Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My son has just paid for bus ticket with a twenty pound note...

281 replies

Miserylovescompany2 · 17/09/2017 08:54

The driver issued a ticket and stated he didn't have enough change - he told my son that he (my son) would have to go to the depot for his change.

All my son has is the issued ticked - it doesn't state how he paid? The depot won't refund him.

Surely it's the drivers responsibility to have change in the first instance.

What would you do?

He is still on the bus as I type...

OP posts:
CanIBuffalo · 17/09/2017 08:55

Can he ask the driver how the depot will refund him if he doesn't have evidence?

Pengggwn · 17/09/2017 08:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CanIBuffalo · 17/09/2017 08:55

And get the driver's name?

Mouikey · 17/09/2017 08:56

Can you phone the bus company/depot now and ask?

Get your son to get the drivers name too.

Sadly I have a feeling this won't end well.

joopy79 · 17/09/2017 08:56

Has he been to the depot? Can you call the depot quickly before he gets off the bus?

Whisky2014 · 17/09/2017 08:56

I don't get the bus often but as far as I'm aware the buses don't offer change. It has to be exact change only. Chalk it up to experience?

RainbowPastel · 17/09/2017 08:56

Did he not think to get some change first? Ours only take coins no change given at all. The money goes in slot that the driver can't access.

FayKnights · 17/09/2017 08:57

The driver won't have lots of £20 notes, so can he stay on until the depot and you meet him there to help get it sorted?

ferrier · 17/09/2017 08:57

I think there are rules on how much change the driver is required to give. And I'm certain that it wouldn't cover £20. I've never heard of going to the depot to get it either. Not much help - sorry.

Threehoursfromhome · 17/09/2017 08:57

It's not the drivers responsibility to have change. I've seen it where they issue a credit note, perhaps your son could ask for one.

CanIBuffalo · 17/09/2017 08:57

How old is your son?

Madreputa · 17/09/2017 08:57

I didn't know bus drivers still accepted cash. In London they definitely don't. You either scan your Oyster or your bank card, or else get off the bus.

Ijustwantaquietlife · 17/09/2017 08:57

That used to be a free ride!

Buses should just either carry a good amount of change or take cards.

joopy79 · 17/09/2017 08:58

I used to 'pay' with a 20 when I was 15, sometimes they would refuse to let me on without change, sometimes they wouldn't charge me. Here in Wales you have to have the correct money, no change given.

usernameavailable · 17/09/2017 08:58

He could suggest to driver that when passengers board the bus they give him the money until he has what change he should have

AuntLydia · 17/09/2017 08:58

Yeah, I'd tell him to try to get off the bus at the next stop and ask for the money back. Then he needs to break the £20 note somewhere to get change. Bus drivers carry very little change usually

BIWI · 17/09/2017 08:58

If he's still on the bus, how do you know the depot won't refund him? Hmm

Rachie1973 · 17/09/2017 08:58

Unless he was paying for a weekly ticket or something why was he paying with a £20?

StickThatInYourPipe · 17/09/2017 08:58

I appreciate it probably doesn't apply to your son but do buses take card payment yet?

I absolutely hate the change situation on busses, I was once refused entry to the bus as he didn't have change for a fiver! Imo if you son could pay and tried to but the driver did not have enough change he should have let your son board without charge.

I don't know what you can do about this though, I imagine the only way you wil get anywhere is complaining over twitter, this sort of thing will be fobbed off over phone / email

owthathurts · 17/09/2017 08:58

Oh dear! I always thought that it was the person who was buying the ticket to have pretty much the right amount for travel otherwise the bus driver would have to have a large float.

On another note, could your son not have paid by card?

Unless the driver will accompany him to the depot, not sure how it will work.

GeraldineT · 17/09/2017 08:59

Not unusual I would guess. There is a limit to how much change drivers hold and so many people present notes and expect change.
Suggest he stands by the driver ad passamgers get on and when he sees the driver has cash, try asking him again.

CherieBabySpliffUp · 17/09/2017 08:59

As if you would get on a bus expecting the driver to have change for a £20 note! Shock

CanIBuffalo · 17/09/2017 08:59

I'd also ring the depot as a pp suggested.
And see if your DS remembers exactly where the driver put the note because it seems v odd that he accepted it before telling DS that he wouldn't be able to give change.

moondrift · 17/09/2017 08:59

I know at one time they didn't like you giving notes and would often say you'd have to wait for your change till they'd got more fares. However because most fares are at least a pound now, i can't see why they wouldn't be short of pound coins.

EnidColeslaw771 · 17/09/2017 08:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Swipe left for the next trending thread