Not A Happy Bunny

Due to his autism Ferretfingers has a Disabled Person’s Travelcard, which allows for free travel on local buses with, in his case and because of his vulnerability, a companion.  

For a relatively small annual fee (currently £12 for Tyne & Wear residents) this can be upgraded to include a Gold Card which provides travel on the Metro, ferries and some local railway services.   

The bus pass comes through the post, the Gold Card had to be added at a Nexus Travel Shop, although they now insist people to do it through one of their ticket machines.   

There were, of course, teething problems …

From Facebook Archives

feeling fed up. 3 April 2018 at 15:33

To North Shields Nexus Travel Shop to renew Ferretfinger's annual Metro Gold Card.  We had tried to renew it in February but were only allowed to buy a 3 month card as "we'll be able to upload it onto his disabled person's travel card in April."  

"Great" I thought "that'll save two trips." 

The thing is, they did this to everyone with a Gold Card; they all ran out on 31st March and Nexus Travel Shops are closed weekends, bank holidays and lunchtimes so today was the first day anyone could renew their card.  

So when Thunderthighs and I got there there was a queue out of the door full of pensioners and disabled people and one poor lass in the office doing her best to be patient and helpful.  The poor soul was serving with her coat on as the heating couldn't make up for the open door (if it was on at all).  Despite there being two service windows there was only one open (and a sign saying so and asking us not to be abusive).

When we finally got to her the assistant said 

"Oh the software is incompatible with Companion cards so I'll have to write you out a new Gold Card."

Well I suppose they'll both run out at the same time next year, but I won't hold my breath that the software will have been sorted.

 

But FFS surely someone in management could have anticipated that this would happen. 

No doubt there were similar queues at all the other Nexus Travel Shops.   

Was it beyond the wit of management to make sure all the windows were staffed so that elderly and disabled people didn't have to stand in the rain and cold?

At one point a policeman (possibly Community Support Officer I'm not sure) walked along the queue saying "Oh you can renew Gold Cards on the machines."

Really?  

Take a look at the people son.  

You're not talking silver surfers in Shields pet.

 

And to put the tin hat on it we also wanted to renew Thunderthighs' student travel ticket which runs out next week but "Sorry, these don't come online until the weekend."  

So it will have to either be Saturday or Monday with his dad (I'm away).

Service my astrakhan coat!

 

Mrs Allotment  Haven't done this yet, might ask someone who gets paid to do it instead of me, I'm not sure I've got the necessary amount of patience!

Woolderwoman  Monday is always a very busy day at the post office, and the day after a Bank Holiday is always even worse without the added problem of Gold Cards.

Takes your breath away doesn't it?

 

Update

Whilst finding the links to add to this blog I discovered that all Nexus Travel Shops are now closed, everything must be done online.