GOLDEN ARROWS BUS CARD ABOMINATION!

Firstly, let me start off by saying Golden Arrow bus services at least deliver most of the time, as they at least normally get us to and from where we need to be, which I thank them for.

But recently, I've experienced my fare share of issues with them, and what this is about is their useless new Bus Card, which is a damn abomination compared to the old trusty Bus Tickets they use to have, which they now refuse to sell you, as you are forced to take their stupid Bus Cards, which don't work most of the time, and forces you to then pay for a single ticket, when you have a valid Bus Card...

Their response, "your bus card is not valid for this route", yet they don't know which route to advise you to take or ask for to allow you to go to and from your destination without issue.

For more information, please see email below which I sent to them 7 days ago and still haven't received a response for...

Hello

So, despite all the other complaints that I have with whats happened to me on my route in the last few months, the most important complaint and inquiry is regarding this new bus card I was given, instead of my bus ticket.

Firstly, I appreciate being able to take a bus to and from work, as it saves petrol and is more convenient, and Golden Arrow is a lot more reliable than any other public transport, for that I must thank you. ( at least when you're operating as you usually do)

What this Complaint is about though is the fact that with my Bus Ticket, of which I always bought a weekly, and had no issues going to and from work with, is now no longer available, and has been replaced with the Bus Card, which is also a weekly, but now causes me issues basically EVERY MORNING. I have no problems coming home in the evening from Town, but in the morning, when I'm coming to Town, none of the bus drivers accept the card, as they say it's invalid?

My route is designated "Cape Town to Lansdowne", and with the bus ticket, I could go to and from Town easily, now, Myself and at least four other passengers, are told our cards aren't accepted, as they're invalid and that we must go to the bus depot and sort it out.

Some of the drivers, especially one of the female drivers on our route, who is always miserable and in a bad mood, have told us, that they will no longer accept our cards and if we don't pay with cash, despite having remaining trips on our cards, will force us off the bus, or not stop to pick us up in the morning, which they already sometimes do...

To make matters worse, the outlet I purchase my ticket from, an Engen garage that sells the bus tickets/cards (as well other outlets I'm told), tell me that they aren't allowed to sell bus tickets anymore, as per Golden Arrow's instruction, and that if we refuse the Bus Cards, that we won't be sold anything at all.

So, we can't refuse to take Bus Cards, but your drivers can refuse to take our bought and paid for Bus Cards?

So far, I've had to pay cash on 3 occasions already, while having a valid Bus Card, and have since purchased a weekly Bus Ticket, while still having a valid Bus Card, just to be able to get to work in the morning.

Also, some bus Drivers, seem to know how to by pass the invalid issue in the morning, by taking our cards, placing it on the reader and selecting something on the machine, but there are so few of them, that we can't take the chance anymore of not having spare cash with us just in case we get one of the many bus drivers that won't accept our Bus Card.

I could go on for at least another 5 paragraphs and add more to this complaint, but I would prefer to just get a response to what I have already have stated.

SO, COULD YOU PLEASE CONFIRM AND ADVISE WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSE TO DO REGARDING THIS SITUATION AND WHAT WE ARE MEANT TO DO TO SORT THIS OUT AS I AM NOT GOING PURCHASE 2 DIFFERENT BUS CARDS JUST TO ENSURE I CAN GET BACK AND FORTH, TO AND FROM WORK IN THE MORNING.

I look forward to your response and acknowledgement, thank you.

Kind Regards.