Failure to provide change

[SusiF]

Is it legal for bus operators to refuse to provide change? I only had a �20 note the other day, for a �2.50 fare. The conductor said that he wasn't allowed to provide change (even though I knew he had some as he had already collected fares from others on the bus)

[Ethel]

Bus drivers are not legally obliged to give change and most bus companies have this policy.

[jno]

They may not have any so they can't be forced to give any. But not being allowed to do so is new to me (at least in the UK; they never do in New York, as I recall)

[Ethel]

The buses in the West Mids have been changeless for many years.

[LoftyLottie]

Oh for the days of the friendly bus conductor and the ticket machine and a driver that just drove!

[natalie_1982]

Our buses (Oxford) ask that you have the correct money, I have visited other cities and found this to be the same too, so I guess this would mean that they are not obliged to give change as they are already asking YOU for the right change, if you don't provide it it's not their fault.

[pink-kittens]

Why get on the bus with a �20 note to start with?
Go and buy a newspaper first
Many buses companies will have, as standard, a notice telling passengers that the driver/conducter does not carry change of �10 or �20 notes.

[kempie]

This is strict adherence to the rules of 'legal tender'.

"Legal tender has a very narrow and technical meaning in the settlement of debts. It means that a debtor cannot successfully be sued for non-payment if he pays into court in legal tender. It does not mean that any ordinary transaction has to take place in legal tender or only within the amount denominated by the legislation. Both parties are free to agree to accept any form of payment whether legal tender or otherwise according to their wishes. In order to comply with the very strict rules governing an actual legal tender it is necessary, for example, actually to offer the exact amount due because no change can be demanded."

http://www.royalmint.gov.uk/Corporate/BritishC oinage/LegalTenderGuidelines.aspx

Most businesses (if not unaware of the rules) would choose to complete a transaction using legal tender and proffer change as an act of goodwill. This tends not to alienate customers.

[SusiF]

Thank you Kempie. Next time I get on that bus I am going to insist on paying in 5p coins which, according to the mint, are legal tender for sums up to �5!

[pink-kittens]

And your the idiot that holds up the bus and makes everyone late for work because you have some pathetic point to prove

Honestly, some people take taking the pi55 to the max - it's not the bus driver you annoy but the rest of the passengers and if that bus drive plays it right when you get on with your bag full of coins, it will be YOU they want ejected

For years buses have displayed Please Tender Correct Fare signs - It's a very easy thing to do
Not difficult at all, really it's not