That e-mail address is invalid.

ha ha

Me, neither. In fact, in the society in which live today, you'd have thought they'd have been looking out for the safety of the sweet angelic schoolkids more than the likes of me!

Thank you Grotesque. I'm obliged.

It's of no significance, in fact on reflection I probably shouldn't have used the word 'lady'.

]I arrived at Worcester Bus Station on Friday 7th March 2014 in time to board the 14:30 service to Birmingham. This should have got me to Birmingham for 16:12. The 144 bus pulled up towards the stop without about 10 minutes to go before departure time. The lady driver of the bus for some reason needed to call over an engineer as there was clearly some sort of problem. She left the bus walking across the station, the engineer drove the bus away and within a few minutes the lady driver appeared at the stop on a different bus. All the passengers boarded the bus, now running a few minutes late, and we all set off on the journey. Midway through my journey, and shortly before reaching Bromsgrove, she refused passengers on to the bus, saying that the bus had "broken down" and that she was now "only going as far as Bromsgrove". I was trying to understand for myself what was happening, as I had paid £4.50 to go to Birmingham in order to catch a connecting service by coach. Upon arrival in Bromsgrove, everybody rose to get off. I walked to the front of the bus, the female driver confirmed that the bus had broken down and would go no further. I informed her that I needed to get to Birmingham, she could not have appeared less concerned about it, she just muttered something about getting the next bus that comes, her demeanour towards me and attitude was not what I expected. The customer service that she gave me was appaling. The most shocking thing of all was that a few minutes later, she proceeded to fill the bus with school children in order to take them to Catshill. She completely ignored my pleas to understand why a broken down bus would now fill itself with children and drive away in front of my very eyes! After waiting for the next bus to arrive at the back of a long queue, I missed my connecting coach service from Digbeth at 17:00 (proof can be provided), as I arrived in Birmingham at 17:20. I had paid £17.00 for this coach which I've now lost. I paid £4.50 on a bus to get me to Birmingham and it didn't. I feel short-changed and left very disappointed about the service (or lack of it) that I received. This was my first ever time of using this service and travelling on a First bus. Can someone please look into this matter for me; I would like some explanation as to why this happened, and how my dissatisfaction can be rectified. Thank you.

I complained to First Bus on 11 March 2014, told that they usually take 14 working days to respond. Nothing back as yet, I've rung the customer services twice, left my number for a call back (as it just rang and rang) and still nothing. I'm aware of the bususers.org website that can take forward complaints to bus companies that aren't resolved to any level of satisfaction, but I'm not sure what to do in the event that I get no response at all? Do I write to their CEO, ask my MP to speak to the Secretary of State for Transport or are these suggestions a little extreme? Or do I just sit tight and wait? I'd be grateful for any advice.

Sent the e-mail to Chris Weston, all done and dusted 36 hours later. Amazing what going in at the top can achieve. Thanks rebel11 for your help and advice.

Thanks, really appreciate your help.

Thanks rebel11 Do you think I might get a reply?

Thank for your reply. Forgive my ignorance, who/what is CEO?

I lodged a formal, written complaint with BG on 11 February 2014, and only had some kind of response today by telephone (this was only due to me chasing it up several times since) My complaint specifically relates to a Homecare agreement that I took out with them (EnergyExtra400) and that I believe that they have never carried out an annual service fully and properly. So much so, a Corgi engineer who came out to look at the boiler last month after a reported fault, condemned it as the flue was not connected properly to the boiler and it was his professional opinion that it had never been fitted right since day one. BG attended my property and carried out all the necessary repair work and restored my heating and hot water. They say now that I agreed that by them restoring the heat and hot water meant that that brought the matter to a close. My complaint now is that no annual service carried out by BG was done so properly, so much so that the 2013 annual service showed that the carbon monoxide alarm was already fitted and subsequently tested. There was no such alarm and has never been one; indeed the work that was carried out by them this year, on the work sheet a carbon monoxide alarm was advised. The 2013 service took 20 minutes with no word from the engineer as to what he had done, even though BG say that an annual service should take "between 45 minutes and an hour" He said that all appliance flueing was safe. It clearly wasn't. Basically, do I have a case here?

Yeah, you're right. Thanks.

I have now been contacted by Belmont Thornton who want to reclaim the charges that I have thus far incurred with BC. My main worry though is that if BC just decide to reduce my outstanding balance in lieu of any compensation, will I be left with a hefty bill to pay to Belmont Thornton as they say they take 25% of any compensation as a fee for their services. I want the charges repaid to me but I'm worried that it may not be worth it if the above 'scenario' comes true. Any advice?

slick132, Sorry, I'll answer your q's now. There are penalty charges on the account, yes, no PPI (as far as I'm aware!) and I have, I think, all of the statements or, if not, around 90% of them. I think I'll write and offer £1 per month. Thanks for all your help.