. The points I normally suggest including in this reply are:
- That you are sorry for what has happened
- What you have learned from the incident
- That you are keen to settle the matter without the need for court action
- Offer to pay the outstanding fare and the train company's administrative costs in dealing with the matter
If having considered your reply TfL do decide to prosecute they will send what is called a Single Justice Procedure Notice which you will need to reply to. There are three possible replies:
1. You guilty and are happy for the case to be dealt with on the basis of the evidence and mitigation provided. Your do not need to attend court in person but will be notified of the outcome by post.
2. You plead guilty but wishe to attend court in person to give further mitigation to the Magistrates
3. You plead not guilty. You will have to attend court in person where the case will be heard before the magistrates who will decide if you are guilty or not guilty
If you plead guilty, or are found guilty following a trial then the court will impose a punishment. Your will have to pay:
- A fine based on his weekly income (normally discounted by a third if he pleads guilty at the earliest opportunity)
- A surcharge of 40% of the value of the fine
- A contribution towards TfLs costs in dealing with the case
- Compensation for the fares avoided
Feel free to post a copy of your reply to the Verification Letter in this thread and forum members will be happy to proof read it for you. Here's a link to TfL's Revenue Enforcement and Prosecutions Policy which you might find worth reading:
