(02 Jan 2025, 10:14 am)omnicity4659 wrote Ask them to pay/draw cash from a cash machine, or get your B175s out  

Or point them to the website - https://www.stagecoachbus.com/help-and-c...s-declined

I have a feeling Go-Ahead do the same thing. Loads of cards blocked and people showing me their banking app with money in the account. I feel too bad to say to them "It's probably because you didn't have money in last time." Even though that's likely the case.

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(02 Jan 2025, 2:45 pm)Adrian wrote It sounds like they need more than a ticket inspector then, but more a whole gang of them? Similar to the Metro or Metrolink approach, where they randomly swarm on an unsuspecting train, and with that many of them, people don't have time to think or try and make an escape. 

I can completely understand why drivers want someone visible doing it, but I think having solo ticket inspectors is just shifting the problem; and to someone with even less protection than a driver.

I do maintain that some of this is a policing issue though, especially the fraud elements. Too often nowadays we expect frontline workers to plug the gaps of Police.

Yep, this is basically my view on it too. The companies want us drivers to be judge, jury and executioner, but if you overstep the company don't have your back. I'm not paid enough to be a revenue protection officer, but I know that I can't let people take the piss to the point the company will take a disciplinary on me for letting people on for nowt.

(02 Jan 2025, 10:17 am)F114TML wrote Genuinely never knew that existed on the website.

Also B175s are the biggest waste of time I've ever seen. These people quite quickly cottoned on.

Mainly to cover your backside. Even if the B175 has been populated with "Ben Dover of 69 Philyercracken Avenue", it's enough to stop you getting a disciplinary.

Not heard anything about passenger fare irregularities being a disciplinary matter for drivers for years, however might have changed with the inspector arriving.

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(02 Jan 2025, 2:45 pm)Adrian wrote It sounds like they need more than a ticket inspector then, but more a whole gang of them? Similar to the Metro or Metrolink approach, where they randomly swarm on an unsuspecting train, and with that many of them, people don't have time to think or try and make an escape. 

I can completely understand why drivers want someone visible doing it, but I think having solo ticket inspectors is just shifting the problem; and to someone with even less protection than a driver.

I do maintain that some of this is a policing issue though, especially the fraud elements. Too often nowadays we expect frontline workers to plug the gaps of Police.

Would be good if NECA worked together with Metro and the bus companies to have one team doing the lot on everything.

(02 Jan 2025, 5:14 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Mainly to cover your backside. Even if the B175 has been populated with "Ben Dover of 69 Philyercracken Avenue", it's enough to stop you getting a disciplinary.

Not heard anything about passenger fare irregularities being a disciplinary matter for drivers for years, however might have changed with the inspector arriving.

Oh yeah I don't dispute that.

But they are a waste of time from a revenue protection front.

(02 Jan 2025, 5:14 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Would be good if NECA worked together with Metro and the bus companies to have one team doing the lot on everything.

I'd hope it'd be the case under franchising, but I mean there'd be nothing stopping something centrally being set up now. Set it up via NECA and charge each operator a levy for the service.

(02 Jan 2025, 1:34 pm)Andreos1 wrote Watched a lad in an urban supermarket walk past the security guard, grab something and walk straight back out the other day.
The security guard knew exactly what the lad was doing. Wasn't worth his time, energy or safety stopping him.

Sounds like it's not worth the supermarket paying that security guard either by that account!

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(02 Jan 2025, 12:25 am)F114TML wrote Another issue is how do you communicate this to the passenger who flatly refuses to accept even some responsibility without saying or implying that they have insufficient funds?

I wouldn't necessarily assume this is always the case.  Certainly my 'main' credit card has been declined on Stagecoach for as long as I remember and has never been anywhere near it's limit.  It isn't always that the customer has insufficient funds and potentially more either the fault of the card issuer, or the transaction process.  I've always just used another card or cash but if it was my only card as it could be for some, it would be a complete ballache.