i extracted this from the straits times forum.
Man overcharged four times in 10 bus rides
I REFER to the article, 'Heavier penalties for fare cheats from
next year' (ST, Oct 17).
It is clear that the Government is on the side of transport
operators as nothing was mentioned of penalties for the operators
should they persistently overcharge a commuter.
I have been on the receiving end of regular overcharging on SBS
Transit bus No. 147 for at least two years.
I have not claimed a cent as it does not make sense for me to
travel one hour and spend $1.20 to claim just 20 cents.
Moreover, I believe that time should be given for the bus operators
to fine-tune their fare-charging system.
After more than two years, the problem has still not been fixed and
the system is still overcharging me.
Last week I decided to diligently monitor the fare charged for my
trip to and from work and I found that out of 10 trips on Bus 147,
I was overcharged for four trips, mainly the trip home.
This means that the error rate is 40 per cent, at least in my case.
In such an instance, I think the bus operator should be penalised.
I fully support Dr Lim Boon Hee's call to the Government to rein in
bus firms that overcharge (ST, Oct 19).
I have since accessed SBS Transit's website three times to file my
complaints and claims over the overcharging.
Imagine how inconvenient it was for me to remember the bus number,
time of boarding and alighting, and description of the bus
driver.
In addition, I have to access the website, file my complaints, and
provide my particulars and details of the overcharging.
It has been a week since I made my first complaint and claim but I
have yet to receive a reply from SBS Transit, not to mention the
refund.
Such a lax attitude goes against the Government's campaign to make
our country a service-oriented nation.
Tan Boon Huat
