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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:
nancywhitehead · 21/05/2021 07:40

Did he tell you before taking your money that you wouldn't get your £5 change?

If he didn't and there was no signage then you definitely have reason to complain and get your money back, as you weren't informed.

Either way I would say that they should be offering you a refund by an alternative means.

The reason they were refusing to refund cash was because of the risk of Covid infection. So there is no reason that they cannot return your money via a bank transfer at a later date.

If they don't return it, threaten them with legal action. I know it's only a fiver but like you say, this is probably happening a lot and there may be more vulnerable people losing money because of it, and the bus company is profiting!

I understand it's to do with Covid rules however there are ways around it. They could just sanitise their hands before and after handling the money. Then can offer bank transfer refunds. If the card machine is out of use and cash is the only payment method then that is not the customer's fault. They should be finding a way to offer change.

FrozenVag · 21/05/2021 07:41

HAhaha bloody hell op that’s outrageous

He’s clearly nicked it

😳

Eatingsoupwithafork · 21/05/2021 07:44

Honestly I sometimes think people/companies use Covid as an excuse for rubbish service and to take liberties. This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard for a while, if they aren’t giving change they need to offer an alternative way of paying.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 21/05/2021 07:44

@annemarieok

The charity could be his wallet! I'd be complaining about this for sure.
I'm afraid that the cynic in me thinks this is a possibility, too.

There is no record of how much "extra" money goes through his hands, is there? Nothing that says "£20 proffered for £15 ticket. No change given."

Plus, as others have said, most of us wouldn't mind handing over an extra 50p or so - not everyone can afford to lose a fiver.

VivaDixie · 21/05/2021 07:45

OP I wasn't laughing at you btw, just the whole scam Smile

Whathappenedtothelego · 21/05/2021 07:46

@DentonsFringeArnottsWaistcoat I've an irrational issue with Stagecoach too and have been trying to avoid them as much as I can for the past 20 years (difficult when you don't have a car!)

narkyspirit · 21/05/2021 07:48

I would be calling the bus company while I'm on the bus, I would also ask the bus driver for the duty managers name.

sounds as if the driver has a little side line going

Violinist64 · 21/05/2021 07:50

My first thought was that his charity was himself. That amount of money could make a big difference to someone in straitened circumstances. The chances are that he has played the same trick on other passengers. After all, you only had his word that the card machine was not working in the first place. Please report this ASAP.

Original poster
TomorrowIsAnotherDae · 21/05/2021 07:52

@VivaDixie, good point!

OP posts:
ItsGotABitOfPink · 21/05/2021 07:53

Wow, if he's trying that with all the passengers, he will be raking it in!

Don't let it go op. He needs to be stopped.

MapGirlExtraordinaire · 21/05/2021 07:54

Taking your money without giving you notice is surely illegal

Small claims court. Screw those bastards

Original poster
TomorrowIsAnotherDae · 21/05/2021 07:54

I’ve found out that the charity is The GM Mayor’s charity to assist with homelessness. AB isn’t having much success with this so far, I hope my fiver helps!

OP posts:
diddl · 21/05/2021 07:55

Couldn't pay for that particular ticket by card?

So the fraud that he mentioned is ticket specific is it?

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 21/05/2021 07:57

The bus driver likely wouldn't have expected you not to have the right money? Isn't the not-issuing change now widespread on buses and is supposed to be a deterrent to not having the right money? I cannot recall how long ago it is since I've been on a bus that offers change (and I don't think in the scheme of things it makes a difference if it's 50p or £5.00 from their point of view).

I guess where he was wrong was not to offer you the option to get off the bus and go and get the right change to pay for the ticket?

Original poster
TomorrowIsAnotherDae · 21/05/2021 07:58

@nancywhitehead, no he didn’t tell me that I wouldn’t get change until I asked after he’d issued my ticket. I didn’t notice any signage about exact fare only, but then again my intention was to use contactless payment so I wasn’t looking out for any signs about cash payments.

OP posts:
CausingChaos2 · 21/05/2021 07:58

This is outing but I once walked into work to find everyone except the manager had been sacked. They’d all been overcharging customers then keeping the change. The cynic in me says the bus driver pocketed that £5.

Youngatheart00 · 21/05/2021 07:58

There is literally no reason they wouldn’t accept card payments ‘due to fraud’. Complete garbage

He’s just stolen your twenty quid

Most definitely report it.

butterpuffed · 21/05/2021 08:00

Here in Kent, Stagecoach have been doing this for about a year due to covid. There used to be a notice up which I no longer see on our buses but it's on their website, the money is given to NHS Charities Together Appeal.

enjoyingscience · 21/05/2021 08:02

He’s absolutely nicked the change.

I hate stuff like this, you feel so silly afterwards, but in reality there’s little you can do in the moment.

motogogo · 21/05/2021 08:02

Many buses are correct change only, this was the case as far back as the 90's with city buses. But, the card thing makes me smell a rat, contact the company

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

There are over 20 different bus operators in GM, so keeping up with the various rules they each have is nigh on impossible. Thankfully there will be one integrated service similar to London by 2023, so there won’t be any excuse not to know what fare systems are in place.

OP posts:
MrDarcysMa · 21/05/2021 08:10

I'm not usually so suspicious but that driver sounds dodgy af

MimosaFields · 21/05/2021 08:11

I would complain. Last year I bought a £2 ticket and the driver issued it for £1.50. I complained to him at the time and he told me to sit down. I complained to the company and asked them how they were planning to declare the missing 50p income if it had gone unregistered. How many times a year did that happen and were was that money going?

They responded with an apology and sent me a free ticket. Unnecessary but fair enough. I hope that driver got told off

chillied · 21/05/2021 08:11

I'd complain to the bus company OP, in similar situations I've always been given a ticket that is a voucher for future bus journeys

lottiegarbanzo · 21/05/2021 08:11

I'd contact the company. Just be factual and surprised.

Does that company usually give change? in which case clear signage / explanation is needed. Ours doesn't, in normal times either, and everybody knows that. (Lots of rushed purchases of small items for change, near bus stops).