(08 Feb 2014, 9:54 pm)fozzovmurton wrote Off topic a bit, my sister gets shit loads of grief in her job on the phones, she works for everybodies friend, the good old taxman

(08 Feb 2014, 9:56 pm)aureolin wrote She'll know what I've said is exactly how it is then, seeing as HMRC record every single call. absolutely no room to be rude to a customer in a slightest, without being hauled over the coals.

(08 Feb 2014, 10:01 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote I am looking forward to starting work in a Call Centre on Monday at 0800 Repair in Chester, I can't wait for the Abuse to start on the Phones, and just so I am not going off topic it's next door to Chester Bus Depot.

(08 Feb 2014, 10:11 pm)nk55 wrote You maybe able to answer this question within the next few days, how long do call centre staff remain "live" before they have a break, some of our duties have us in the seat for 3 1/2 hrs or 4 1/2 hrs or if we're really lucky we'll be in close to the maximum domestic hours rules, before we get our 35 minutes off.

(08 Feb 2014, 10:13 pm)fozzovmurton wrote What is the absolute longest you can work for before you have you have to take a mandatory break???

(08 Feb 2014, 10:20 pm)nk55 wrote Monday to friday we'll genearlly work maximum 4.30 although 5hrs is creeping in more and more, saturdays we'll work close to 5hrs by working say 3.30 stint jumping off and back on another say 12-15mins later for anther 1.30 before we have 40-45 mins off before doing a near 4hr stint. Although on somedays we may do 2 stints of 2hrs 30 with a 37min break.

(08 Feb 2014, 10:11 pm)nk55 wrote You maybe able to answer this question within the next few days, how long do call centre staff remain "live" before they have a break, some of our duties have us in the seat for 3 1/2 hrs or 4 1/2 hrs or if we're really lucky we'll be in close to the maximum domestic hours rules, before we get our 35 minutes off.

(08 Feb 2014, 10:01 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote I am looking forward to starting work in a Call Centre on Monday at 0800 Repair in Chester, I can't wait for the Abuse to start on the Phones, and just so I am not going off topic it's next door to Chester Bus Depot.

(08 Feb 2014, 10:11 pm)nk55 wrote You maybe able to answer this question within the next few days, how long do call centre staff remain "live" before they have a break, some of our duties have us in the seat for 3 1/2 hrs or 4 1/2 hrs or if we're really lucky we'll be in close to the maximum domestic hours rules, before we get our 35 minutes off.

(08 Feb 2014, 10:11 pm)nk55 wrote You maybe able to answer this question within the next few days, how long do call centre staff remain "live" before they have a break, some of our duties have us in the seat for 3 1/2 hrs or 4 1/2 hrs or if we're really lucky we'll be in close to the maximum domestic hours rules, before we get our 35 minutes off.

(08 Feb 2014, 10:13 pm)fozzovmurton wrote What is the absolute longest you can work for before you have you have to take a mandatory break???

nk55 wroteMonday to friday we'll genearlly work maximum 4.30 although 5hrs is creeping in more and more, saturdays we'll work close to 5hrs by working say 3.30 stint jumping off and back on another say 12-15mins later for anther 1.30 before we have 40-45 mins off before doing a near 4hr stint. Although on somedays we may do 2 stints of 2hrs 30 with a 37min break.

Breaks and continuous driving

After 5.5 hours of driving a break of at least 30 minutes must be taken in which the driver is able to obtain rest and refreshment.

Alternatively, within any period of 8.5 hours in the working day, total breaks amounting to at least 45 minutes are taken so that the driver does not drive for more than 7 hours and 45 minutes.

The driver must in addition have a break of at least 30 minutes to obtain rest or refreshment at the end of this period, unless it is the end of the working day.

Daily driving:-
In any working day, the maximum amount of driving is 10 hours. The daily driving limit applies to time spent at the wheel, actually driving,

(08 Feb 2014, 10:27 pm)andreos1 wrote Well done on the job!
Is this the end for your jobcentre courses?
Knowing you don't have a driving licence, do you get a giant 0800 repair screwdriver to stick on your bike :p

(08 Feb 2014, 10:36 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Indeed it does thank god, just guttered as there is this Unreal Lass called Colette on the Course I started on Monday and I'm just going to get 50 as it stops right outside there unless the Weather is Nice and Sunny, in which I will then ride my Bike.

(08 Feb 2014, 9:36 pm)nk55 wrote Drivers view: last sunday, match day 3 passengers who'd gone out to drown their sorrows tried to use the magpie mover, i simply told them the rules of how long these passes were valid & charged the correct fare, i was branded " a f**king w*nker, a thieving jobswoth & a pr*ck", now this was within 5 mins of leaving eldon sq & i only had 8 on. Now on a typical weekday morning i welcome in excess of 150 passengers on 2 runs into newcastle, a simple morning passes my lips as those mainly pass holders get on and i can say only 10% of those will make eye contact or say morning back to me, and when the 9.30am barrier lifts and the freebies begin well lets say the conc D holders are the most ungrateful passengers i've ever met, so maybe no wonder drivers attitude is brought up in many complaints because what we have to put up with on a daily basis.

(08 Feb 2014, 10:56 pm)andreos1 wrote I have seen one or two lasses in the past coming out of the 0800 repair car park at the end of a shift and there is some eye candy there.
Buses and lasses, what more do you want? :p

(08 Feb 2014, 10:58 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote Exactly. Non bus drivers don't realise the crap you have to put up with from some passengers, even if you do your best to be helpful.

(08 Feb 2014, 9:36 pm)nk55 wrote Drivers view: last sunday, match day 3 passengers who'd gone out to drown their sorrows tried to use the magpie mover, i simply told them the rules of how long these passes were valid & charged the correct fare, i was branded " a f**king w*nker, a thieving jobswoth & a pr*ck", now this was within 5 mins of leaving eldon sq & i only had 8 on. Now on a typical weekday morning i welcome in excess of 150 passengers on 2 runs into newcastle, a simple morning passes my lips as those mainly pass holders get on and i can say only 10% of those will make eye contact or say morning back to me, and when the 9.30am barrier lifts and the freebies begin well lets say the conc D holders are the most ungrateful passengers i've ever met, so maybe no wonder drivers attitude is brought up in many complaints because what we have to put up with on a daily basis.

(09 Feb 2014, 12:26 am)Davey Bowyer wrote I agree with both yours and Malarkey's post. I couldn't do the job the good drivers do after seeing some of the things that go on:
- Woman holding bus up by 5 minutes at Benton House asking the driver 101 questions. Could've planned journey in advance.
- Snooty woman at Northumbria Uni getting on.
- Woman turning upto St Mary's Place at last minute with no change or fare ready. Faffing on in bag to find it thus holding up line.
- People paying fares with 20 quid notes.
- Annoying kids getting on blasting crap music.
- People not giving a clear signal such as sticking hand out for bus to stop.
- People sprinting for bus at last second expecting driver to wait for them then they run late.
- People who make the same regular journeys and are unprepared.
- Lad getting on at St Mary's with no fare ready after sprinting at last second.
- Man getting on wrong bus then expects driver to tell him all the buses that go to Regent Centre. List is up on board at Haymarket. Line hold up and a que of passengers thus delaying the service.
- People being indecisive at last moment.

(09 Feb 2014, 12:26 am)Davey Bowyer wrote I agree with both yours and Malarkey's post. I couldn't do the job the good drivers do after seeing some of the things that go on:
- Woman holding bus up by 5 minutes at Benton House asking the driver 101 questions. Could've planned journey in advance.
- Snooty woman at Northumbria Uni getting on.
- Woman turning upto St Mary's Place at last minute with no change or fare ready. Faffing on in bag to find it thus holding up line.
- People paying fares with 20 quid notes.
- Annoying kids getting on blasting crap music.
- People not giving a clear signal such as sticking hand out for bus to stop.
- People sprinting for bus at last second expecting driver to wait for them then they run late.
- People who make the same regular journeys and are unprepared.
- Lad getting on at St Mary's with no fare ready after sprinting at last second.
- Man getting on wrong bus then expects driver to tell him all the buses that go to Regent Centre. List is up on board at Haymarket. Line hold up and a que of passengers thus delaying the service.
- People being indecisive at last moment.

(08 Feb 2014, 1:07 pm)northtynelinks2 wrote People were saying that Deckers couldn't be purchased for service X66. How do some of the 'TEN' services manage when they go along the centrelink (if they do)? Unless a single decker is used instead.

(08 Feb 2014, 8:43 pm)northtynelinks2 wrote Doesn't sound too good for the office people tomorrow then

(08 Feb 2014, 9:02 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Go North East Riverside Depot Photos From Today
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/collections/72157640690214915/

Other Photos from the Past Week should be Uploaded Tonight/Tomorrow

(08 Feb 2014, 9:07 pm)fozzovmurton wrote Must be bad if you have to use language like that, the worst swear word of them, but I would be thinking the same

(08 Feb 2014, 9:36 pm)nk55 wrote Drivers view: last sunday, match day 3 passengers who'd gone out to drown their sorrows tried to use the magpie mover, i simply told them the rules of how long these passes were valid & charged the correct fare, i was branded " a f**king w*nker, a thieving jobswoth & a pr*ck", now this was within 5 mins of leaving eldon sq & i only had 8 on. Now on a typical weekday morning i welcome in excess of 150 passengers on 2 runs into newcastle, a simple morning passes my lips as those mainly pass holders get on and i can say only 10% of those will make eye contact or say morning back to me, and when the 9.30am barrier lifts and the freebies begin well lets say the conc D holders are the most ungrateful passengers i've ever met, so maybe no wonder drivers attitude is brought up in many complaints because what we have to put up with on a daily basis.

(08 Feb 2014, 9:47 pm)nk55 wrote Wouldn't like anybody being sacked but a day at riverside on disability awareness is in desperate need for this driver.

(09 Feb 2014, 5:10 am)Coastliner700 wrote Having dealt with complaints for GNE and Stagecoach South, as well as in my current job I sympathise completely with bus drivers. In general anyone who makes a complaint isn't going to say the bus driver's are lovely if they drove off. Bus drivers are put in a position where they are given little respect from members of the public especially the CONC freebies who don't deserve to travel for free at all. I've dealt with people trying to complain bus drivers leave early when actually there watches are either wrong or they turn up at the last second. Then passengers standing at bus stops with little notice or no indication at all that they wish to board. And then the change so ignorant to the world around them they simply have the largest change possible although the synical amongst us would say this is a deliberate attempt to avoid payment for their bus fare... So in my view and after dealing with complaints most of the genuine complaints themselves relate to areas that bus drivers have no control over and I feel the public should be more grateful and offer lots more respect to them../

(09 Feb 2014, 8:55 am)fozzovmurton wrote I agree with most of what you say, but about Conc pass holders, I agree in part with that, some people just have them for the sake of it, but to say we dont deserve it is a bit harsh, that pass could be old Bettys only link to the outside world, without that pass she may not be able to nip down the shops and end up been stuck indoors all day, somebody with a disability may never get out and that pass may keep them included in society, I have one for various and when I got it, I didnt think I deserved one, Durham Council thought different, I close to being agoraphobic, hadn't been anywhere for months, barely left the house for months, and getting that pass saved me at the time, I take advantage of it and probably saved hundreds, if not thousands, of £'s using it, to say I dont deserve it is a bit harsh, given the circumstances I was in and still am to this day and will suffer from till I leave this mortal coil.

I am never intentionally rude to drivers, unless there rude to me, I always speak to a driver, even if they say nothing back, I will say hi, bye, thank you, it is courteous and it is how I expect to be treated by people...

If I am a c**t to people then people will be a c**t back which is why I try to be a decent person with decent enough morals and values