HI there,
I tapped in at Highbury & Islington through the disabled barrier but it didnt register unknowingly to me and so I walked through and boarded the FCC train.
An inspector was on the train and asked to see my Oyster so I showed her and she said I dont have a tix. I said I did tap in and explained it may not have registered (which has happened to me before, and also through the normal barrier as my wallet is quite full with other cards).
She didn't really listen or cared and so said I need to pay a £20 fine. I refused as I wasnt in the wrong and also as I only had money on me for my lunch, and so she asked for my details. At that point I panicked as she was quite intimidating and as I didnt want her to know where I lived I gave a previous address (which I didnt know was a criminal offence). I was flustered, embarrassed and stressed. She checked my address and said it was a false address when it wasnt. She said then that I would be going to court for giving false details. This made the situation worse and more stressful. She took my ID and wouldnt give it back so I called the police.
I said can I just pay the penalty with the money I have but she said it was too late. She asked if it was my intention to travel without a tix and said of course not.
She finally gave my ID card back and I left very upset.
I received a letter from FCC last week stating I was being pursued for poss prosecution due to intending to travel without a tix and giving a false address. I was given the chance to write back and tell my story but then i received another letter saying they will proceed with the court case.
Since the first letter I have been so stressed and nearly brought to tears every ime i think about it. Its just aweful, when the whole thing was just an honest mistake.
What can I do? what are my rights and responsibilities?
I tapped in at Highbury & Islington through the disabled barrier but it didnt register unknowingly to me and so I walked through and boarded the FCC train.
An inspector was on the train and asked to see my Oyster so I showed her and she said I dont have a tix. I said I did tap in and explained it may not have registered (which has happened to me before, and also through the normal barrier as my wallet is quite full with other cards).
She didn't really listen or cared and so said I need to pay a £20 fine. I refused as I wasnt in the wrong and also as I only had money on me for my lunch, and so she asked for my details. At that point I panicked as she was quite intimidating and as I didnt want her to know where I lived I gave a previous address (which I didnt know was a criminal offence). I was flustered, embarrassed and stressed. She checked my address and said it was a false address when it wasnt. She said then that I would be going to court for giving false details. This made the situation worse and more stressful. She took my ID and wouldnt give it back so I called the police.
I said can I just pay the penalty with the money I have but she said it was too late. She asked if it was my intention to travel without a tix and said of course not.
She finally gave my ID card back and I left very upset.
I received a letter from FCC last week stating I was being pursued for poss prosecution due to intending to travel without a tix and giving a false address. I was given the chance to write back and tell my story but then i received another letter saying they will proceed with the court case.
Since the first letter I have been so stressed and nearly brought to tears every ime i think about it. Its just aweful, when the whole thing was just an honest mistake.
What can I do? what are my rights and responsibilities?