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Original poster

Bus company giving my £5 change to charity

140 replies

TomorrowIsAnotherDae · 21/05/2021 06:13

I had to go into work yesterday and travel by public transport. I decided to buy a weekly ticket as I will be making a few trips into work over the next week.

I went to pay for the £15 weekly ticket by card, which is recommended, but the driver said I couldn’t pay for that particular ticket by card as there had been problems with fraud and asked if I had cash. I had a £20 note so offered to pay with that. He took the note from me and issued my ticket. I asked for my change to be told that due to COVID he wasn’t able to give me change and the money would go to charity.

I wasn’t told beforehand that I wouldn’t be given change from my £20.00 note, which he happily handled without gloves, he wasn’t wearing a mask either.

Now I understand that some bus operators are demanding exact fare only, but I understood that is because they want passengers to pay by card. In my case I wasn’t allowed to pay by card.

The travel website still says that you can purchase this particular weekly ticket on the bus, but doesn’t say that you can only pay for it in cash and that you need to pay the exact amount.

I’m a bit miffed. The driver couldn’t even tell me what charity my fiver is going to.

I know this is ‘chat’ and not AIBU, but AIBU to think this isn’t right? I don’t seem to have a leg to stand on in terms of getting my money back.

OP posts:
Original poster
TomorrowIsAnotherDae · 21/05/2021 06:53

Tbf, I did wonder if the fiver would be pocketed by the driver, but as I got off I asked him to explain again why he wouldn’t give me my change and he had printed out an explanation (they must have had a lot of complaints) so I have a piece of paper saying that from October they are no longer accepting contactless payment for smartcard tickets due to widespread organised criminal activity (first I heard about this and I tend to keep up with the local news).

I also have another piece of paper saying that drivers will no longer be giving change on buses. It also says “There’s no clear evidence right now linking notes and coins with the spread of COVID-19 but we’re doing everything we can to reduce contact points and facilitate social distancing”

I didn’t see any signs about exact fare only.

The point is, either you are allowed to pay for tickets by card and if you are not permitted to do that then you should be given change from a cash transaction if that is your only option.

My point about masks and gloves is that the bus company is using spread of COVID as an excuse not to give change, if drivers are that worried then they should take measures too, surely?

I did speak to the bus operator and was basically told rules are rules and they are just following government advice and things may change in the future...

OP posts:
MargotMoon · 21/05/2021 06:57

Daylight robbery!!

EdgeOfFortyNine · 21/05/2021 06:58

That's shocking. I would email your local MP and tell them you're concerned this could really impact people on strict budgets etc.

Montalbanosono · 21/05/2021 07:04

I would ask for a receipt which specifies which charity you are unwittingly supporting! I would also write to the local newspaper if you have one - they love bus stories!

DobbyTheHouseElk · 21/05/2021 07:05

So the bus company is aware of this?

TheQueef · 21/05/2021 07:05

Must be sanctioned at depo if he's printed out his T&C but no sign or info at the stop makes it unavoidable.
I'd email them.
£5 isn't the point.

Original poster
TomorrowIsAnotherDae · 21/05/2021 07:08

@EdgeOfFortyNine, I was thinking about that. I’m fortunate enough that losing a fiver isn’t a hardship financially for me right now, but years ago it would have had a massive impact. I remember one time in particular when I didn’t have enough money for both bread and milk so had to choose the bread and drink black tea. Some people literally live hand to mouth, especially now and I really empathise with them. I think that’s partly why I’m so annoyed about this, it could have real repercussions for some people, even if it’s just £1 the bus companies are keeping.

OP posts:
CovidCorvid · 21/05/2021 07:09

I had similar recently. Bus wouldn’t take card, I offered a £20 note for the £4.50 fare to be told no change. I laughed and said in that case I wasn’t paying and sat down and had a free bus ride. 🤷‍♀️

DoingItMyself · 21/05/2021 07:10

It's theft. Inform the company.

NautaOcts · 21/05/2021 07:10

Cheeky!

Palavah · 21/05/2021 07:12

Him wearing gloves throughout his shift isn't going to stop the spread of covid.

DentonsFringeArnottsWaistcoat · 21/05/2021 07:14

@DobbyTheHouseElk

So the bus company is aware of this?
If it’s Stagecoach, it’s their policy since the start of COVID. I’m sure they would have liked to have done this before but coronavirus finally gave them an excuse. Bit of irony in that it used to be stagecoaches that got robbed, maybe they thought they’d turn the tables Grin (yes, I do have an irrational issue with Stagecoach Grin)
Original poster
TomorrowIsAnotherDae · 21/05/2021 07:19

@DentonsFringeArnottsWaistcoat, it’s GoNorthwest, but most GM bus companies, including Stagecoach, are following the same policy.

OP posts:
FortunesFave · 21/05/2021 07:20

It's a thoughtless plan on their behalf! I've also had periods when I'd have badly needed a fiver. I live in Oz and we haven't had cash payments for a while but the bus drivers just let you on if you forget your card.

Then they tell you it's on your own risk as an inspector getting on would mean a fine.

But that's fair at least!

Brefugee · 21/05/2021 07:21

lots of bus companies are not giving change. But if their machines aren't working it is an absolute piss take not to tell you up front that if you don't have the exact fare they'll steal the rest.

Contact the bus company and tell them you want the fiver back. And that they should instruct their staff about how customer relations works.

Cactuslove · 21/05/2021 07:24

I've been given a change receipt before where you can get your chance at the bus station. Really feel for those on really tight budgets. Every £ counts.

Zzelda · 21/05/2021 07:24

Given the current information about aerial transmission of Covid, there is no excuse for this practice. The bus company needs to think again.

BarbaraofSeville · 21/05/2021 07:25

That's outrageous. As well as forcing/guilting people into losing a fiver to 'charity' there's also the issue that many people don't carry cash any more and would have got on the bus expecting to pay with card so wouldn't have had the cash on them anyway.

Definitely complain.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 21/05/2021 07:27

I’d be interested to know which charity they donated to.

Can’t they issue a ticket as a credit note for the £5.

BoomChicka · 21/05/2021 07:27

I don't normally say this but name and shame! Plenty of people would be screwed if someone pocketed £5 change, as you say that is a few days milk and bread. Tweet them, post on their fb, you won't be the only one.

starfishmummy · 21/05/2021 07:28

I dont think youbwill see the money back, but definitely complain with as many details as possible so they can identify the driver. Presumably he could see the £20 in your hand as you offered it, so had opportunity to say "we don't give change" before taking it off you.

Bhses here havent given change for 40 years? Money goes into a hopper thing and driver cant access it to give change. But we are talking coins not fivers and there are big signs. Its a pain if like me you are not a regular bus user, dont know what the fare will be so have to have a huge handful of assorted coins to make the fare.

Luddite26 · 21/05/2021 07:33

It also gives charities a bad name. If you are giving to charity you should be told who. And that charity shoukd be told how money is being taken for them. I don't accept this at all. I would be livid. Take it further it's a rip off.
People can handle money now they just shouldn't stick there fingers in their mouth or up there nose without sanitizing first.
Who is this ridiculous bus company.
Name and shame i say.

VivaDixie · 21/05/2021 07:35

So he could give you two sheets of paper but couldn't give you a £5 note? Confused

This was so blatant I laughed at the OP

Ellewoods20 · 21/05/2021 07:35

Go North West stopped giving change long before Covid. It’s been exact fare only for a couple of years now on those buses.

choosername1234 · 21/05/2021 07:39

@VivaDixie

So he could give you two sheets of paper but couldn't give you a £5 note? Confused

This was so blatant I laughed at the OP

I thought this too...!