The new scheme, which came into effect today, means passengers will have to pay for an additional fare to reach one of the two First travel shops, either in Colston Avenue or in the Marlborough Street central bus station. However, passengers will have just seven days to collect their money (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=19764449&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922Until now, passengers have been able to take change tickets to another driver or use the tickets for another journey. But First said that in a typical month as much as 16 per cent of change paid out by drivers in Bristol was for fraudulent tickets, amounting to as much as ^40,000 a year.
The new policy will bring Bristol into line with the rest of the First region, which includes Somerset and Avon, where passengers already have to visit travel shops to cash-in change tickets.
A First spokeswoman said that the company was under no legal obligation to issue change tickets and that the onus was on passengers to carry the correct fare.
Bristol Evening Post comment piece (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=19763756&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922
