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AIBU?

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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:
StringyPotatoes · 17/09/2017 09:28

I can see the issue has been resolved now but to all the PPs saying you can't expect change at all, let alone for a £20 - you evidently don't live out in the sticks!
A return fare from my village to the nearest city is £6.40. I have countless times paid with a £20 and received change, probably because most fares on that route are about a fiver and so there's always lots of change. There isn't anywhere convenient to break a £20 on my way to the bus so it's just as well.
Don't take your experiences in your town and assume it's the same everywhere.

insancerre · 17/09/2017 09:29

It's not ludicrous
It's to stop people robbing bus drivers

orlantina · 17/09/2017 09:29

I hope the poster saying the bus driver was trying to scam the OP's son are ashamed of themselves

No - because if you read what I said, I said that IF they did not give a note, then it COULD be because they are trying to take advantage.

And then I emphasised that I said "Could"

You do understand the words "If" and "could", don't you Hmm

drspouse · 17/09/2017 09:29

We get change on the buses here. If they have no change they issue a credit note. I assume he got one?

Rachie1973 · 17/09/2017 09:32

I get a bus daily, from the 2nd stop. If I paid with a £20 for my £3 fare I'd be using most of the drivers float up! If there was 3 of us he'd be in a right pickle.

You can't ask drivers to carry £100s of change, it's simply unfair and dangerous.

Its simply common courtesy to have as close to the right change as possible.

pennysnow · 17/09/2017 09:32

I stressed could be running a scam
@orlantina

I was on about the post by @Enidcoleslaw (top post on page 2.)

It sounds like the driver has a scam running tbh. Probably just does this and keeps the change.

THAT is who I was referring to! And this poster certainly did not say COULD be running a scam!

HunterofStars · 17/09/2017 09:32

Where I live, the bus company issues a change voucher. There was a lady in my area who was going to the out of town craft shop and paid with a £20 note. The driver issued her with a change voucher and she went crying to the local papers saying the bus driver took all her money and she couldn't buy anything at the craft shop. The local paper made an article of it and had the woman do a daily mail style sad face holding up the change voucher.

stargazer2030 · 17/09/2017 09:33

I think the ops son now knows he needs to have a fair amount of change next time he gets on the bus.
To be fair we all make mistakes- lesson learned.
Have never heard of exact fair only- how would you know? I rarely catch the bus and try to have change but it's not always possible or easy to get hold off ( no shops near us so if no chance if getting any).

FrancisCrawford · 17/09/2017 09:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NeonFlower · 17/09/2017 09:33

A good lesson and a good outcome, glad it wasn't a case of someone pulling a fast one, just not having an immediate solution.

Ijustwantaquietlife · 17/09/2017 09:33

It's not ludicrous
It's to stop people robbing bus drivers

Ridiculous, a float of 100 is nothing when the average person carries a phone worth 600 quid on them.

It's just lame excuses to make their job easier as they have monopoly so don't care.

orlantina · 17/09/2017 09:34

THAT is who I was referring to! And this poster certainly did not say COULD be running a scam

Well, maybe I should be RTFT instead of jumping to conclusions.

Sorry.

CanIBuffalo · 17/09/2017 09:34

Not at all penny. I think it's reasonable to assume that something dodgy is going on if the driver accepts and processes a £20 note without telling a youngster first how that was all going to work.
It's reasonable to assume that anyone trying to pay with a note like that would not know about the change thing.
Anyway OP I'm glad it's sorted. Lesson learned.

orlantina · 17/09/2017 09:35

Ridiculous, a float of 100 is nothing when the average person carries a phone worth 600 quid on them

Eh. So just because someone has an expensive phone means that drivers should carry lots of cash with them?

Wow. #interesting logic

LindyHemming · 17/09/2017 09:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

insancerre · 17/09/2017 09:37

Ridiculous, a float of 100 is nothing when the average person carries a phone worth 600 quid on them
Oh, that's all right then
The bus drivers should just put up with being punched, knives and stabbed and their money stolen

AuntyEstablishment · 17/09/2017 09:38

Too late for the OPs son but can't you pay Arriva tickets by mobile. The OP could have bought the ticket and sent it too her son.
🤷🏻‍♀️
It seems so obvious so not sure if I've missed the suggestion or ...I don't know....

My son has just paid for bus ticket with a twenty pound note...
Rachie1973 · 17/09/2017 09:39

Not the day ones Aunty, I tried lol.

orlantina · 17/09/2017 09:39

This thread says so much about Mumsnet. A microcosm of attitudes and experiences.

If ever people wanted to study Mumsnet, this kind of thread is a great example.

FrancisCrawford · 17/09/2017 09:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AuntyEstablishment · 17/09/2017 09:41

Ok, I see hidingInTheNightGarden. had already suggested paying by the app but had been ignored. 😂😂.

kateandme · 17/09/2017 09:41

does driver have staff number.full name.registration and number of bus.witness on the bus who would go with him.
or and I don't no how this will be taken but a friend refused to get off until he called in to depot himself to make sure someone new and payment was pre arranged so bus could drive away and deny it.
though or a 15 year old I vcan imagin this is a no go.

optimistical · 17/09/2017 09:41

it most certainly depends on the driver himself, if he is a honest descent bloke he will do the right thing.

AuntyEstablishment · 17/09/2017 09:44

Rachie
Are you sure? It say you can buy day tickets online but is that not for everywhere? I thought the OPs son wanted a day ticket. (All academic now I know☺️)

My son has just paid for bus ticket with a twenty pound note...
Ijustwantaquietlife · 17/09/2017 09:44

Oh, that's all right then
The bus drivers should just put up with being punched, knives and stabbed and their money stolen

The buses here manage to break the odd 20 and I've never heard of any of that happening. What a wild imagination you have Biscuit