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TfL verification letter: what it means and how to respond
A verification letter is often the first letter TfL sends after an incident on the network. It usually asks you to confirm your name, address, and date of birth, and sometimes to give your account of what happened. It can feel routine, but it is the start of a process, so what you do next matters.
TfL sends a verification letter when they want to confirm who you are before deciding how to proceed. In some cases it leads no further. In others it is followed by a formal investigation letter, and later by court paperwork if TfL decides to prosecute.
Why TfL has sent you this letter
A verification letter usually follows an incident where staff took, or tried to take, your details: a stop by a revenue inspector, a problem at the barriers, or a query about a ticket, Oyster, or contactless journey. TfL uses the letter to confirm the details they hold are correct before they build a case file.
Confirming your details is not the same as admitting an offence. But anything you write in response can be kept and used later, so it is worth being careful about what you say and how you say it.
Upload your letter for reviewVerification letter or investigation letter?
The two are easy to mix up because they can look similar and sometimes arrive close together. A verification letter tends to focus on confirming who you are. An investigation letter asks for a full written account and signals that TfL is actively weighing up prosecution.
If your letter asks for your version of events, or mentions a possible offence, prosecution, or a response deadline, treat it as the more serious stage. You can read more about that on our TfL investigation letter page.
What TfL may be checking
- That the name, address, and date of birth on file are yours and are correct.
- That the details given to staff at the time match their records.
- Your recent journey history on the Oyster or contactless card involved.
- Any notes made by the inspector about what was said or done.
What not to do
- Don’t ignore it. A missed reply can push the case toward prosecution.
- Don’t give false details. Correcting a record later is far harder than getting it right now.
- Don’t write a long apology that reads as an admission of deliberate fare evasion.
- Don’t guess dates, times, or stations if you are not certain of them.
If there is a deadline
Many TfL letters ask for a response within a set number of days. If yours does, note the date and do not let it pass without acting. If time is short and you are unsure what to write, it is often better to get clarity on the stage you are at before sending a detailed account you cannot take back.
What happens after you reply
Once TfL has confirmed your details, they decide how to proceed. They may close the matter, offer an out-of-court settlement, or send a formal investigation letter and move toward prosecution. Which route they take depends on the facts and your travel history.
Keep copies of every letter and email, and write down the dates you receive and send things. A clear record helps if the case goes further.
Next steps
- Check exactly what the letter asks for and any stated deadline.
- Confirm the details TfL holds are accurate before you reply.
- Save the journey history for the card involved if you can.
- Get advice before sending a written account if an offence is mentioned.
Not sure how serious your TfL letter is?
Upload the letter you received and a short summary of what happened. We'll review it and explain what stage the case is at and the realistic next steps.
A verification letter is often the first step, not the last.
Not legal advice. No outcome is guaranteed. Not affiliated with Transport for London.