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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think this new arrangement re bus fares is unfair?

154 replies

EmotionallyWeird · 20/07/2025 19:03

I live in an area where most of the buses are operated by Stagecoach. For the last few years (since I started my current job which is too far to walk) I've bought a monthly travel card. At first it was a physical piece of cardboard and you had to get a new one every month, then it became a smart card (which looks like a debit card) which you had to top up online.

Today I found out that the system is changing again and when my current top-up expires, it will only be possible to buy an in-app version of the weekly or monthly cards, which you have to show on your phone. This doesn't really affect me as I can cope with the change, although I would rather it had stayed the same. But not everybody wants to carry a phone all the time, not everybody has a smartphone, and not everybody who has one has their own data - some just use WiFi when they can get on it (which you can't on the buses in this area). Does anyone else think that making this new system compulsory is rather unfair, as it will force some people to make a lifestyle change they might not otherwise have wanted to (or pay more for their travel by buying single or day tickets)?

OP posts:
BoredZelda · 23/07/2025 21:20

Isitreallysohard · 21/07/2025 23:02

It’s funny when I hear people complaining about companies using these methods it’s always “I can do it but what about….?” Actual complaints from people who can’t manage it are rare.

Unfortunately I'm not sure who made this comment, but it should win the internet today for the most ignorant comment. To that poster, you don't think there could be a correlation between people who are disadvantaged by these things and people who don't or can't complain?

It was me. What is ignorantly is to deny there are many people who are so offended on behalf of others they haven’t even spoken to in order to ascertain if there is indeed a problem. What about the elderly, what about disabled people, A) suggesting those groups are incapable of doing anything other than living in the 20th century and B) there aren’t already things in place to help those people. It’s laughable.

Isitreallysohard · 23/07/2025 23:15

BoredZelda · 23/07/2025 21:20

It was me. What is ignorantly is to deny there are many people who are so offended on behalf of others they haven’t even spoken to in order to ascertain if there is indeed a problem. What about the elderly, what about disabled people, A) suggesting those groups are incapable of doing anything other than living in the 20th century and B) there aren’t already things in place to help those people. It’s laughable.

Perhaps I know this firsthand because I work in technology and accessiblity as well as with the eldery, disabled and people in poverty, oh and it's not that hard to engage your brain to be able to see how these things might affect these groups? Not sure why you think it's funny 😒 the only ignorant one is you.

MiseryIn · 24/07/2025 07:53

I always thought it was because people shared the physical tickets and it’s much harder to do that with a smartphone one.
we all used to do it. Borrow people’s passes to pop in to town from work etc.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 24/07/2025 16:37

MiseryIn · 24/07/2025 07:53

I always thought it was because people shared the physical tickets and it’s much harder to do that with a smartphone one.
we all used to do it. Borrow people’s passes to pop in to town from work etc.

They have photos on them, I've even been called out on my own pass before because I'm a lot more tanned than when the pic was taken.

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