Bus driver trapped DS in the bus doors!

[MarmaladeShatkins]

FFS. That sounds like a headline from Take A Break.

Caught the bus to town with DS yesterday. Driver was an utter arsehole from the start. I put my money in and said where we were going. He didn't hear me and articulated this by grunting and sneering at me. I repeated myself. He snapped "Worrabout im?" gesticulating towards DS. I pointed out that I had paid for us both and had in fact paid ten pee over.

Then he drove straight past two ladies at the next bus stop down, despite them waving him down to stop.

We got into town. I got off the bus first then turned around to give DS my hand to climb off only to find the bus driver shutting the doors with him inside them. I shouted "What the hell are you doing?" then the driver started shouting back at me. I retrieved DS and went around to the driver's window so that I could hear what he was barking at me. "I SAID SORRY" is what he was saying. He was very rude! I told him that I thought the he was unhinged on account of his rudeness, driving past two waiting passengers, then trapping my child in the doors and shouting at me for being upset about it.

DS's arm and wrist are red where he'd tried to free himself from the doors (he is 6 and panicked)

I stormed off as I could feel myself getting more wound up. I did email their customer services when I got in, detailing what happened.

This is the reponse I got;

^Dear Mrs Shatkins

Thank you for your email on 24 April 2014. I am really glad you took the time to contact us about this incident.

I am sorry to hear of your son’s injuries and I sincerely hope that he is well on the way to a speedy recovery.

The safety and well being of our customers and other road users is our number one priority. We take all complaints very seriously and have strict internal procedures to ensure that any issues are properly followed up.

Thank you for taking the time to bring this matter to our attention. If I can be of any more help please feel free to contact me again.^

I don't really feel that this is an adequate response. I'm not after any monetary compensation at all but I would have expected them to be a bit more arsed than this. Maybe a follow-up call to see how DS is or something?

AIBU?

I agree with others! You need to write back and politely ask for follow up. I didn't realise bus doors were so strong but if they left a red mark because he couldn't get out then surely he could have broken his arm! What if he hadn't noticed and had driven away? Or what if it was a younger child or a little old lady with fragile bones.

Its got to be a brush off because your son was injured and could have been seriously injured. If they were actually investigating they'd need to evidence of what happened to your son.
What he did to your son was so appalling that you need some redress.

Seems like a standard circular letter they send to all complaints. I would rake pictures of your ds arm, and ask them how tgey are dealing with the matter so it dies nit happen again.

An elderly lady local to us died due to a nobhead bus driver driving like an idiot and sending her flying. She hit her head and the impact of it killed her.

Don't let it drop Marm, previous posters are correct, that email is a big fat brush off if ever I read one.

Hope DS is alright.

Oh no Alex some divers are god awful

That's awful, Alex.

I know, it was one of those things when you read in the local paper you think WTF? Poor lady.
There are a few local companies round here and the standards aren't as high (being polite), the driving is shocking and downright scary sometimes.
I rang up to complain once and they couldn't have cared less. Feckers.

tweet at them and your local councillor with pictures and details, the bus companies hate bad publicity

It's just horrible, that poor lady.

Luckily my Nanna is a determined old bird and she was back riding the bus on her own in a month or so but it could have been very different.

She's an old lady, what if she'd been too scared to go on the bus on her own again? That's her life line. Her independence.

She got away with a fractured cheek and broken glasses but the psychological damage could have been immeasurable.

Ahhh your poor ds. I absolutely think that letter wasn't good enough. They should have said they will investigate it and that you can be reassured they will provide the driver with extra training to ensure it doesn't happen again. As previous posters have said, they clearly just don't want to admit liability. It must have been very frightening for you both, wondering if he was going to drive off with DS still on the bus!!! Dreadful.

Get in touch with them again. We complain all the time about poor service then get sneered at by people inferring we're only after compensation. In most cases we're not - we're after the service we pay for. This site is full of people with smart-arse throwaway comments - easier to post those than showing a bit of empathy so don't be put off by them. The driver was in the wrong so why should you not be given a proper apology. My son -much older then yours - uses the bus almost every day and says while most of the drivers are okay there are a few who get them all a bad name. Hope your son is okay.

I would 100% follow this up. The response you got was not good enough.
I fell down the steps of a double decker bus several years ago, due to the bus driver pulling away while I was halfway up to the top deck. He was actually very concerned and helped me to my seat but I didn't even get an acknowledgment of my letter of complaint, let alone a response.

Make a noise and keep making it.

I believe that technically it is a Road Traffic Accident. Can't remember how long you have to report it, but would you consider reporting it to the Police? It might suddenly get taken a lot more seriously by the bus company then.

Definate brush off. Take it further OP!

I was forced off the road by a bus recently and rang 101 for advice. I got a very thorough response from the bus company which said that a review of the CCTV had corroborated what I had said. It said that a disciplinary investigation would be held.
I wouldn't have been happy with your response.