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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:
Coffeeandcherrypie · 17/09/2017 11:22

Madreputa you do realise there is a vast world outside London, right?

Are you also going to pull up all the people who categorically stated stuff like buses only accepting exact change as being universally true? Or all the others who gave information specific to their stated location like Madreouta did?

SoupDragon i thought the same.

pennysnow · 17/09/2017 12:27

@orlantina

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

Sorry.

That's OK. Smile

Sorry to not respond for 3 hours, but I went out at half nine-ish and only just got back! Grin

TimeForTea73 · 17/09/2017 12:32

If you trust your son....

Get the ticket and it should have the bus number and driver I'd on it. Make a fuss and ask for them to look at the video footage. That is despicable. My daughter was recently dressed down and shouted and sworn at by a driver for asking for a cover to put a ticket in.

Don't let it go. As long as you know that your son is telling the truth- take it all the way.

BoysofMelody · 17/09/2017 12:59

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

I now live in an area where it is exact change only with the cash going into a sealed hopper.

Where I grew up the bus drivers did have a float and would dole out change (within reason) but it wasn't unknown for drivers to be robbed and beaten upon late night routes for the cash. They're in an incredibly vulnerable position.

Also giving out change where I live now would delay journeys no end. At city centre stops, 20 odd people can get on at busy times. If the driver had to give change to half of them, it could easily double the dwell times, if not treble them. And the same people moaning about the lack of change would be moaning about buses running late.

lollymad · 17/09/2017 13:35

Agree with many others re floats. DH was a bus driver until about 18 months ago. £10 float 'issued' at start of employment. 'Issued' because actually it was deducted from his first week's wages, and paid back in his final wage. £20 notes might be easy to change 3 hours into a shift when lots of sensible people have paid with change, but if he had just started his shift he wouldn't have any yet. Floats were issued to drivers, not buses, so each driver removed, and banked, their own takings at the end of a shift, even if that was mid-journey to a passenger. So, even a bus full of passengers wouldn't guarantee a bag full of change if it's a new driver.

Firesuit · 17/09/2017 14:01

Not sure if it's been said, but in this day and age surely all buses should be taking payments from a contactless card only. They shouldn't be taking cash at all.

BarbaraofSevillle · 17/09/2017 14:21

Well that would be nice firesuit but they don't. The system in London with it's massive investment in public transport compared to other places, isn't universal.

In my city we've only just introduced an Oyster card type system. You can't use a contactless bank card, you either need a weekly pass or to top up a PAYG card. None of the shops in my village will top up the card, you have to go to neighboring towns or the main bus stations.

AlpacaPicnic · 17/09/2017 14:31

When I get in the bus to work in the morning, hardly anybody pays cash to the driver. They either have prepaid passes or they have paid with an app. Then as soon as the free passes for pensioners are accepted, after 9.30, almost nobody on the bus is paying for their journey.
So it's not beyond the realms of possibility for the driver to lose all the very small float by one customer using a 20 note for a small fare.

The only time I ever use a 20 is if I'm buying a weekly pass that cost 18.

balsamicbarbara · 17/09/2017 15:36

it was 4.50, i said i was fine to pay with 5.00. The driver said he couldn't do that. I had to get off the bus.

That's what I'd consider a "I ain't getting off, call the police if you like" situation. There is absolutely no law banning someone from choosing to overpay in a transaction.

WestEndVBroadway · 17/09/2017 17:30

I now remember why I have not used a bus for so long. This would not be acceptable in any other service (refusing to give change if you don't have the correct money) If the driver is behind a sealed screen with just a slot for customers to pass money through surely he could pass change back as well. How much profit do they make each day from with holding change and where does it go?

Ijustwantaquietlife · 17/09/2017 17:42

This thread has been a handy reminder to book my car in for its interim service and to check my savings so that I have enough to buy another car just incase.

Roomba · 17/09/2017 17:49

I had this happen with a tenner once when I got on at the first stop so the driver had no change. But he did print out a credit note for me with my ticket, which was exchanged no problem. He needs to double check he hasn't been given one, and if not ask the driver for one as he must have forgotten to print it for him.

orlantina · 17/09/2017 17:59

This would not be acceptable in any other service (refusing to give change if you don't have the correct money

The alternative is to refuse service because they haven't got change.

I bet someone would complain about that.

orlantina · 17/09/2017 18:00

If the driver is behind a sealed screen with just a slot for customers to pass money through surely he could pass change back as well

Have you read the thread?

StarryCorpulentCunt · 17/09/2017 20:29

Our buses will give change of a 20 if they have it. If not, tough shit. It's down to the passenger to have change. Ours don't take card either.

Beeziekn33ze · 17/09/2017 20:46

Our buses are pass or cash only. The driver has no way of accessing the cash so no change can be given. Cash, including notes, is dropped into a one way funnel. People needing to split a £5 or £10 note usually ask if any passenger has enough change. I've never seen anyone try to split. £20.

FrustratedTeddyLamp · 17/09/2017 20:57

I don't think change from a 20 is that bad but then I last got a bus about 10 years ago and the fair tonthe local town centre was £5-6 considering they should have change already and then change from other people doesn't seem a big ask

Allardyce · 18/09/2017 17:29

get a refund from the driver and tell him to get the depot to collect the fair from your sons address!

urkidding · 18/09/2017 17:31

Bus fares in Brighton are now a fiver for a return ticket. Single fare in the central zone is 2.20, so £20 is hardly a large amount.

Carriecakes80 · 18/09/2017 17:31

The first thing I learned about Bus travel was not to try and pay with a large note, we then would purposely take a £20, and used to get our ride for free as they never had change for us, until they changed the policy and said if we didn't have it in change, we couldn't ride, hope he can get this sorted. I would tell your lad though to go and ask for a written note from the driver. x

Ninjahull12 · 18/09/2017 17:38

Does the bus cab have a video on operation which might show up

Laura25o6 · 18/09/2017 17:38

Bus drivers are loaded up with around £50 for their full morning journeys. The bus driver WOULD have had change. My dad is a bus driver. Also there are cameras on all busses. What you need to do if you can is phone the main depot number and explain what has happened. These numbers on your ticket relate to individual drivers and busses so it will get looked into. My worst opinion on this is the driver may have pocketed your sons change. Hope you get reimbursed

Prideinmyplace2 · 18/09/2017 17:38

I believe the lack of floats started because bus drivers had become cash targets. Apparently it is a big problem for bus drivers to carry cash for other reasons to.

I'm so pleased it ended well for you & your sonSmile

xkatie27x · 18/09/2017 17:42

I've had this before and never got anything back! Was stuck at an airport with no other way home sadly :(

BoysofMelody · 18/09/2017 17:50

Bus drivers are loaded up with around £50 for their full morning journeys. The bus driver WOULD have had change. My dad is a bus driver. Also there are cameras on all busses. What you need to do if you can is phone the main depot

Maybe in the bus company your dad drives for, doesn't mean it is the same everywhere.

I can wholly understand why some companies operating in some places have a no change policy on efficiency and safety grounds.

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