I am a widow, living alone just too far out of the town centre to walk in to do a bit of shopping. There is a bus stop at the end of my road and the next stop for the bus is the Market Square. Perfect I think. Following instructions from friends I go into the Chemist and have my 'Bus Pass Photograph' taken. It costs me five pounds for four photographs. Stage one completed successfully.
'Bus passes are issued at the Library' say friends, so one day soon after I take said photographs up to the Library. It is quite an uphill walk out of the town centre but I make it and have a sense of satisfaction at doing so. Then I stand in the queue to speak to the lone Council assistant who shares the library for her office. When it is my turn I sit down and state what I have come for. Bus passes are issued by North Yorkshire County Council. The lady at the desk works for Richmondshire Council so she can no longer deal with Bus Passes. Stage Two unsuccessful.
This means that to get a Bus Pass I either have to catch a bus into Richmond (and pay the fare - it is ten miles away) and walk the half mile or so to the Library there where, according to the Lady I spoke to, they should do it for me. The alternative is to do it on line. I am elderly, I don't have a computer and I don't know anyone who does. I am living on my Old Age Pension So Stage Three is also unsuccessful and really things have for the moment come to a full stop. Stage Three and out.
Luckily this is not me. I came home determined to apply on line. Things were going fine computer wise (after a few hiccups) until I came to having up scan and put on my application form my driving licence (to confirm my age and address) and a photograph. Now I scan things regularly but I do not then crop them and upload them on to a form and the action defeated me completely. Luckily my son lives a miles away and he came round immediately (it is school holidays so he has time) and did it for me. He did not find it all that easy and he uses a computer for all kinds of things regularly.
I had an acknowledgement and information that my Bus Pass will arrive within ten days. What, I ask , about all those people who are elderly, don't walk all that well, find getting out difficult, don't have a car and are consequently stuck at home and have no-one near at hand to apply for them?
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35 comments:
Like 99% of Brits I had no idea Richmondshire even existed until one day I saw a County of Richmondshire sign on a road somewhere in the Yorkshire Dales, maybe it was near the Cumbria side. Must be a challenge living in two counties simultaenuously!
Good question in the last sentence. It seems to be the expectation in many places these days that everyone has a computer and is on line.
Alphie
What a long winded way of having to do things.
Here on Sheppey it is so simple. I've had my bus pass since I was 60, although I don't use it that much. They are issued by our borough council.
Simply get the passport photo as you did, go home, go on to borough council website and print off a bus pass application form, fill it in and post with the photograph, a week or two later the pass arrives back - job simply done! Every three years, providing you've at least used the pass a couple of times each year, a new one arrives through the post without having to re-apply for it.
I'm not at all surprised at this. A few blog posts ago I left a comment about how it hard for people in urgent need to access the help to which they are entltled - in that case, it was related to housing. Much time, patience and, usually, computer access has to be applied to the simplest of things, even those to which we are entitled.
In our area, bus pass application forms are available from Post Offices, and can be posted to the Council, but they are still not totally free - the cost of the photos is a lot to some people.
Borough councils and county councils. Bus passes are the Cinderellas of local government. Norfolk have handed responsibility around no end of times. Best to just do it on line and take instructions from there.
I think that making it difficult is a deliberate policy these days.
Sad to say, but I agree with Tom , I think it is a deliberate policy to discourage folk from having what they are entitled to.
It is a sad tale, banks being phased out, bus service slowly going and a gathering community of elders not able to function on the internet. And I hate mobile phones as well that is a pet hate. I do most things on the net, just because I can and would be lost without it, and can only hope that those without it are helped by others in the community, this is where community counts!
You forgot supermarkets phasing out checkouts, leaving the confusing do-it-yourself machines.
Had a moment of frustration trying to pay the water bill by phone, because it said the customer number wasn't recognised I got through to a person who couldn't put in my card number himself - so I still had to do it on the phone. Yet hundreds of other companies manage to take a card number. What would I do without a phone? It would cost me a stamp to post a cheque.
No other way of paying anymore Aaaaaaggggghhhhh
Good luck with your bus pass. Have Bus Pass Will Travel!
Perhaps you could get the word around that you are available to help now that you know how.. Perhaps an advert in the paper or a place that reguarly sees the elderly... I'm so glad you son was available to help. Hugs! deb
Here you get a bus pass form from the post office, fill it in , enclose a photo andproof of age and send it to the council. The bus pass arrives a week later.
As to inputting credit card numbers we have had this problem, my hubby uses a head set to use a phone he can not hold a phone, so he has to give me his pin number to input it for him. It is a good thing he has me or he would not be able to use these services.
Nothing is easy these days and if I didn’t have a car, a computer, and a family nearby, I would not be able to do or get anything.
Every time I hear or read the words: 'We are constantly seeking to improve our service to help our customers', I immediately think they just want to make things easier for themselves. Life must be so difficult for the elderly who live in remote rural locations.
The automated phone method for my electricity provider never accepts the readings I type in, so I have to phone the customer helpline and speak to a member of staff. I mention it each time but nothing seems to change.
Don't get me started - this is another of those emotive topics for me like the plastic problem. My mum has this all the time as she doesn't have a computer - she couldn't even make her recent hospital appointment! I think it is dreadful that the country now seems to think everyone has a mobile with internet connection and a computer - but on a pension the bills for all this connection are far too high with no discounts as far as I know for pensioners.
I have to get my repeat prescription online too now since my doctor retired and the big flash surgery in the next town took over. We also have to get our bin collection day off the internet we are no longer left a yearly list.
The world has changed so quickly and now only seems to cater for the very young who do everything on their phones - well I have a phone but I don't have it glued to my hand - I only use it for emergencies and have no internet connection as on pay as you go it would eat the money. Rant over!
PS I do believe Help the Aged / Age Concern will help they used to help my MIL as she lived far away on her own with no internet access.
Thought it might have been the District Council rather than County, My Mum got hers from Ryedale D. C. and joined the Twirlies. IE if she were on the bus too early for the pass to be used. Mind you, long time ago now!
Reading this post prompted me to apply for mine on line. I had one years ago but at that time they were issued by the district council. Now the county council deals with applications and all old ones are null and void. Never know when the time will come when I need one. I haven't travelled on a bus for decades. Could be useful on market days when parking spaces are far and few between by about 10 a.m..
Strange how different authorities have slightly different requirements. I don't have to upload proof of residence, Lincolnshire CC apparently check with credit reference agencies instead. I used my iPhone to take my mug shot using a pale door as a suitable background. Time will tell whether they accept it. If the quality of the pass is as awful as my driving licence the picture will be unrecognisable anyway.
In some cases these people have never heard about senior friendly. Good for you for sticking to it.
Our doctor wants us to confirm appointments using my phone. I'm willing to use my computer, but not the phone.
Beaurocracy is everywhere it seems. We are all suffering from it. Thanks for your contribution.
Your post changed after I left my comment or I am going mad. As part of my temping for the council I was once working at an adult centre for the disabled and I was told I would be issuing bus passes. It was a shambles as no training given and no correct computer terminal and it had nothing to do with my normal work at the centre, People playing cards and jigsaws and entertainment by guitar players. People turned up with the paperwork and money. Nothing in place. After a few weeks it was moved again. Local Authorities do not like issuing bus passes, it is an adjunct that came along at a time when councils were trying to save money. They have never fitted anywhere.
Seems we on Sheppey, part of Swale Borough Council, are bucking the trend. SBC have been issuing the Bus Passes for at least 15 years or more and as I explained above, it's all easy and straightforward. Chris, above, confirms the same in his area.
Hopefully Norfolk have now sorted it. Good for you two.
Just read Chris's comment. I see they do it different again. All councils seem to have different procedures.
We had to jump through hoops to get our passes too but I do love my bus pass. Having said that it’s quicker and healthier for me to walk to and from town than use the bus, I only hop on board when I fancy a tour round and the bus is due within 5 minutes. Now we have a bus that goes from the town to the airport, I might take a trip for a bit of plane spotting one of these days. Enjoy your travels.
Same in Sheffield, Derek Faulkner, a very straightforward procedure. I use the buses a lot and have had a pass since I was 60. A new one arrived in the post this week which will take me up to 2023. Sheffield CC also issue an annual bin calendar which I consult each week- blue bin? black bin? and put the appropriate one out. I tip the bin men st Christmas very generously and it’s worth every penny. Sorry Weave for wandering from the subject!
Got my bus pass with no problems - unfortunately they've discontinued our village bus service!
At my local Senior's Centre we used to be able to sign up for classes three ways - online, by phone or in person. Now it can only be done online and lots of Seniors have simply given up trying to join the classes. A very poor state of affairs.
It is frustrating, not everyone understands technology, or has access to it. My sister wants to book a holiday but because you have to do self check-in and print out boarding passes etc she won't do it because she doesn't have a computer or printer.
Over here we are well catered for, in that as soon you retire a Travel Pass is issued by central government that lasts for life and allows you to be accompanied by a partner. Only problem is that no buses go past my door so we have to use the car to take us into the rail depot however, once there we can go anywhere on the island and all thanks to the great EU!
Your question at the end of your post resonates with me, being a senior citizen and thinking about friends and strangers who find the times and tricky rules difficult.
Just to say Lincolnshire County Council excelled themselves. Received my bus pass in three days and it spent two of those in the post.
My bus pass is the most useful perk of being an OAP. Parking a car in town is something of a nightmare.
My computer skills are limited and I find it so annoying that there is an increasing assumption that everyone is computer literate.
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