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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 08:13

@diddl, yes, it’s regarding any smartcard tickets

Bus company giving my £5 change to charity
OP posts:
Gingerwhinger1 · 21/05/2021 08:16

If it is the bus companies new policy to donate change to charity, then they need to have a system in place to account for all this money. Otherwise its ripe for exploitiation.
Plus aren't there rules around collecting for charity. Need licence, inform people who it's going to etc...
Assuming the bus driver isn't just taking the mick, it seems like a ill thought out policy on behalf of the bus company.

WilsonMilson · 21/05/2021 08:24

Sounds like the driver is pocketing that fiver. Sounds very dodgy, I’d absolutely complain.

Squiz81 · 21/05/2021 08:26

@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

Such a good point!

I hate stuff like this. Like most people, I pick which charities I want to support.

Notnownotneverever · 21/05/2021 08:34

If it is the Mayor’s charity then I would write to the Mayor’s office and explain what is happening on the local buses linked to their name/charity. I doubt they will want that happening linked to them. Include all the details including the driver not wearing gloves or a mask to highlight the ridiculousness of it.

LaBellina · 21/05/2021 08:35

Charity begins at home. That means taking £5 change from someone who might not be able to afford their next meal because of that to give it ‘to charity’ is entitled, short sighted and I wonder if it’s even legal.

I also find it very strange that the driver couldn’t explain to you what kind of charity.
I don’t want to immediately accuse him of fraud but one of my first thoughts when I read your OP was ‘possibly the charity is named my pocket’. I would contact the company and ask my money back.

NeedWineNow · 21/05/2021 08:37

That definitely sounds like theft to me. I'd be on to the bus company straight away.

Pyewackect · 21/05/2021 08:38

@Theunamedcat

Contact the bus company they are wrong for not allowing you to pay by card
Totally.
Fishandhips · 21/05/2021 08:38

If they aren't offering a way to pay by card then absolutely outrageous.

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

Is crazy.

Flowers500 · 21/05/2021 08:40

I would absolutely make an enormous stink. They just stole from you for the most bullshit reason I’ve ever heard. What kind of morons are running that company?!

DobbyTheHouseElk · 21/05/2021 08:42

I’d contact the charity to make them informed. Also I’d check with the charity commission. Rules are tight around collecting for a charity. I’d expect their logo to be advertised on the bus and an explanation of their work.

Flowers500 · 21/05/2021 08:43

You’re way nicer than me, I would have stood blocking the bus doorway so he couldn’t drive, and called the police if he wouldn’t give me my money back

jay55 · 21/05/2021 08:44

Could you have paid for a single fare by card?
Not giving a credit ticket is outrageous, especially when he didn't tell you until after you'd paid.

Loveacoseynightin · 21/05/2021 08:46

Do they not have mobile tickets?

Original poster
TomorrowIsAnotherDae · 21/05/2021 08:48

@jay55, I could have done, but I had the cash to get a weekly ticket and hadn’t been informed that I wouldn’t get change for cash payment until after he had generated the weekly ticket.

OP posts:
Outbutnotoutout · 21/05/2021 08:55

I would have refused to leave the bus, unless he gave my £5 back.

That's theft and I would have let him call the police or I would have .

everybodysang · 21/05/2021 09:03

I think, though I am not 100% sure, that if our bus company can't give you change then they print out a ticket that you can send to head office and... somehow get your money back. I remember it happening to a woman late one night ages ago on a bus I was on - I wasn't paying full attention but there was definitely mention of her having to send something within 30 days...

This sounds crap though. Totally understand why they'd rather have people paying by card but if they can't, there has to be some system (even if it's the convoluted one above) for you to get change.

MrsMaizel · 21/05/2021 09:09

I bet he had a pint with that .

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 21/05/2021 09:11

That's definitely not on.
We have Stagecoach in our area & it's card payments or cash.
If you pay by cash & the driver doesn't have any change then you get given a change voucher from the ticket machine that hats to be used by the end of the month.
If it works for Stagecoach then all bus companies should do it.

EdgeOfFortyNine · 21/05/2021 09:14

The last paragraph on that printout is laughable. They've had the policy in place since October, we're now in May, nothing appears to have changed and they think that's as soon as possible 🤨

senua · 21/05/2021 09:14

This is the sort of thing that puts me - a car driver - off public transport. The rules about "we will only accept this / won't accept that / you have to have an Oyster card / yadda yadda yadda" do not encourage the infrequent user.

GreyStep · 21/05/2021 09:14

@annemarieok

The charity could be his wallet! I'd be complaining about this for sure.
Sadly I’d think this until j spoke to the company
mainsfed · 21/05/2021 09:29

He should at least have told you won't get any change, so you can decide next step.

There is rick of policy being misused by drivers (although majority will be honest).

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 21/05/2021 09:35

If exact fare only is a term of the contact it needs to be brought to your attention in advance. Keeping your change and donating it to charity is likely to be unenforceable unless you were aware before you bought your ticket.

I would challenge it strongly. For some people £5 could be vital food or electric money.

Melroses · 21/05/2021 09:38

Is it even worth buying a weekly ticket if you are charged £20 for a £15 ticket? Surely any saving is lost?

I have a family member who works for a bus company that is not mentioned above, and they take contactless or pre-paid in preference for everything, and if you have to use cash they will give you your change. Family members has also been known to give financially distressed passengers a free ride, which he has to pay for out of his own pocket.

#Not all bus companies are like that. Wink

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