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?

I've no objection at all to the times I get stopped by plain-clothes ticket inspectors as I come out of the tube because it's shown up that I'm using a Freedom Pass & they - rightly - want to check that it's mine. I'd be making a complaint to TFL if they questioned why it was issued; and if they said that they didn't think I looked ill I'd quite possibly be giving out to them in person as well.

That's where the - massive - difference lies. Totally inappropriate behaviour.

You are definitely not being unreasonable.

You should complain. They aren't allowed to question why you have it (obviously they can check the photo to check it is you, but a hair colour change is perfectly acceptable).

I had the exact same thing happen twice when I had a Freedom Pass after I lost my driving licence on medical grounds. Once was on a bus. I rang a complaints number I found online and gave the registration plate of the bus and the time it happened. I received follow up that the driver had been disciplined. The second time was a revenue protection officer at an Underground station. I asked to speak to the most senior person there who advised him that he was in the wrong for asking. Ensuring that they had been re-educated made me feel better.

It's absolutely not on though, and I'm sorry you had it happen to you.

Checking to see if you were the person named on the pass (do you have some ID?) is completely different from querying why you have the pass. I issue passes as part of my job and we don't hand them out like sweeties on halloween - people need to provide ID, proof of their entitlement and proof that they live in a certain catchement area.
We also have to scan their proof and send it to someone who double check us to make sure we aren't giving passes out incorrectly to our mates before the pass is issued.

So please do complain. It sounds as if the driver needs a refresher course on who is entitled to a pass. You could have had a Drivers Licence revoked due to Epilepsy for all he knows - and as far as I am aware, nobody 'looks' epileptic...

What a horrible experience OP.

Report him. Some PP's say it's not worth getting him 'into trouble' but I'd argue it is. He needs some Equalities training. If he's done this to you, he's probably done it to others. My driving licence doesn't look that much like me, people's work passes often have different hair etc but they don't get humiliated over it. Life's hard enough if you have MH problems and it can feel like everyone is coming at you from all sides. This sort of thing is unjustified and unnecessary and should be stamped out.

The cause of the justified complaint is not that he checked the pass. Its this line "'well, you don't look ill'."

How the almighty fuck does a bus driver have the complete diagnostic suite inside his cab to make that assertion? With that level of medical knowledge what the fuck is he doing driving a bus? Thats some seriously over-specced bus and underemployed driver.

Or perhaps he was a wanker. Yes, he has been trained to believe that all bus pass users are thieves. Its the same in Edinburgh where I used to live. Pass with your picture always displayed to the driver. At least you are told that when you get it. I am willing to bet that no bus pass user has been told they may also need their medical file as associated user information. Complain.

What a twat - YANBU at all.

I had a Disabled bus pass for a year when the DVLA revoked my licence. I'd have been mortified if a driver had questioned why I had it.

I got the occasional odd look, especially the time I got on, realised I'd forgotten my pass, ran home and beat the buss round its loop to the next street.

Please email them, no one should have to put up with that.

You need to work on your "are you going to let me on, or not

Not a question. You just say "it's my pass and I am entitled to it and I am getting on. Thank you~

Any trouble="are you accusing me of being a liar? I don't take very kindly to those sort of accusations".

if someone doesn't think you look like your photo they can always ask for some other ID. You don't have a driving licence but presumably you have a credit/debit card or similar - I realise it won't have a photo but if they don't accept that, they're then effectively accusing you of stealing your purse which is even more serious.

Bus drivers have a horrible job. But they make it worse when they treat people like this. Don't complain about him though - he probably has to deal with all sorts of toe-rags. Try to forget it and move on.

Tell them your on day release from the psychiatric hospital. That's what I say when I'm told I don't look ill enough, I have bipolar too.

It's a lie, I was never trusted enough for day leave tbh.

He was fucking rude, definitely complain.

The route and time should be on the ticket.

Even when you have a Concessionary pass you have to have it scanned on the buses here (Northeast) and you are issued with a ticket.

The drivers number should be on the bottom.

I have a son on the autistic spectrum, buses are his thing...I get to hear about them constantly. Some of the information sticks, some just flies over my head.

Oh bless you OP, please do complain- this is why people feel able to continue behaving inappropriately because they aren't pulled up and/or do not realise what they are saying is not the right (highly doubtful in this scenario though).

Please please don't be embarrassed though, you have nothing to feel that way for- you are ill, you are entitled to the bus pass and it is not the drivers job to assess whether you are ill enough!!!

He was an utter cock, fuming on your behalf OP. As people have said we are a nation of non-complainers, he needs to be bought up on this and retrained as doubt this is the first or the last time he's seriously upset and offended someone with his dim bluntness.

Complain. The driver had no right to do this. I remember my ex flatmate got on a bus with her bus pass and a couple of people grumbled because she had one - she had sickle cell and had been very ill and the driver asked her why she had it. She explained but I was as the other people should have minded their own business.

There are specific, very restricted exceptions, but otherwise it's unlawful for any goods or service provider, or any of their representatives, like bus drivers, to ask how you are disabled. Please do complain, you have grounds under the Equality Act 2010 to do so. Checking the photo on your bus pass is you is legit but his quizzing you is way beyond the pale, and the law is on your side. And you don't have to explain your disability to the bus company when you complain, either. I hope you're feeling better soon.

That b*stard they're so bad even now
My plus one for my clients my pic smeared off slightly and he said I can't get get on and don't look as though I'm entitled and should be driving and reported my pass now I have to reapply
I can't drive until I have surgery ffs

Don't feel embarrassed they always done it when I was seriously ill with my epilepsy and ptsd and my licence got took away they always said you don't look ill and you don't want to say it infront of ppl in the end I just use to say its an invisible illness and I'm entitled now you gonna let me on the bus or not or otherwise I'll report u

Drivers don't get to decide if bus passes have been correctly issued.

Did anyone see the awful story recently of the elderly woman who was caught under the wheels of a bus when the driver saw her coming, deliberately closed the door on her. She used her walking stick to try to close the door but it got caught and she got dragged along.

What is wrong with these people? And what is wrong with the companies that employ them. Do they not give them any customer care training at all?

Oh just seen this is an old thread - sorry!