Unable to display payment card used on London overground, first time offence - advice appreciated!

[Over_grounded]

Hello!

I am seeking guidance on how to respond to letter from TfL, which they sent after I was unable to display the payment card I used to board the Overground. The letter I've received is the standard "Information Request Letter" i.e. https://www.reeds.co.uk/insight/tfl-verification-letters-information-request-letter/

The situation is :

- I tapped in using a contactless card on my phone to an Overground station
- My phone then ran out of battery during my journey
- I was asked to display a valid payment card and couldn't (as my phone had run out of battery)
- I explained I was unable to present a payment card to the revenue inspector
- The revenue inspector took my details and told me to expect a letter
- I then received the letter
- After receiving the letter, I checked my Oyster account and found the card I had used to pay wasn't linked to it
- I then retrospectively linked my card to my Oyster account
- I found that TfL had autocompleted my journey (to the station where I did, in fact, depart)
- So I have paid the correct fare, but was unable to show my card when asked

The text below (with identifiable stuff redacted) is the letter I am intending to send back - it is my first time responding to anything like this, so any help on drafting appreciated! I am also genuinely unsure if I have committed an offence (I did pay the correct fare, but was unable to prove it when asked - is that still an offence?) I couldn't figure out if that counted as "fare evasion" looking at TfLs prosecution policy (https://content.tfl.gov.uk/revenue-enforcement-and-prosecution-policy.pdf) - so not sure whether I should deny or accept committing an offence

I have a clean criminal record, and no previous fines from any services. Any help appreciated!

"Dear Sir/Madan,

My case (no. xxxxxxx) is in relation to a ticket irregularity. I was unable to produce a valid payment pass as my phone ran out of battery after I boarded the overground at [x] on [x]. I was therefore unable to produce the contactless [x] card I had used to tap in at [x] to the relevant TfL revenue inspector.

I have since linked the contactless [x] card I used to tap in to my Oyster account (TfL reference number xxxxxxxxx) and discovered that TfL auto-completed the journey from [x] to [y] (where I departed), and correctly charged me the £2.20 fare. Please see attached screenshots providing evidence that:

• (1) TfL correctly auto-completed my journey from [x] to [x]
• (2) TfL charged my [x] card the correct £2.20 fare
• (3) A screenshot from my [x] account showing that my card ends in the four digits xxx
• (4) A screenshot from my [x] account showing I paid TfL £4.40 for the two overground trips I made on [date]

I apologise for being unable to present the payment card I used on [x], and am happy to cover any of the administrative costs this has caused.

I have sent the same information to TfLs Compliance, Policing, Operations and Security office at 9G4 Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ, by post.

Yours faithfully,

xxyyzz"

 

[Wolfie]

While by the letter of the law you are supposed to be able to show your ticket (and your phone failing is your problem) l would hope that given the correct fare was paid common sense will prevail and you will get a "don't do it again" message on this occasion.

 

[Haywain]

Did this happen on a train or at the destination station of your journey?

 

[Skie]

Not much help here but if you have an iPhone, enable the payment card you usually use for express transit mode (in wallet, tap the three dots on a card and select card details). Even if your phone runs out of battery and turns off it will still work when tapped for a few hours.

 

[kacper]

Not much help here but if you have an iPhone, enable the payment card you usually use for express transit mode (in wallet, tap the three dots on a card and select card details). Even if your phone runs out of battery and turns off it will still work when tapped for a few hours.

Does this work for a revenue inspection?

 

[Skie]

Does this work for a revenue inspection?

It should, given a revenue inspection is essentially just another tap-in from the cards perspective.

 

[Over_grounded]

Did this happen on a train or at the destination station of your journey?

Both (my phone running out of battery and the ticket inspection) happened during the journey - does that make a difference?

(And thanks all others for advice!)

 

[Hadders]

I think the letter you've sent is fine. Technically you've comitted an offence and I'm surprised you weren't given a Penalty Fare, which would have been an appropriate course of action.

I also hope that common sense prevails, please do let us know TfL's response. We often hear that TfL are 'robust' in dealing with matters but I suspect there are other times where they take a more pragmatic approach - we just don't get to hear about them!