Coach Company Complaint

Author
Discussion

Riley Blue

20,915 posts

225 months

Saturday 9th July 2016
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280E said:
Situations such as these must occur by the thousand every single day on UK roads; hardly worth commenting on, TBH.
Of course they do.

Yesterday a Range Rover failed to give way to me at a roundabout, stopping across two lanes. I drove round the front of it and continued on my way, within half a minute it had been forgotten. I wouldn't even have mentioned it here other than to illustrate how common such incidents are.

More serious (in my view) is the OP's mis-use of his position as a school governor but that's already been pointed out.

Truffs

266 posts

137 months

Sunday 10th July 2016
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I don't think the OP has abused his position as it was only mentioned in the letter as a view to try to get a reply and avoid the bin filing system. It is no different to someone writing the same letter and signing John smith, JP.

The second video is a bit of a non-event but the OP has a point about the first one. The coach is going too fast on approach to a hazardous area where many people are in the habit of incorrectly negotiating the roundabout and has no chance of stopping in time should traffic pullout from the roundabout in front of the coach driver.

Should the coach driver be sacked? No but should the company look at the footage, certainly. The license required to drive a coach demands a higher level of skill to be displayed and more awareness of hazards. This was lacking in the example.

It's a shame that some members of the community have attacked the OP. It seems like it's Lord of the flies out there in keyboard land.

funkyrobot

18,789 posts

227 months

Sunday 10th July 2016
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Typical dash cam user. Taking what was really a non event and trying to escalate it. The using the 'I'm a school governor you know' power trip.

Funny how the OP is complaining then his driver actually cuts across the roundabout. hehe

Thing is, there are idiots around. They pedal bikes, they drive vehicles and they walk into the road. If everyone with a dash cam stopped trying to make situations worse, there wouldn't be so many near misses. Treat everyone as an idiot and drive defensively. It's the only way to be now.

BertBert

18,953 posts

210 months

Sunday 10th July 2016
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It's not like it actually is a near miss. And as for the 'don't you know who I am' card. rolleyes

Chrisgr31

13,440 posts

254 months

Sunday 10th July 2016
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I was considering mini-roundabout use earlier because I approached one earlier which is on what used to be a crossroads. The car coming from the opposite direction to me was indicating right and clearly had no intention of stopping due to speed they were doing. Thinking about it I'll have it on my dashcam but not posting it.

I think that too many people forget the rules of roundabouts that you are meant to give way to anyone on it and believe that you are ment to give way to traffic from the right irrespective.

In the OPs case traffic turning right from the OPs direction cuts across he roundabout as its quicker. However in the process it manes of course the opportunities of traffic coming from the coachs direction to get out are limited. Hence the coach just coming I suspect.


surveyor_101

Original Poster:

5,069 posts

178 months

Monday 11th July 2016
quotequote all
Truffs said:
I don't think the OP has abused his position as it was only mentioned in the letter as a view to try to get a reply and avoid the bin filing system. It is no different to someone writing the same letter and signing John smith, JP.

The second video is a bit of a non-event but the OP has a point about the first one. The coach is going too fast on approach to a hazardous area where many people are in the habit of incorrectly negotiating the roundabout and has no chance of stopping in time should traffic pullout from the roundabout in front of the coach driver.

Should the coach driver be sacked? No but should the company look at the footage, certainly. The license required to drive a coach demands a higher level of skill to be displayed and more awareness of hazards. This was lacking in the example.

It's a shame that some members of the community have attacked the OP. It seems like it's Lord of the flies out there in keyboard land.
Thank you,


As said emailed the info addressed as concerned member of the public.

MD has people to deal these reports (named in his response) but dictated reply to pa and fired it back with the line about his drivers being professional and going through his driving school, as well as medical. Then said he'd doubted I have such qualifications to pass a suitable judgement etc.

Only then did I mention I was a school governor who use his services, not which school. Maybe I shouldn't of but it was only in response to the MD dismal of the incident without reviewing the footage as his drivers seemed to be beyond reproach.

As said it would appear that I have made more of this incident that I maybe should of.

Whilst I understand that I was never going to get a load of members holding my hand and backing me up, there are a number who seem to take great pleasure in lambasting anyone who dare publish a particular view on here. Whilst constructive criticism is to be expected, some of the responses are unnecessarily more like personal attacks than, expressing their individual view on the matters relating directly to the topic.

Edited by surveyor_101 on Monday 11th July 09:52

xjay1337

15,966 posts

117 months

Monday 11th July 2016
quotequote all
surveyor_101 said:
Thank you,


As said emailed the info addressed as concerned member of the public.

MD has people to deal these reports (named in his response) but dictated reply to pa and fired it back with the line about his drivers being professional and going through his driving school, as well as medical. Then said he'd doubted I have such qualifications to pass a suitable judgement etc.

Only then did I mention I was a school governor who use his services, not which school. Maybe I shouldn't of but it was only in response to the MD dismal of the incident without reviewing the footage as his drivers seemed to be beyond reproach.

As said it would appear that I have made more of this incident that I maybe should of.

Whilst I understand that I was never going to get a load of members holding my hand and backing me up, there are a number who seem to take great pleasure in lambasting anyone who dare publish a particular view on here. Whilst constructive criticism is to be expected, some of the responses are unnecessarily more like personal attacks than, expressing their individual view on the matters relating directly to the topic.

Edited by surveyor_101 on Monday 11th July 09:52
It's a bit of a mob mentality on here sometimes mate.
Don't take it too personally :-)

But glad you can reflect and see maybe you exaggerated the issue in your mind, no worries :-)

CaptainSlow

13,179 posts

211 months

Monday 11th July 2016
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dingg said:
the coach was too fast for approaching the hazard IMO
+1

The coach driver wouldn't have been able to stop if needed at the junction. Bad enough a car doing it let alone a coach, would have made a bit of a mess if it hit something.

jm doc

2,774 posts

231 months

Monday 11th July 2016
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Rubin215 said:
surveyor_101 said:
With Jimmy Krankie running your part of the world, how are things.
Ooh, I nearly didn't catch your cheeky little edit there.

Actually, they're great thanks; an economy that's still growing, free prescriptions and eye tests, beautiful scenery, clean waterways, abundant renewable energy, a positive attitude to migrants and refugees and a great relationship with the EU.
Unfortunately, the neighbours are wkers, but then you can't have everything.

I suspect we'll still be doing much better than you when Cruella De Vil gets in dahn sahth too...
Unless she decides we stop paying for it all wavey....

jesta1865

3,448 posts

208 months

Monday 11th July 2016
quotequote all
CaptainMorgan said:
jesta1865 said:
i doubt they run their own driving school, i have a mate who teaches commercial driving for a living, very few (less than a dozen, IIRC) companies run their own school as it's too expensive.

they get specialist companies in to do the training, hence why my mate is all over the country training bus drivers etc.

he will also tell you that some of them are the most rude arrogant idiots on the road, not all obviously. he's been hit a few times when he won't renew someones ticket as he feels they need extra training as they are dangerous.

i think they have to be tested every 5 years, but i'm a bit fuzzy on that.
No retest needed. There must be more than 12 companies that have an in house school, within a short distance of me there are 4 alone, 2 big nationals and 2 smaller companies.

The owner of the business sounds like a total idiot, he should have at least reviewed the footage. Often car drivers can underestimate things with larger vehicles but it sounds pretty clear cut to me, and a watch of the footage would show what his drivers are up to on the road.
funnily enough i spoke to my mate Saturday, apparently a lot of them do advertise it, as you say then tend to either have an old trainer on the staff, or sub-contract it out. seems quite lucrative.

jesta1865

3,448 posts

208 months

Monday 11th July 2016
quotequote all
Seesure said:
wack said:
jesta1865 said:
i don't agree, the implication is that he feels as a governor that the poor driving and poor customer service from the company / director would put the school staff and students at risk.

i would do the same.
So would I, 100%
As a governor you should not take it upon yourself to take on causes etc on behalf of the school unless asked to by either the FGB, the CoG or the Headteacher/Principal.

In this instance the OP should have voiced his concerns about the coach company to the governing body or the headteacher, they would then challenge the coach company.

There are specific guidelines about the role of a governor one of which is :

? We accept that we have no legal authority to act individually, except when the board has given us delegated authority to do so, and therefore we will only speak on behalf of the governing board when we have been specifically authorised to do so.

^^^
From the code of conduct from the National Governors Association...
he didn't though, he mentioned that he was a parent governor of a school, one that is a customer of the company, perhaps the silence (not read the whole thread yet) is because the boss realised he gobbed off to the wrong person and that he would be bringing it to the attention of CoG or Head.

surveyor_101

Original Poster:

5,069 posts

178 months

Monday 11th July 2016
quotequote all
jesta1865 said:
he didn't though, he mentioned that he was a parent governor of a school, one that is a customer of the company, perhaps the silence (not read the whole thread yet) is because the boss realised he gobbed off to the wrong person and that he would be bringing it to the attention of CoG or Head.
Since all I said was I was a parent governor of local school I think I have not overstepped this, or said I am acting on behalf of any organisation.


Seesure

1,187 posts

238 months

Monday 11th July 2016
quotequote all
surveyor_101 said:
Since all I said was I was a parent governor of local school I think I have not overstepped this, or said I am acting on behalf of any organisation.
The implication being you had some influence over the company and a contract they hold? Otherwise why mention it..?

As a governor you need to think of the bigger picture and gone through the FGB or Head if you well there was a risk to children... otherwise you could find yourself embroiled in a public argument locally..


stuartmmcfc

8,653 posts

191 months

Monday 11th July 2016
quotequote all
Seesure said:
The implication being you had some influence over the company and a contract they hold? Otherwise why mention it..?

As a governor you need to think of the bigger picture and gone through the FGB or Head if you well there was a risk to children... otherwise you could find yourself embroiled in a public argument locally..

Very good, but maybe a little to much spare time?

jm doc

2,774 posts

231 months

Monday 11th July 2016
quotequote all
stuartmmcfc said:
Seesure said:
The implication being you had some influence over the company and a contract they hold? Otherwise why mention it..?

As a governor you need to think of the bigger picture and gone through the FGB or Head if you well there was a risk to children... otherwise you could find yourself embroiled in a public argument locally..

Very good, but maybe a little to much spare time?
Maybe his coach company has just lost a school contract??

surveyor_101

Original Poster:

5,069 posts

178 months

Monday 11th July 2016
quotequote all
stuartmmcfc said:
Very good, but maybe a little to much spare time?
I didn't actually mention it was school that used his company.

Do you want me removed or given 20 lashes? What's your point?

He said your Probably not qualified to pass judgement before seeing any evidence, I said ok I do X for a living hold Y and am a school governor. Don't think I breached the code, just out him in the picture, or are you just looking to troll.





Zigster

1,636 posts

143 months

Monday 11th July 2016
quotequote all
surveyor_101 said:
PurpleMoonlight said:
Next time report the poor driving to the police not the owner of the business.
Yes agreed thought I would give them a chance.

No matter how stupid a complaint to me business wise I would always send like I take it seriously.

This sort of arrogant twaddle just makes things worse in my opinion.
I did that about five years ago - National Express didn't seem too bothered so I forwarded the footage to the Met Police. A policewoman from the Met come to my house and took a statement. Last I heard from the Met, the coach driver had got three points and because it wasn't the first complaint that National Express had had about the guy's driving, he lost his job.

Vaud

50,289 posts

154 months

Monday 11th July 2016
quotequote all
surveyor_101 said:
I didn't actually mention it was school that used his company.

Do you want me removed or given 20 lashes? What's your point?

He said your Probably not qualified to pass judgement before seeing any evidence, I said ok I do X for a living hold Y and am a school governor. Don't think I breached the code, just out him in the picture, or are you just looking to troll.
Not aimed at me, but I'm a former school governor and now a non exec at a charity on top of the day job and I would never, ever mention my role in a complaint email unless I was formally representing my organisation.

It was a minor abuse of the role. It added no weight to the complaint, other than an ambiguous implied threat.

stuartmmcfc

8,653 posts

191 months

Monday 11th July 2016
quotequote all
surveyor_101 said:
stuartmmcfc said:
Very good, but maybe a little to much spare time?
I didn't actually mention it was school that used his company.

Do you want me removed or given 20 lashes? What's your point?

He said your Probably not qualified to pass judgement before seeing any evidence, I said ok I do X for a living hold Y and am a school governor. Don't think I breached the code, just out him in the picture, or are you just looking to troll.
I think you quoted the wrong post maybe?

Monkeylegend

26,226 posts

230 months

Monday 11th July 2016
quotequote all
surveyor_101 said:
The kicker for them is that i am a school parent governor and we use this at present. Since I replied with that his communications have gone strangely quiet!.



Edited by surveyor_101 on Friday 8th July 12:51
That does read as if you were indirectly implying that you could use you governor status to your advantage and his disadvantage.