Megabus journey: Entitlement to refund of cost?

jumpedtheshark

I've had a quick google, but not found anything precisely on point. I booked Megabus a couple of weeks ago for a return journey between Oxford and Manchester, to go see ManU play. The stated bus journey time was 3 hrs 55 minutes.

After we boarded, I saw a couple of passengers ask the driver if he could unlock the toilet. He explained it was broken, so would be kept locked. He stopped at a motorway services at 8.45 for 15 minutes, and at that time announced to the bus full of people that the toilet was broken. I went to the toilet then, and asked the driver if the stop meant we would be late. He said yes, by 15 minutes. That was the only toilet stop.

I don't have a medical condition (I don't think!), but am well known to family (and friends probably ) to need the toilet more than once every 4 hours and, for that reason, I wouldn't have booked a bus journey that long that didn't have advertise toilets on-board. I had a very uncomfortable journey to Manchester I didn't ask the driver to stop again, as I didn't want to make everyone, including myself, late. As it turns out, we arrived on time.

The bus back had working toilets, but was overbooked, and my (lap belt) seat belt didn't work - there was no tension to it, so it was too long and wouldn't have 'locked-up' in the event of a crash, if you get what I mean. I would have thought that was also a legal requirement.

Do I have any right to claim a refund of the ticket prices for myself and my OH?

First and last day taking Megabus.

wealdroam

How much did you pay for your tickets?

Did they get you to Manchester and back again to Oxford?

jumpedtheshark

Thanks for the reply.

Does the cost of the tickets affect my entitlement to a refund?

Yes, the bus got me there and back, but that wasn't the only thing I paid for. I paid to get there on a bus that advertised toilets on board. I paid to get back on a bus that had working seatbelts.

arcon5

The toilets wasn't working so they made alternate arrangements to provide you with these facilities.. by stopping at services. Although inconvenient, I can't see you having a strong case for a partial-refund based on this tbh.

Derivative

All I can find on the Megabus website is the following:

We endeavour to ensure that all megabus.com journeys are operated by vehicles that have on board toilets.

So they don't guarantee it.

I've travelled by megabus many times and have never had a working toilet - but to be honest at £1 a ticket I wasn't too fussed.

Seat belt might be more of an issue - afaik that is a legal requirement, but did you complain at the time? They may have been unaware of the issue.

Hintza

jumpedtheshark wrote: »

I paid to get back on a bus that had working seatbelts.

I've never been on a bus WITH seatbelts!!

wealdroam

jumpedtheshark wrote: »

Does the cost of the tickets affect my entitlement to a refund?

It clearly affects the amount of the refund, and from that it is possible to work out how much effort to put into your claim.

jumpedtheshark wrote: »

...but that wasn't the only thing I paid for.

I would suggest that the major part of the cost of the ticket was allocated to getting you from A to B, and only a small proportion can be attributed to the working (or not) toilets.

So, for example, if you paid £3.00 each way, then any refund due may be significantly less than 50p.

And as Arcon says... they did make alternative arrangements.

arcon5

Hintza wrote: »

I've never been on a bus WITH seatbelts!!

From what I read it was only a requirement for bus' built after Oct 2001.

McKneff

I really cant see why people waste their time on trivialities like this.
!!!!!! dont you have anything better to do than spend your time whining about wanting a couple of quid back.

Tolet issue - sorted.

Seatbelt, did you mention it to the driver.

Move on.

s_b

ive only ever been on a megabus twice there and back to london in december
journey down perfect
journey back one seat seatbelt faulty and company wouldnt allow anyone to sit there once the driver knew
the toilet light blew so we stopped halfway for 15 minutes,one chap took 22 minutes but driver waited patiently
now fair enough im not a regular user but a family member is and her feedback monthly is always one of good service and unbelievably good prices
me?
i always recommend them now and if OP thinks they have a major issue then i suggest they look elsewhere for transportation needs in future so others can have their seat

mo786uk

Even if you were it would be pennies considering how small a part of the journey was affected and the fact it was 1 half of a return journey and MB tickets are so cheap.