Park and ride multi-day ticket saga: refund achieved from First
6 April 2023

I have written at length about the issue with the First Bus app being used for purchasing multi-day tickets and the short expiry dates on the tickets. See Change to park and ride ticket system, park and ride fare increases, park and ride ticket formal complaint, expiry dates explained. So far, despite numerous emails, I have not received any substantive response from the First South managing director or from Cornwall Council. However,  a few days ago, I also lodged a complaint via the First Bus centralised online system and, within a few days, I received a response and they said, "As a gesture of goodwill I have re issued all 5 tickets back into your wallet available for you to use”. The new tickets each have expiry dates of one year, which seems reasonable.

The response did not attempt to justify why there were the particular expiry dates on the park and ride tickets, but as they have rectified my particular issue, I don’t think that I can pursue this complaint any further with them. It does, however, leave the situation as detailed in the expiry dates explained news item as very unsatisfactory.

If anyone else would like further details of how to contact First and to obtain a refund for unused tickets, please contact me and I will try to help.