Fare’s Fair….

A Muslim family say they were “singled out” by a Bournemouth bus driver.

The mother, who does not speak English, and daughter – both were wearing headscarves – and two sons, said they tried to purchase a family ticket on the number 2b bus when the problems began.

The family, who asked not to be named to prevent further problems, said the driver became “irate”.

And what seemed to be the problem, then?

The 16-year-old daughter of the family said the argument began when she was told a family ticket was £9, when the week before it had been £7.

It’s called ‘inflation’ – I’m sure it happens in Muslim countries too…

“He spoke to me in a very rude tone, I was shocked,” she said.

She then tried to purchase individual tickets, but she and the driver again disagreed over the cost.

“He turned the engine off and he said ‘Let’s make these people wait and be later than they are’. He got to the point where he was really angry, so I said we would just get off the bus,” said the daughter.

And this obviously meant you were ‘singled out’ because you were Muslim, rather than because you were the only ones quibbling over the price rise?

The daughter added: “Me and my mum were wearing headscarves and he didn’t do it to anyone else, just us.”

But did anyone else start haggling over the price? If so, and if they weren’t treated the way you claim you were treated, you might just have a case.

But if not…

The family said they felt singled out, embarrassed, and victims of a “hate crime”.

Of course you did. Or rather, of course you’ll use this as another example of ‘poor little me’…

Jenni Wilkinson, Yellow Buses’ head of marketing, said: “We have fully investigated this incident, which arose over the cost of a family ticket. We are absolutely satisfied that no racism was involved and strenuously deny any such suggestion.

“We do, however, feel that the high standards of customer care our passengers expect were not met on this occasion and, for this reason, disciplinary action has been taken against the driver involved. We have also apologised to the family.”

As usual, the comments are most illuminating:

GB916, christchurch says...

If the mother could be bothered to learn english,then she and her family would realise yelow buses announced recently that the bus fares were going up,so the bus driver was only telling them that,but as usual out comes the race card...

Of course, there’s always one:

Adamapple, Harrow says...

12 replies and not one sympathetic to a poor family's ordeal.

Welcome to Bigoted Britain 2011.

I guess you must be a dining companion of Baroness Warsi, Adamapple..?