No Change given to minor

[hessey50]

I gave my daughter 14 enough money for her fare to go from school to a friends

intending to pick her up afterwards

 

local bus co driver insisted she was "adult" despite being in middle school uniform

then to really hack me off she gave the £10 she keeps in the back of her school ID card as emergency money

to driver for full fare some 60p more

 

he took it and gave her no change but a receipt she could "redeem" at a bus station for her change.

 

Any idea if this is legal as I dont think a minor could agree to accepting what I can only call a prommissory note.

 

He didnt tell her he was going to do so as she said she would have got off

and either caught the next bus or gone to shop and bought a packet of crisps or some small value item.

 

Any legal eagles out there got an opinion before I write to company?

[2ltr16valve]

I was a bus driver in Central London. If we have run out of change and the person is Insistent they wish to board Instead of seeking change we issue those notices to collect from the bus garage. As the driver would be able to cash in at the end of their shift and the remainder would be set aside.

[hessey50]

Thats my point my daughter was not told before she handed the money over if she had agreed then while i am not sure a bus co can act as a "bank" and issue its own money then i might be more sympathetic

[2ltr16valve]

Thats my point my daughter was not told before she handed the money over if she had agreed then while i am not sure a bus co can act as a "bank" and issue its own money then i might be more sympathetic

 

From memory this procedure was imposed by tfl I think. To stop people with only notes being refused travel.

 

With regards to the driver charging in the first place. He should have issued her a slip that allows her to pay later at any train or bus station. An not taken the money as that's also an option.

Further. If she is young she could have been classed as vulnerable.

[king12345]

One day one of these bus drivers will get in gigantic trouble.

I lost count of how many times I witnessed drivers refusing to carry minors because they were short a few pence on the fare.

I usually pay the missing pennies myself and tell the driver that he cannot leave minors on the street, especially at night.The unswer is always the same: if they can't prove they're minors, then they must be adults.

Unfortunately one day a youngster will be denied boarding and will be mugged/raped.

The driver will end up in a lot of sh@t and also get the sack.

[hessey50]

Yep not TFL though local first bus I could understand if not in school uniform getting on at a bus stop nearest to school Common sense would have said take the child fare and advise that she would require proof of age in future and advise local schools that however young a child must somehow have proof of age..probably dont want to do that as they are heavily subsidised and the locals might kick up better just to keep making young people vunerable or as now use dads taxi. Many yp dont have proof of age the pass approved cards are not accepted in lots of places do you want you 14 year old lugging a passport around if they have one just the cost if lost frightens me. These companies make uprules as they go along only able to make profits because we subsidise them. Sadly king 12345 the driver in the event you are suggesting would be sacked if they did use common sense and supported if they were "following orders" an excuse thats been around a bit though no doubt there would be a full review of procedures etc.

[sailor sam]

You mention school ID card... wouldn't this been suffice proof that your daughter was entitled to travel for child/half fare?

 

In any event, there are a few points to note here. Speaking as an ex-bus driver myself, you would be amazed at what the bus driver sees every day. "Children" attempting to board the bus after putting a fag out and then attempting to pay half fare, boarding with an open tin of lager and attempting to pay half fare, attempting to pay half fare even though they have tattoo's and my favorite; "single moms" trying to pay half fare then expecting their baby to travel for free!

 

Having said the above, I agree that while wearing school uniform should be sufficient proof for the driver to allow the young person to travel as half fare, believe it or not up until 2006, full fare was charged at 14 on the Isle of Wight buses.

 

But lets no forget, we don't know the driver's side of this particular case... it can differ dramatically from what the child's version is.

[Ganymede]

Unfortunately one day a youngster will be denied boarding and will be mugged/raped.

The driver will end up in a lot of sh@t and also get the sack.

 

 

I can't see why the bus driver would be at fault or get in trouble for that.

[king12345]

I can't see why the bus driver would be at fault or get in trouble for that.

 

Because they have a duty of care towards vulnerable people.
It's also stated in their handbook, but they think they own the bus.

[rambo]

What is vulnerable, thats the problem.

The bus driver has to make the decision based on his experience.

[2ltr16valve]

What is vulnerable, thats the problem.

The bus driver has to make the decision based on his experience.

 

Also, driver let's passenger on making decision as vulnerable. Revenue get on an say they don't agree - book the driver an then driver gets pulled in by garage mgt. YES this does happen.

[rambo]

Also, driver let's passenger on making decision as vulnerable. Revenue get on an say they don't agree - book the driver an then driver gets pulled in by garage mgt. YES this does happen.

 

Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't.................

[Grotesque]

Absolutely. Which is why staff are forced into making decisions that are to the letter rather than the spirit of the law, even if it's against their best judgement.