>On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:21:10 +0100, Roy Stilling
>kalevala.org.uk> wrote:
>

>>Walter Briscoe wrote:

>>> On Sunday morning, about 08.00,I was on a 21 to Lewisham at London
>>> Bridge/Monument. A passenger boarded and tried to pay with a twenty
>>> pound note. The driver had no change and nor did other passengers. The
>>> passenger was made to get off the bus. I was horrified and complained,
>>> this morning, at 0845 300 7000. The stop is not "Pay before you board".
>>> It seems the operator should have issued a pay later chit.
>>> I have never seen this happen before; it would not have affected me as I
>>> use an auto-topped Oyster.

>>
>>My father was an LT driver back in the 70s and 80s and they were told
>>that they were under no obligation to give change at all although they
>>should always try to do so.

>
>I was a bus driver in the 70s.
>
>We were not issued with a float; I assume this is still the case. Many
>drivers kept a small float of their own (I did, but only about a pounds'
>worth) but others didn't and were under no obligation to do so. As you
>say, the assumption has always been that the right money would be given,
>and change given when possible but not guaranteed.
>
>If you couldn't give change, the procedure was that you should take what
>was tendered and issue an Unrefunded Change form.
>The passenger could collect their change from the bus garage after you
>had paid in.
>
>It was amazing how many people, thinking the ploy would get them a free
>ride, would then suddenly find the right money rather than have to visit
>Dunton Green.
>
>In the odd case where it was obviously genuine, I did my best to find
>the change before the passenger alighted, but occasionally a visit to
>the garage was needed.
>
>However, nobody would ever be refused travel for not having the right
>money - after all, if they didn't collect it, the company kept it!
>
>We weren't even allowed to refuse travel to somebody who had *no* money.
>We would take the passenger's name and address, complete an Uncollected
>Fare form and let the company deal with it.
>
>Incidentally, as a kid in the 1950s this was once a lifesaver. I lost
>my Rover ticket and had to rely on Unpaid Fare forms to get me home.
>