2p short

Sometimes a passenger does not have sufficient money on him to pay his fare. Our contract of employment clearly states that on these occasions he may not travel. There are no exceptions, not even for children. It is the responsibility for the minor's parent to ensure they have sufficient money to pay the bus driver. Not my words, but the words of my company. We are told to waive the above ruling on the last bus of the day and if the minor shows clear signs of distress.

One of the drivers at work was recently disciplined for not allowing a passenger to board when he was 2p short. A stinking letter has been written by the teen's disgruntled mother. He was summonsed to appear with representation before one of the managers. He reported that he was exonerated of all blame when it was pointed out that he followed procedure to-the-letter. It was not the last bus of the day and the college student showed no sign of distress.

What annoyed him and what made me put finger to keyboard is the comment put to him by the manager. He was told that he should have just let him off the 2p. This would have solved the issue. While this is clearly accurate, the driver would then have been 2p short in his takings and would have been stopped the 2p from his wages. The money is immaterial. The principle is everything. Giving a free ride and telling the student to keep all of his (insufficient) money is even more serious - gross misconduct, for which dismissal is likely.

At no point was the option of overriding the ticket machine mentioned. A specific key sequence enables the driver to key in the exact amount of money tendered and this is printed on the ticket. I've used this on many occasions. I've also made it known to one of the supervisors that I've done this as £1.68 is better than zero if the passenger is turned away for being 2p short of his £1.70 fare.

I'm going to continue doing it. This way, everyone is happy. Probably. The passenger travels and, more importantly, is issued with a ticket. The company also receives more money than it would if its own procedure was followed. My worry, though, is that I will still be severely disciplined for it. I think I should raise this officially and get written advice on a number of scenarios I shall put to them.

Sadly, this is an issue than no one at work gives a fuck about until it blows up in everyone's face. Then they care a lot and all hell can be let loose.

Common Sense Solution: If a passenger is 10p short of his fare it is surely better to issue a ticket for that amount and to allow travel than to turn the passenger away, receiving no money. If the passenger becomes a serial offender, this is another matter. But in most cases, the passenger is genuine. Large bus companies have very strict rules about their takings while in their drivers' hands yet refuse to offer guidance and advice on specific scenarios. If this issue is potentially so serious, they need to get real and issue unequivicable guidance that covers all situations.

Fraud

There could be quite a few entries with this title.

Today's fraudsters were a pair of sixty-somethings. I approached them at their bus stop as one of our competitor's vehicles was leaving. I was a little shocked that they didn't catch this first bus as it serves more stops than mine and is no slower. But, more passengers for my company can't be a bad thing.

A lady and gent were stood on the kerb. The lady boarded first while her husband boarded second, seemingly struggling with his walking stick. The lady opened her purse, showed me her free bus pass and said: "Two to town, please".

I assumed, through the wording she used, that her husband had a free bus pass, too, so issued her ticket and then waited for the man to show me his. But I managed to introduce a very awkward silence. I had no idea what was happening at first, until the man said: "Oh, er, and I'm paying."

The mist began to thin and lift.

He bought a return ticket to town costing £2.50. Too right. His crime was, clearly, defrauding the local authority and tax payers by allowing his wife to give the impression he was in possession of a free bus pass when he was not. He may have lost it; he may have mislaid it; he may have damaged it beyond repair; he may even have been going to pay for a replacement, but chose not to volunteer any of this information.

They both sat down and I drove off, with a smile on my face.

But what made me more annoyed was when I realised that this was a calculated attack on my integrity. They had deliberately let my competitor's bus go as this company has card readers on its ticket machines and there's no way they could even attempt to pull off on that bus what they did on mine.

Absolute complete and utter bastards. Your card is marked. I shall definitely remember you next time.

Common Sense Solution: This is very simple. All drivers should check all free bus passes on all occasions. Familiarity breeds contempt is a very accurate phrase. There are some who I have got to know who never show me their pass. After today, this will change. I'll tell them why, too. Politely, of course. I've seen a few people who used to have free bus passes for a disability no longer in possession of them, so clearly some boundaries are changing.