| Ethel Redpath was catching the number 96 Stagecoach Strathtay bus from Tayport into the city with her children — all aged under five — when she was informed she would have to pay a child fare for one of them.
The shocked mum said she was under the impression the bus company had a policy of free child travel for all children under five, and could not understand why the driver was singling her family out.
Ethel said she was also upset at the behaviour of the driver who she claims left her to struggle alone with the children — Sol (4), Cara (2) and Evvie (1) — as she tried to board the vehicle with a bulky double buggy.
She said, “I waited for a bus which has a lowered floor but when the first arrived it didn’t have it.
“I decided to wait until one came along but the next bus arrived and still didn’t have it.
“We had to get going so we got on the bus but I struggled to get everything on board.
“I stood for ages trying to lift the buggy and hold on to my children, while the driver just sat there watching.
“Eventually I had to get two of my children on to the bus while a kind passenger held my youngest and I struggled with the buggy.”
Frustrated by the situation, Ethel finally boarded the bus but was taken aback further when the driver asked her to pay the fare of one of her young children.
She continued, “Once I finally got on, the driver then asked me how many children I had.
“I explained I had three but they were all under five.
“He then informed me that I only got two children free and had to pay for the other.
“I was furious.
“There were no disclaimers at all on the bus saying you could only let two children under five travel free.”
“I have used the bus regularly for years and have never been asked to pay for my children under five before. It seems an unfair way to treat big families.”
A spokesperson for Stagecoach said, “It is our policy to offer free travel for up to two children under the age of five with any one fare paying adult.
“This has been the case for some time, but we will reiterate this policy across our operations.
“Our drivers are fully trained in customer service and it is disappointing on this occasion that our standard of customer service has been a cause for complaint
“The issue will be addressed internally and our local Operations Manager will respond to the passenger.” |
