Caught using Staff Nominee Card

[rorydelap0806]

Hi,

I was stopped by a member of TFL staff as I was exiting an underground station. He asked to see my oyster card and I presented him with my girlfriends Staff Nominee card. Her Dad is a retired TFL worker and as far as I'm aware, he has his own staff nominee card and another he's nominated to his daughter (my GF), which is the one I was using.

He took my details (Name, address, DOB), checked my ID to verify the details I gave, confiscated the card, and let me know that TFL will be sending a letter to myself and the card owner. In this case, is the card owner my girlfriend or her retired Dad and will they be contacting him or my GF? I told him that it was my girlfriends card.

The TFL worker let me go without an on the spot fine, I'm assuming this was because I was cooperative when he asked for my details, does this mean I will be fined later down the line? I have consistently been using the card most thursdays for my commute from West Ham to Waterloo for the past 6 months. I am wondering what the likely repercussions are from here in my specific case? Are they likely to look at the cards history/CCTV and take that into account?

Looking at similar posts on this forum, it seems a fine and criminal conviction is the most likely outcome - is this correct?

TIA

 

[AlterEgo]

Hi,

I was stopped by a member of TFL staff this morning as I was exiting Waterloo underground station. He asked to see my oyster card and I presented him with my girlfriends Staff Nominee card. Her Dad is a retired TFL worker and as far as I'm aware, he has his own staff nominee card and another he's nominated to his daughter (my GF), which is the one I was using.

He took my details (Name, address, DOB), checked my ID to verify the details I gave, confiscated the card, and let me know that TFL will be sending a letter to myself and the card owner. In this case, is the card owner my girlfriend or her retired Dad and will they be contacting him or my GF? I told him that it was my girlfriends card.

The TfL ex-employee (her dad) will be notified as the travel facilities are his.

The TFL worker let me go without an on the spot fine, I'm assuming this was because I was cooperative when he asked for my details, does this mean I will be fined later down the line?

They will have taken your details with the view to investigating further. The interview with you will form part of the evidence in court.

I have consistently been using the card most thursdays for my commute from West Ham to Waterloo for the past 6 months. I am wondering what the likely repercussions are from here in my specific case? Are they likely to look at the cards history/CCTV and take that into account?

They’ll certainly look at the card history, CCTV: possibly although they often just slap you with one offence (the single time you were caught) and process it through the court as a one-off, leaving the other offences out.

Looking at similar posts on this forum, it seems a fine and criminal conviction is the most likely outcome - is this correct?

Yes, although TfL mostly go for bylaw offences for simplicity, which is a low level criminal offence.

 

[hkstudent]

Hi,

I was stopped by a member of TFL staff this morning as I was exiting Waterloo underground station. He asked to see my oyster card and I presented him with my girlfriends Staff Nominee card. Her Dad is a retired TFL worker and as far as I'm aware, he has his own staff nominee card and another he's nominated to his daughter (my GF), which is the one I was using.

He took my details (Name, address, DOB), checked my ID to verify the details I gave, confiscated the card, and let me know that TFL will be sending a letter to myself and the card owner. In this case, is the card owner my girlfriend or her retired Dad and will they be contacting him or my GF? I told him that it was my girlfriends card.

The TFL worker let me go without an on the spot fine, I'm assuming this was because I was cooperative when he asked for my details, does this mean I will be fined later down the line? I have consistently been using the card most thursdays for my commute from West Ham to Waterloo for the past 6 months. I am wondering what the likely repercussions are from here in my specific case? Are they likely to look at the cards history/CCTV and take that into account?

Looking at similar posts on this forum, it seems a fine and criminal conviction is the most likely outcome - is this correct?

TIA

Oh no, misuse of staff nominee pass is actually more serious than fare evasion, which will not just affect you, but also the staff mentioned.

I will let those more senior members here to give the detail answers.

 

[rorydelap0806]

Oh no, misuse of staff nominee pass is actually more serious than fare evasion, which will not just affect you, but also the staff mentioned.

I will let those more senior members here to give the detail answers.

Okay, but the 'staff' mentioned is ex-staff (retired) and it wasn't his card I used, it was his nominated card which is registered to my GF. So will only effect myself & GF at most no?

 

[AlterEgo]

Okay, but the 'staff' mentioned is ex-staff (retired) and it wasn't his card I used, it was his nominated card which is registered to my GF. So will only effect myself & GF at most no?

No, the retired staff member is responsible for the travel facilities - they are issued in his name. It is unlikely, but a possible sanction is that because of the misuse they remove all of his travel facilities or suspend them. In any case he will be the recipient of a letter to inform him that his travel facilities have been misused and invited to respond to it.

 

[rorydelap0806]

The TfL ex-employee (her dad) will be notified as the travel facilities are his.

They will have taken your details with the view to investigating further. The interview with you will form part of the evidence in court.

They’ll certainly look at the card history, CCTV: possibly although they often just slap you with one offence (the single time you were caught) and process it through the court as a one-off, leaving the other offences out.

Yes, although TfL mostly go for bylaw offences for simplicity, which is a low level criminal offence.

Thanks for your answers & clarification. I'm hoping that this will be the extent of the outcome for myself, happy to take the fine and criminal offence, was a stupid thing to do, I am more concerned for the outcome of my GF and her Dad.

My GF's Dad did not know I was using the card however my GF did. What are the likely repercussions for them? Is my GF liable for knowingly giving me the card? Are both the TFL staff nominee cards likely to be revoked forever?

TIA

 

[swt_passenger]

Hi,

[…]

The TFL worker let me go without an on the spot fine, I'm assuming this was because I was cooperative when he asked for my details, does this mean I will be fined later down the line? I have consistently been using the card most thursdays for my commute from West Ham to Waterloo for the past 6 months...

If by an “on the spot fine” you were thinking of a penalty fare, then I’m fairly sure that there would never have been a possibility of the penalty fare procedure being used for this sort of problem. I suspect an investigation would be inevitable in such cases.

 

[rorydelap0806]

If by an “on the spot fine” you were thinking of a penalty fare, then I’m fairly sure that there would never have been a possibility of the penalty fare procedure being used for this sort of problem. I suspect an investigation would be inevitable in such cases.

Interesting, because the TFL staff did make a point and said something along the lines of 'I should fine you, but in this instance I won't'. Not too sure what that means for my case.

 

[AlterEgo]

Interesting, because the TFL staff did make a point and said something along the lines of 'I should fine you, but in this instance I won't'. Not too sure what that means for my case.

It means that for many ticket irregularities they will dispose of the incident with a Penalty Fare, but in your case that would be inappropriate.

Misuse of freedom passes and staff travel facilities is something TfL are trying to crack down on, and when inspectors are confronted with someone in this situation they will naturally want the opportunity to investigate further with a view to securing evidence towards mounting a court case. This is why no Penalty Fare was offered.

My GF's Dad did not know I was using the card however my GF did. What are the likely repercussions for them? Is my GF liable for knowingly giving me the card? Are both the TFL staff nominee cards likely to be revoked forever?

It's hard to say what will happen, but TfL will view things on a case by case basis in relation to travel facilities. A suspension or removal of travel facilities is one option open to them. Many - but not all - staff have these perks, even in retirement, not as a contractual right but as a gesture of goodwill and there is no automatic right to hold them. Your best option is to speak to her dad before he gets the letter.

 

[Surreytraveller]

It sounds to me, if you've been doing this regularly, they have actually been tracking you for a while and knew when and where to catch you. I reckon they won't just be slapping you with a one-off offence.

 

[Bluejays]

First things first, think you need to front up and let her dad know what happened. Much better he is prewarned rather than finding out when the letter drops through.

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

Mis-use of staff facilities is seen as a serious issue. I'm not an expert on TfL's approach but I would expect both your GF's Dad and your GF to be contacted. I think it's highly likely that your GF will lose her travel facilities, especially if she allowed your to use her card. I'd say it's less likely (although possible) that your GF's dad will have his travel facilities revoked as well.

I suggest you tell your GF's Dad asap and certainly before any letter arrives.

 

[Mojo]

It sounds to me, if you've been doing this regularly, they have actually been tracking you for a while and knew when and where to catch you. I reckon they won't just be slapping you with a one-off offence.

I don’t see how you have gotten that from the information provided thus far. It sounds to me more like the staff were undertaking their regular revenue duties at the station the OP was using; the “high value” indicator light came on the barrier the OP was using, and the Revenue Control staff member stopped the OP and asked to see the photocard, which did not belong to the OP upon inspection.