Can I get money back from this?

Shicky · 23 Jun 2011 at 14:57

Basically went on holiday last week, was a 6.30AM flight or so which required we get a bus at 3am from belfast to dublin airport. Problem was they sent two buses at 2am and the driver of the 4am bus was sitting, unwilling to move. We couldn't wait for the 4am driver to go as we would have missed our flight so had to share a taxi between four people to the airport, £100 in total.

So basically instead of paying £17 for a return bus ticket, I paid £12 for a single from dublin to belfast when I returned and £25 for the taxi down to the airport. All four of us had no option but to take a taxi or we would miss our flight. I had the taxi driver write us a receipt in the hope I could claim it back.

What do you reckon the chances are? What points can I raise when I call them to ensure I get something? I dont have travel insurance.

iamtheoneneo · 23 Jun 2011 at 14:59

no, buses arent required by law to provide a regular service and it will be in their T+C's that cancellations of services for what ever circumstances can occur.

i think its unreasonable that your expecting said company to cough up...
should have got the 2am bus.

Ahleckz · 23 Jun 2011 at 15:03

Take it as a lesson. Always leave a safety net when travelling.

The__Malteser · 23 Jun 2011 at 15:06

Disagree. If a bus is supposed to leave at a certain time, it should. They are slacking from work if they don't.

Russinating · 23 Jun 2011 at 15:06

Ahleckz said:
Take it as a lesson. Always leave a safety net when travelling.

This. I'm getting a 3pm train from Bristol to get my ferry in Portsmouth at 9pm next week. Train journey takes 2 hours

.

Lamo · 23 Jun 2011 at 15:07

you be lucky and get a refund in Pooooooottttaaatttooooooooooooos !!!!!!!1111

Pestilence · 23 Jun 2011 at 15:12

Lamo said:
you be lucky and get a refund in Pooooooottttaaatttooooooooooooos !!!!!!!1111

I LOLed.

Philtor · 23 Jun 2011 at 15:21

Lamo said:
you be lucky and get a refund in Pooooooottttaaatttooooooooooooos !!!!!!!1111

Do you know how Scotland was founded? They said "We have found somewhere colder and wetter than Ireland. Who wants to go?"

J-FRO · 23 Jun 2011 at 15:25

Ahleckz said:
Take it as a lesson. Always leave a safety net when travelling.

Spot on!

Shicky · 28 Jun 2011 at 00:18

Sorry forgot about this bad boy as i've been busy moving house. So what is the final verdict, don't bother doing anything as its not their job to get me there on time? Or proceed because they cancelled a bus and at no time gave any of the would be passengers information about this?

Might just try my hand anyway as we did have to part with a fair whack of money for what is a simple journey

Amnesia · 28 Jun 2011 at 00:43

so you went to the bus station to buy a ticket for a 3am bus....but there was no 3am bus and now you want to sue them ?

Jono8 · 28 Jun 2011 at 00:46

Shicky said:
Basically went on holiday last week, was a 6.30AM flight or so which required we get a bus at 3am from belfast to dublin airport. Problem was they sent two buses at 2am and the driver of the 4am bus was sitting, unwilling to move. We couldn't wait for the 4am driver to go as we would have missed our flight so had to share a taxi between four people to the airport, £100 in total.

So basically instead of paying £17 for a return bus ticket, I paid £12 for a single from dublin to belfast when I returned and £25 for the taxi down to the airport. All four of us had no option but to take a taxi or we would miss our flight. I had the taxi driver write us a receipt in the hope I could claim it back.

What do you reckon the chances are? What points can I raise when I call them to ensure I get something? I dont have travel insurance.

Was there supposed to be a 3am bus?

Shicky · 28 Jun 2011 at 00:49

Jono8 said:
Was there supposed to be a 3am bus?

Yes there was meant to be a 3am bus - no notice of any cancellation was made at the station or online. As for the other comment no I don't want to sue but paying £100 for a single journey sucks certain areas when you planned on it costing lots less. I was simply going to go for reimbursement if its possible

Clum · 28 Jun 2011 at 00:50

Is it really worth the hassle for 20 quid each? I'm sure they'll have their backsides covered anyway and you'll probably find in their T&C's, it'll mention they have the right to cancel/change services ect.

pingwing · 28 Jun 2011 at 01:01

Just complain like a beast at Ulster bus (assuming they do the bus you wanted). Just sate the driver said something horribly sectarian about either catholics or protestants (the classic one that breaks ulster bus is asking to go to londonderry in which one responded to a canadian tourist "there's no such place"). Anyway making sure its sectarian and then making sure eveyone who got the taxi with you knows the lie you'll get a decent cash pay out to stop it going to the papers and causing more buses to get burnt out. Or at least mention his pathetic attitude doing nothing for the image of the irish north or south....

Failing that take it as a lesson to not fly out of Dublin airport at silly o'clock without starting near to it in the first place.

Lamo said:
you be lucky and get a refund in Pooooooottttaaatttooooooooooooos !!!!!!!1111

Made me smile

Haggisman · 28 Jun 2011 at 01:10

This is why sensible people use their own transport and don't fall for the government lies about public transport being a suitable alternative.

Nikias · 28 Jun 2011 at 01:13

Sorry, I do not think you have a legal claim. No contract would have been formed until you bought your ticket and the bus company does not have a duty of care to protect your economic interests. Your losses were also likely not reasonably foreseeable or contemplated. It's late, so maybe someone else will correct my addled brain, but I cannot see what you would found an action in.

Best bet is to write as a disgruntled, yet polite and firm customer, and maybe threaten to tell the local/national press, your MP and everyone you know and so forth.

Van Hellseek · 28 Jun 2011 at 03:15

£37 and you're considering taking action?

My airport taxi run is £130. Think yourself lucky.

mattyfez · 28 Jun 2011 at 03:48

Haggisman said:
This is why sensible people use their own transport and don't fall for the government lies about public transport being a suitable alternative.

This

Shicky · 28 Jun 2011 at 18:35

why do people think I am looking to sue? If you read I was clearly trying to gauge whether I should contact translink, state my disappointment at their failing to provide a service and how it adversely affected me. Hoping therefore for compensation in form of some free travel or the money I had to spend on the taxi.

At no point do I mention legal action in any way.