'My phone died so I can't access my bus ticket' excuse

[Ballyheigue]

I'm hearing this an awful lot lately, especially from the younger generation, and it often leads to the driver saying 'just get on' probably to avoid all the hassle of an endless discussion/argument about having a valid ticket. I always have a valid ticket, it's called an Annual M Card, and I personally want bus companies to take a significantly tougher stance and fine those who haven't got a valid ticket when they board by way of revenue inspections, they could re-coup the cost of additional revenue inspectors out of the fines, say a £1000 fine for no valid ticket. Train companies take a tough stance, so why not bus companies? After all, you wouldn't turn up at a ferry terminal with the sad excuse that my phone died and my ticket is on there especially when travelling back into the UK, so why have the same pathetic excuse for bus travel? People need to be told straight to start taking better responsibility for their tickets, simple as!

 

[AM9]

I'm hearing this an awful lot lately, especially from the younger generation, and it often leads to the driver saying 'just get on' probably to avoid all the hassle of an endless discussion/argument about having a valid ticket. I always have a valid ticket, it's called an Annual M Card, and I personally want bus companies to take a significantly tougher stance and fine those who haven't got a valid ticket when they board by way of revenue inspections, they could re-coup the cost of additional revenue inspectors out of the fines, say a £1000 fine for no valid ticket. Train companies take a tough stance, so why not bus companies? After all, you wouldn't turn up at a ferry terminal with the sad excuse that my phone died and my ticket is on there especially when travelling back into the UK, so why have the same pathetic excuse for bus travel? People need to be told straight to start taking better responsibility for their tickets, simple as!

In the case of 'phone doesn't work' where both paper or card tickets are available, it's clearly the user who chooses to use the phone option's responsibility just as it is for a physical ticket holder's of they lose their ticket. Operators who only offer tickets on devices are partially responsibility if the ticket genuinely can't be presented on demand.

 

[TUC]

'Your phone died. Fine, plug it into that charging port next to the seat, and you can show me your ticket in five minutes, or in five minutes I'll be able to report you for fraud. Your choice.'

 

[noddingdonkey]

I think there's a two way street here; the charging points are unreliable. Some mechanism of being able to appeal a penalty if you can demonstrate that you did hold a valid ticket should be required as part of any scheme.

 

[TUC]

I think there's a two way street here; the charging points are unreliable. Some mechanism of being able to appeal a penalty if you can demonstrate that you did hold a valid ticket should be required as part of any scheme.

I'd say the responsibility is on you to be organised enough to make sure your phone is charged and, if you have any concerns, to carry a cheap portable charger with you.

 

[noddingdonkey]

And I'd say it must be great to be so perfect that you never make an honest mistake, from which there is often no opportunity to recover the situation.

 

[TUC]

And I'd say it must be great to be so perfect that you never make a mistake.

Making a mistake does not make it someone's else's responsibility to give you a free ride. It's a reason to learn to be better organised next time,

 

[noddingdonkey]

But it's not a free ride, the passenger has a valid ticket on their device that isn't operable.

 

[Starmill]

Folk doing this who haven't paid are probably largely just the same folk who used to ask the driver nicely and said they were stranded and homeless and had no money. Others chucked 37p in loose change that they'd found on the floor in the tray and went upstairs. They usually got off free too.

Unfortunately, the job of the bus driver is to keep the bus running safely, ideally to do so as punctually as possible in the conditions. They of course do have a secondary role in customer service and ticket sales but they can't be the main means of revenue protection as their hands are full. There is a very small minority of drivers who take fare evasion into their own hands by refusing to drive on or even using the panic alarm if there's a fare evader onboard, but this is incredibly unpopular with other customers and results in delays and complaints.

 

[Dwarfer1979]

But it's not a free ride, the passenger has a valid ticket on their device that isn't operable.

You must present a valid ticket when requested, it is no different to someone who left a paper ticket at home and tried to claim a free trip. It is the customers responsibility to ensure they can access their ticket when they need to. Drivers are probably more forgiving of a flat battery or data issue as most of them will have experienced something similar, though attitude and demanor can factor in here, but they do remember people and they do talk so regular offenders will get picked out,

 

[AM9]

But it's not a free ride, the passenger has a valid ticket on their device that isn't operable.

So when confronted with a person claiming that they have paid for a ticket but can't prove it by presenting it, how do they determine whether that is a truth or a complete lie?

 

[Ballyheigue]

But it's not a free ride, the passenger has a valid ticket on their device that isn't operable.

But how does the driver know? Drivers can offer to allow the person to charge the device, but what happens when the person gets off saying it hasn't charged or the phone is at fault? Way too many people are pulling this trick and it needs clamping down on big time because as someone who pays fares, I'm not happy that others are getting free rides.

 

[anthony263]

Im like that. Not my problem if you cabt keep track of your phones charge or have a power bank to top it up. If its late at night especially if I consider them vulnerable then I admit I tend to be a bit more leeniant

 

[Ballyheigue]

And I'd say it must be great to be so perfect that you never make an honest mistake, from which there is often no opportunity to recover the situation.

I've NEVER made a mistake with tickets, not one mistake what so ever, I make dam sure I can get home! Put it this way, would you be so careless with a million quid in your pocket, no, clearly not, so why be so careless with your ticket.

 

[AM9]

I've NEVER made a mistake with tickets, not one mistake what so ever, I make dam sure I can get home! Put it this way, would you be so careless with a million quid in your pocket, no, clearly not, so why be so careless with your ticket.

Or maybe a more tangible comparison, - would they be so careless with their passport en route to an airport/seaport/St Pancras International, and expect to be waived through as a favour had it fallen from their pocket/luggage?

 

[TUC]

But it's not a free ride, the passenger has a valid ticket on their device that isn't operable.

That's no different to havibg left a physical ticket at home. Too bad.

 

[mayneway]

It’s a massive problem and it’s not just E tickets. Many claim their only way to pay is via their phone which has died.
I used to have a bit of sympathy until one day picking a guy up who calm who claimed he was having the day from hell. His van had broke down and he needed to get into town and his phone had died. I let him travel only for him to start having a conversation with someone on his ‘dead’ phone right next to my cab. I tried to ask him about his dead phone and his lack of ticket once we reached town but he was off like a whippet.

One of the best things I’ve bought is a multi charger from one of the pound shops. Now when someone gets on and gives me the sob story I offer to change their phone in my cab via my fast charger Using the multi charger - it’s amazing how many decline and walk off.

The other problem is people asking to charge their phone and pay when alighting. Again after being stung by someone who clearly had no intention of charging and paying I now ask them to show me their charger before agreeing, again it’s amazing how many suddenly remember they don’t have a charger with them.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Sunday at 15:26 ==

But it's not a free ride, the passenger has a valid ticket on their device that isn't operable.

It’s most often in the terms and conditions that the ticket or pass needs to be scanned when boarding.

A great think I always ask passengers wanting a free ride is, if I walk into Tesco and pick up £40 worth of shopping and inform the cashier that my phone has died but I have got the £40 In my account are they going to let me take the goods?

 

[satters]

as a contingency for the failure of whatever payment or ticket system normally used, carry enough cash in coin for a fare home, simple.

 

[dgl]

I actually had my phone suddenly have a knackered battery so had a legitimate excuse, though I did still pay.

At work the bus that comes on site is free for employees but you are supposed to show your team card app to prove you are an employee. Now most drivers on the route know who we are or have the sense to see that as we are in the company uniform they don't need to see the app, cue people then having issues if they can't get on to the app (forgotten password or not on the system yet) or it decides not to work and getting the one driver who is way to officious in regards to showing the app. (Noting that nothing is scanned so it's not like that's the issue).

 

[mlambeuk]

Pobably the same as people in the past, who used to search their bags/ pockets and claim they'd forgotten their wallet or purse.

 

[Llandudno]

It’s a massive problem and it’s not just E tickets. Many claim their only way to pay is via their phone which has died.
I used to have a bit of sympathy until one day picking a guy up who calm who claimed he was having the day from hell. His van had broke down and he needed to get into town and his phone had died. I let him travel only for him to start having a conversation with someone on his ‘dead’ phone right next to my cab. I tried to ask him about his dead phone and his lack of ticket once we reached town but he was off like a whippet.

One of the best things I’ve bought is a multi charger from one of the pound shops. Now when someone gets on and gives me the sob story I offer to change their phone in my cab via my fast charger Using the multi charger - it’s amazing how many decline and walk off.

The other problem is people asking to charge their phone and pay when alighting. Again after being stung by someone who clearly had no intention of charging and paying I now ask them to show me their charger before agreeing, again it’s amazing how many suddenly remember they don’t have a charger with them.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Sunday at 15:26 ==


It’s most often in the terms and conditions that the ticket or pass needs to be scanned when boarding.

A great think I always ask passengers wanting a free ride is, if I walk into Tesco and pick up £40 worth of shopping and inform the cashier that my phone has died but I have got the £40 In my account are they going to let me take the goods?

Sadly there are people who just grab the stuff anyway from Convenience Stores and Greggs etc and just walk out…

 

[Northerngirl]

They can start fineing people whenever they have working chargers at every seat

 

[noddingdonkey]

I see no reason why this shouldn't work in the same way as for Railcards, with a reasonable number of occasions per year when a ticket bought or PFN equivalent can be refunded/rescinded on production of proof that the passenger already held a valid ticket. Genuine passengers don't get undly penalised, fare dodgers don't get away with anything and the bus industry isn't losing anyhing and - shock horror - might not see its reputation for customer service continue to go down the toilet.

 

[AM9]

They can start fineing people whenever they have working chargers at every seat

Not relevant, - passengers who can't or don't present a valid ticket can be penalised anyway, even if there isn't a single charge opportunity on their journey. Do you expect a 'hole in pocket repair service' to be available to those who have lost their ticket?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Sunday at 17:03 ==

I see no reason why this shouldn't work in the same way as for Railcards, with a reasonable number of occasions per year when a ticket bought or PFN equivalent can be refunded/rescinded on production of proof that the passenger already held a valid ticket. Genuine passengers don't get undly penalised, fare dodgers don't get away with anything and the bus industry isn't losing anyhing and - shock horror - might not see its reputation for customer service continue to go down the toilet.

That might be reasonable if an administration charge is applied 1) for raising the penalty documentation in the first place and 2) then processing the refund afterwards.

 

[Falcon1200]

But it's not a free ride, the passenger has a valid ticket on their device that isn't operable.

Well that's what they say, at least....

But how, and why, do people let their phone run out of charge, especially when it contains their means of travel? That is down to no-one but themselves.

 

[Vexed]

Really I think it's just a bit of personal responsibility. No different to going out with a day ticket or return then losing it before heading back home.

I never leave the house (if I'm going more than walking distance) without two methods of payment. I usually have three (phone + smart watch + physical card) but occasionally just phone and smart watch. The smart watch will still work with my phone battery dead, though it's not very ergonomic to tap on a Ticketer machine especially if there's an assault screen.

 

[Busmansholiday]

A bit like turning up at an airport and saying you've forgotten your passport!

No ticket, whether physical or electronic and it's your problem to get to work or home, not the bus companies.

 

[mmh]

It's the bus company's fault that I have to use a mobile phone. I'd much prefer my (expensive) pass on a smartcard, and I have a smartcard from the bus company, but they won't sell it that way.

 

[TUC]

It's the bus company's fault that I have to use a mobile phone. I'd much prefer my (expensive) pass on a smartcard, and I have a smartcard from the bus company, but they won't sell it that way.

So you'd remember your pass, but not remember to charge your phone. Both are your responsibility, neither are the bus company's fault.

 

[Ferrylift3]

One driver I know carries a power bank in his bag with a multi charging lead. Battery flat? No problem, plug in and show the ticket. Certainly weeds out the liars.