<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=510 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Got service or not?
Posted on 13 Oct, 2008 11:13
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=530 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>SBS ticket inspector makes man alight in middle of expressway
A STOMPer is appalled at how a bus ticket inspector and bus captain treated commuters who underpaid on bus service 168 on 9 Oct. The inspector refused to listen to the STOMPer’s explanation on why she had ‘underpaid’ and also made another commuter alight in the middle of the expressway.
In an email to STOMP yesterday (12 Oct), the unimpressed STOMPer says:
“This is a serious matter in which I feel necessary actions have to be taken. The incident happened on 9th October 2008 at around 11am . I was boarding a SBS bus service number 168, a journey from a bus stop at Tampines Avenue 1 towards Woodlands Regional Centre.
“I paid the usual amount of $1.80 cash as I did not bring my Ezylink card that day. A few stops later, the ticket checking officer on duty came up and conducted checks. He checked my ticket and there wasn’t anything wrong.
“I was shaken by the ticket officer’s loud voice as he told a man in his early twenties and I to alight the bus. I was dumbfounded by his actions and I asked promptly about why I needed to alight there when my destination is the Woodlands Regional Centre.
“Then, he said that I underpaid and that was when I realized the amount on the issued ticket I was holding was only $1.70. I explained hastily that I paid the correct amount and apologized because I did not check my ticket upon issued. But the ticket officer was not satisfied and made a din incessantly.
“The bus continued the journey so in the end, I went down to the bus captain to try to clarify the matter but the bus captain took sides with the ticket officer. Here, I would like to proclaim that when I put in the cash into the box earlier on, the bus captain was not dedicated in his duties as I needed to tap him on his shoulders to remind him about the ticket. Hence, given that he was not focused, how could he be sure that I underpaid?
“Soon after, the man in his early twenties and the ticket officer came down together and by this time, an argument was occurring between the ticket officer and me. Regardless of how I explained, he was adamant that I cheated.
“Though accused, I tried to explain that both the bus captain and I were at fault. This was clearly a case whereby both parties were careless. Then, after several failed attempts to make clear matters, I gave up and the argument went on between the ticket officer and the man in his twenties.
“At that time, we were on the expressway. The ticket officer told the man in his twenties that he had to pay up the fine of $20 for underpayment. The man in his twenties said that he would pay up and alight as well when the bus reaches the first stop at Woodlands Avenue 2 (Innova JC).
“However, the ticket officer was still bent on his decision so the man in his twenties had no choice but to alight the bus. Here, I would like to state that we were in the middle of the expressway. The ticket officer instructed the bus captain to stop right in the middle of the expressway and let the man get off.
“The bus captain complied without any hesitation and questions. This is utterly unforgivable. I like to reiterate that I warned the ticket officer before the man in his twenties left the bus that he would be risking the young man’s life by doing this dangerous act.
“When the bus terminated, I noted down the bus plate number and asked for the bus captain’s name. He was not wearing any name tag and so I needed to ask for it. But he was reluctant to give it to me despite repeated requests. I believed that many commuters on board then did not feel good about the situation as a few of them made reports to the SBS Customer Relations Centre.
“The entire incident made me doubt the aims and values of our local company, SBS transit, to deliver a safe and friendly journey for all commuters. The reckless decision of that bus captain and ticket officer could have made the young man lost his life.
“Indeed, I learned from a family member in the Land Transport Authority (LTA) that if a person is discovered to be stranded on the expressway, police on duty will be notified and the person will be transported.
“This is such a disappointing experience SBS transit had given us. I called SBS on the day itself but have received no reply yet. It has been four days and towards a matter so serious, is this how the management of SBS transit carries out their investigations? When a matter of safety is involved, management should promptly respond.
“I hope I see that proper actions and punishment for the involved service leaders to be mete out, for I do not wish to see another life being risked again just for a mere $20 fine.”
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Posted on 13 Oct, 2008 11:13
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=530 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>SBS ticket inspector makes man alight in middle of expressway
A STOMPer is appalled at how a bus ticket inspector and bus captain treated commuters who underpaid on bus service 168 on 9 Oct. The inspector refused to listen to the STOMPer’s explanation on why she had ‘underpaid’ and also made another commuter alight in the middle of the expressway.
In an email to STOMP yesterday (12 Oct), the unimpressed STOMPer says:
“This is a serious matter in which I feel necessary actions have to be taken. The incident happened on 9th October 2008 at around 11am . I was boarding a SBS bus service number 168, a journey from a bus stop at Tampines Avenue 1 towards Woodlands Regional Centre.
“I paid the usual amount of $1.80 cash as I did not bring my Ezylink card that day. A few stops later, the ticket checking officer on duty came up and conducted checks. He checked my ticket and there wasn’t anything wrong.
“I was shaken by the ticket officer’s loud voice as he told a man in his early twenties and I to alight the bus. I was dumbfounded by his actions and I asked promptly about why I needed to alight there when my destination is the Woodlands Regional Centre.
“Then, he said that I underpaid and that was when I realized the amount on the issued ticket I was holding was only $1.70. I explained hastily that I paid the correct amount and apologized because I did not check my ticket upon issued. But the ticket officer was not satisfied and made a din incessantly.
“The bus continued the journey so in the end, I went down to the bus captain to try to clarify the matter but the bus captain took sides with the ticket officer. Here, I would like to proclaim that when I put in the cash into the box earlier on, the bus captain was not dedicated in his duties as I needed to tap him on his shoulders to remind him about the ticket. Hence, given that he was not focused, how could he be sure that I underpaid?
“Soon after, the man in his early twenties and the ticket officer came down together and by this time, an argument was occurring between the ticket officer and me. Regardless of how I explained, he was adamant that I cheated.
“Though accused, I tried to explain that both the bus captain and I were at fault. This was clearly a case whereby both parties were careless. Then, after several failed attempts to make clear matters, I gave up and the argument went on between the ticket officer and the man in his twenties.
“At that time, we were on the expressway. The ticket officer told the man in his twenties that he had to pay up the fine of $20 for underpayment. The man in his twenties said that he would pay up and alight as well when the bus reaches the first stop at Woodlands Avenue 2 (Innova JC).
“However, the ticket officer was still bent on his decision so the man in his twenties had no choice but to alight the bus. Here, I would like to state that we were in the middle of the expressway. The ticket officer instructed the bus captain to stop right in the middle of the expressway and let the man get off.
“The bus captain complied without any hesitation and questions. This is utterly unforgivable. I like to reiterate that I warned the ticket officer before the man in his twenties left the bus that he would be risking the young man’s life by doing this dangerous act.
“When the bus terminated, I noted down the bus plate number and asked for the bus captain’s name. He was not wearing any name tag and so I needed to ask for it. But he was reluctant to give it to me despite repeated requests. I believed that many commuters on board then did not feel good about the situation as a few of them made reports to the SBS Customer Relations Centre.
“The entire incident made me doubt the aims and values of our local company, SBS transit, to deliver a safe and friendly journey for all commuters. The reckless decision of that bus captain and ticket officer could have made the young man lost his life.
“Indeed, I learned from a family member in the Land Transport Authority (LTA) that if a person is discovered to be stranded on the expressway, police on duty will be notified and the person will be transported.
“This is such a disappointing experience SBS transit had given us. I called SBS on the day itself but have received no reply yet. It has been four days and towards a matter so serious, is this how the management of SBS transit carries out their investigations? When a matter of safety is involved, management should promptly respond.
“I hope I see that proper actions and punishment for the involved service leaders to be mete out, for I do not wish to see another life being risked again just for a mere $20 fine.”
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