NOW DUBLIN BUS WON’T REFUND YOUR CHANGE

DUBLIN Bus has been criticised for its decision to scrap refunds for any commuters who overpay their cash fares.

From September 9, customers will no longer be issued a ‘refund due’ receipt if they overpay when purchasing a ticket with cash.

They will instead be given a non-redeemable ‘extra payment’ receipt.

The transport company have said that the move is needed to facilitate the National Transport Authority’s plan to make operations cashless under the BusConnects programme. In a statement released yesterday, Dublin Bus said that if a customer overpays with cash after September 9, the extra change will go towards ‘continuing to improve our services and to local communities across the greater Dublin area through the Community Spirit Awards’.

However, the plan has drawn fire, with Fianna Fáil’s Transport spokesperson Robert Troy calling on the company to rethink the decision.

‘Everyone is in agreement that Dublin Bus should move to a cashless service as soon as possible,’ he said. ‘However, I believe customers should continue to have the option to claim a refund until a cashless service is actually introduced.’

The TD added that it will be at least another 18 months before a cashless service becomes a reality and said that Dublin Bus should defer its decision until the new payment service is fully introduced.

Dublin Bus is encouraging people to use a Leap travel card when using its services, adding that 70% of its customers are now using it as a payment method.

However, customers who have any existing ‘refund due’ receipts can continue to reclaim their change after September 9.