Bus driver tried to refuse my bus pass

[EIsbethTascioni]

And pretty much called me a liar.

I have a free bus pass because the DVLA took my driving licence back due to my Bipolar diagnosis and suicide attempts.

The only photo I had shows me with shorter blonde hair, my hair is now long and purple. So that's what's n my pass (don't know if this is relevant).

I got on the bus and pinged my pass. The driver looked at me and then asked to see it. He squinted at the photo (it's very obviously me despite the hair) and then asked me why I had it. I got a bit flustered and said something about being entitled to it. He asked why. I said because I'm ill. He said 'well, you don't look ill'. This was the point at which I burst into tears. There was a queue forming at this point and he just waved me on.

I'm now sitting on the bus red faced and upset.

Are they even allowed to ask why you have a disability pass? I was mortified, I didn't want to explain my diagnosis in front of a bus load of people and surely he should know that many illnesses/disabilities are invisible?

I'm not going to make a complaint, I don't have it in me. But I needed to vent a bit.

Aibu?

The route and time should be on the ticket.

A closer look to check the photo was you with the different hair is fine. He had no right to ask why you have the pass. None whatsoever.

I'm angry on your behalf. If you can find it in you to complain then do try.

The route and time should be on the ticket.

OP has a pass. If it's the Oyster type that has to be swiped, it may be that the journey details will register; failing that, they could only work it out via the timings.

Whether they can trace this individual or not, a complaint is still worth doing, because they should be looking closely at their driver training, especially in relation to passengers with disabilities.

Complain so that he doesn't do it to someone else.

I have a long-standing dislike of bus drivers in this country (except non-British ones, who are without exception lovely, for some reason).

Last week I was collecting the children from school, got on the bus and asked for a ticket to X Rd (opposite school) and was looked up and down and told in a sneering voice "Very LA-DI-LA around THERE, isn't it??" OMG the entire fucking bus route goes through the "la-di-da" part of this city, how is this a point for commenting on, disparagingly or otherwise?? What what he hoping to achieve?

I bet you had the same bloody driver, OP.

YANBU. Please complain.

Some drivers are completely obnoxious on a daily basis to their customers, and if you don't complain every single bloody time, their employers won't do anything about it.

DH complains now when they're jerks. Tried to stop him getting on with a valid iphone ticket the other day for no apparent reason. Got a great response from the bus company.

Nice bus driver story, to even things out:

I get on bus in the rain with my two dd's, ask for 2 child singles. Driver (over 60, possibly Zimbabwean) peers over his glasses at my smaller dd, nearly 6.

Him: "How old is that one?"
Me: "She is actually 5, she's just very short."
Him: "I will not give you a ticket for her. You must feed her more so she grows!"

Bet he has grandchildren - my Dad is of the same opinion. :)

YANBU, OP.
I would email the company, stay very factual, give the details of the time etc that you boarded. I would finish by saying that this was very distressing, and you are reporting it as you would not want it happening again, either to you, or another passenger.

Complain so that he doesn't do it to someone else.

Doesn't do what? Question the veracity of someone's bus pass?

Surely that is part of his job!

What is the point of having a bus pass if it can't be inspected?

You need to complain, just send them an e-mail. What if he does the same thing to someone else and it is the icing on the cake for them?

You really need to complain - you're not well and you have problems to deal with and he made you feel awful - he had no right and his employers need to know

I have a long-standing dislike of bus drivers in this country (except non-British ones, who are without exception lovely, for some reason)

YANBU, please complain.

Report him, he has no right to ask why you have it. If he gets in to trouble it is because he deserves to. He can check closely to make sure it is your pass and it is a legit one but not ask you private medical information.

I get stared at when I use mine, especially if I run for the bus. People give you this really blatant once over trying to work out what the issue is (epilepsy in my case). It is unfortunately something you may experience, people don't have the common sense to realise you can't necessarily see disability. I would be happy to answer someone if they ask me politely, in my case it isn't private information, but they never ask, they just stare.

"I assume he meant why do you have the pass of what, at first glance, appeared to be another person"

It reads like that to me as well.

But then if he genuinely thought that Op had someone elses pass, the reason for the pass being issued (to someone else) would be neither here nor there.

Of course also if he decided that it was Op's pass, the reason for it being is also neither here nor there.

If it's valid & is being used by the person it has been issued to, that's all that he needs to verify, isn't it?

book, no, so he doesn't continue to tell people they don't look ill when he (I'm assuming) is neither psychic nor a health expert.

Please complain if you're up to it. That bus driver needs dealing with.

Looking at the photo to make sure it's you is fine. Asking about your disability and suggesting you don't look ill is absolutely not ok.

Please do report him. By email if you don't want to speak on the phone. He shouldn't be allowed to speak to vulnerable passengers like that.

I know you shouldn't have to but could you see if you can get the pass reissued with a current photo? It might help avoid the scrutiny in the future

NarkyMcDinkyChops

I concede, that you never notice the uneventful bus journeys, but the only occasions that stand out for me on buses here involve a jobsworth kind of attitude, even when there's nothing jobsworthy about it, like just, you know, getting on the bus with a ticket/buying a ticket. They don't like return tickets, they don't like bus passes (the ones you top up), they don't like iphone tickets (to the point of refusing to honour them completely - that's when I complain to the bus company), they don't like family tickets.

Technically, children are free on the park and ride here, but I've given up on this one, because the drivers debate the point every second time, so I just buy them their own tickets. It's not worth it.

I would say about 1 in 6 of the driver in this city (or on my routes, rather) are not English, and I have never had a negative experience. Or with a woman driver, for that matter.

Please do complain if you can manage it OP.

He had no right to question you like that. Life is difficult enough for people with medical conditions without coming under scrutiny from idiots who are quicker to open their gob than engage their brain. Include the time and place you boarded so he can be tracked down.

booklooker

It's his job to check passes, not to decide if pass holders are sick enough to justify having one. He conceded the point that it was her in the photo, and went on to question her state of health.

I complained to bus company about pulling away before i sat down i was knocked off my feet they were very good about it apologised and they said they would remind all their drivers it is worth complaining op.

If you are who you think then you'll know that mine showing me with long blonde hair is just hilarious given how I look now. Never been questioned- mind I am a wheelchair user now.

Some of the drivers locally are complete arse biscuits - had one refuse to let me off at the bus station and make me stay on til the Carfax, now I know it's not far but it did make me late for an appointment that end of town. I'd just travelled from Crawley too!

Complain, definitely.

It is NOT the drivers job to question ticket, that job belongs to a ticket inspector or the transport police depending on your area. I was told this by TFL.

I've been questioned a couple of times by drivers who decide I don't look sick, and a red hot complaint to the bus company has always swiftly followed. Every time they are hugely apologetic and the driver gets sent for training. If you don't complain, it will never change!

YANBU. DS2 has a free bus pass and he doesn't look ill either. I'm so sorry this has happened to you

Small consolation, but I've had drivers question ordinary bus tickets, before, simply because they weren't up to scratch with their ticket knowledge and grumpy, rude gits to boot. The driver had no place questioning why you had your pass.

Good luck if it's Arriva you're complaining to, mind. It'll never land in any inbox that anyone actually reads.