Sue bus company - waste of time?

DontTakeThat

Recently I was left stranded by a bus running so early (I saw it flash past) that it was impossible not to have missed it. It was a bank holiday weekend and the next bus was in 3 days! I had to get a taxi to the nearest town, which cost £24.

I wrote to the local authority who contract the service asking for my £24 back and they fobbed me off suggesting I write to the bus company, which I did and was told that the council had actually been in touch with them over the incident but concluded they had no case to answer. I wrote back asking for the evidence they supplied that gave rise to this decision, but have yet to hear back.

I am absolutely appalled that the two organisations can take such a slack attitude to stranding people. What if I were a single mum or a frightened elderly person? It's crossed my mind to take the local authority, who I believe have ultimate responsibility to provide the service, to the small daims court. I don't exactly have a lot of evidence other than that neither party denies in their letter that the early running took place, though.

Would it be a goer to lodge a claim or should I just forget about it and get on with my life?

McKneff

How early was this bus then.

podperson

Hmm so:
1. You have no evidence other then your word that the bus was early, lack of denial is not the same as admitting something.
2. Courts do not care that about 'inconvenience' they want to know exactly what law you are claiming they have broken.
3. If the bus company is like the ones in our area it will state on the bus stop timetable something like 'these times are a guideline, ensure you arrive at the stop early' - gives them terms for defence if you could cover points 1 and 2.
4. It would cost you more to initially submit a small claim then the £24 you think you should get back (and much more if they take it all the way to court!) - not to mention the time and effort you would need to put in.

I think you may have twigged I'm suggesting the 'forget it and move on' option

DontTakeThat

McKneff wrote: »

How early was this bus then.

It was already speeding down the road 11 minutes before its published departure time.

It also didn't run its return journey - I was on the road hitching for just over an hour with an eye out to have a word with the driver. It was due back 50 minutes later.

System

Are you sure that it wasn't running a Sunday timetable where the times may be different, being a BH?

vax2002

The short Answer
YES , its a waste of time.

Sgt_Pepper_2

DontTakeThat wrote: »

It was already speeding down the road 11 minutes before its published departure time.

It also didn't run its return journey - I was on the road hitching for just over an hour with an eye out to have a word with the driver. It was due back 50 minutes later.

If there was only one bus that day, YOU should have been well early for it.

purple.sarah

It is frustrating to be stranded by a bus and it was worth pursuing a complaint with the company but suing them is an overreaction. It will cost more than £24, that's for sure!

Jeff_Bridges_hair

You should sue them for one million pounds.


Add more if you are elderly and with a child

Premier_2

DontTakeThat wrote: »

Recently I was left stranded by a bus running so early (I saw it flash past) that it was impossible not to have missed it. It was a bank holiday weekend and the next bus was in 3 days! I had to get a taxi to the nearest town, which cost £24.

I wrote to the local authority who contract the service asking for my £24 back and they fobbed me off suggesting I write to the bus company, which I did and was told that the council had actually been in touch with them over the incident but concluded they had no case to answer. I wrote back asking for the evidence they supplied that gave rise to this decision, but have yet to hear back.

I am absolutely appalled that the two organisations can take such a slack attitude to stranding people. What if I were a single mum or a frightened elderly person? It's crossed my mind to take the local authority, who I believe have ultimate responsibility to provide the service, to the small daims court. I don't exactly have a lot of evidence other than that neither party denies in their letter that the early running took place, though.

Would it be a goer to lodge a claim or should I just forget about it and get on with my life?

You've already tried the former without success, so I would suggest you now try the latter

Tilt

Depending on which bus co it is, the bus is probably fitted with a ticket machine which records the time and fare stages. It also may have a radio system which acts as GPS. In these circumstances it would be easy for the bus co to check. Also, I would of thought that other passengers would have also missed it if it was over 10 minutes early. You would need firm evidence to bring a case against the bus operator TBH.

Your other option is to complain to the Traffic Commissioner for your area... they are responsible for regulating local bus services.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/topics/tpm/traffic-commissioners