What her young friend told the dear old Dame was interesting...
It seems, apart from the cost of living, transport in London is a real financial burden for the young, low paid.
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The Dame, being of mature years, has her Oyster card allowing her to travel around the metropolis for free.
How much more sensible to allow revoltingly rich old people, like the Dame, to give up their card and transfer their free travel benefit to a 'young person', struggling during the first year of poorly paid work.
Time for the Mayoral candidates to debate such an idea....
While this is a worthy idea, it may be a little too radical for the Dame's readers. One gets used to freebies. There are also administration issues.
ReplyDeleteA young man of my acquaintance, a trainee solicitor no less, was recently found using an elderly lady's freedom pass to pay for a journey. He took the old lady's flat when she'd moved away; so the pass was delivered to him. He put the card in his wallet meaning to take it to a police station. He was so busy, it was inevitable that he forgot about it. Meanwhile he "accidentally" used the pass over 80 times. Anyway, this is what his very expensive lawyers told the magistrates. Their argument was successful. So he kept his career, but was left with a legal bill far larger than the profit on his "accidental" free travel. One hasn't spoken to him since, but is left wondering why he failed to simply phone TfL to cancel the pass.
Exactly, why was he availing himself of something which was not for him? Pay the legal bill, dear and remember this episode..
DeleteIt's always open to senior citizens to refrain from using their freedom passes, paying for their journeys instead.
ReplyDeleteAnother problems is that if passes are transferable, a secondary market will immediately develop. Some pensioners will sell their pass to the highest bidder. Others will have to worry about having it stolen, to be sold on before it's cancelled. Freedom passes will become valuable, like mobile phones.
Successive governments repeatedly shaft young people, because they don't vote. Nor do those on low incomes. Old people vote, so governments dare not offend them. In their own self interest, the under 40s and those on low incomes must vote to regain their rights. It doesn't much matter for whom, but they need to vote.
Get of their buts and vote for change...
DeleteGet of their buts and vote for change...
DeleteExcellent idea but as Blueberry shrewdly points out not all of us are as well heeled as the Dame so there might not be a big take up. However it could be made more palatable if the existing benefit were to be taxed. That way the value of the benefit is less, so the cost of giving it up is also less.
ReplyDeleteHow much to tax? Well, let's imagine the Dame goes to the opera or theatre now and again, and goes up to the Savoy for tea, to the city to see her financial adviser and to the airport for her flits to the south of France. She would never use taxis or even Uber - perish the thought - for how else would she stay well-heeled. She would still use the underground or if she has all the time in the world to negotiate the road diggings and construction sites, she might take the bus. These trips would be the equivalent of say 3 zone 1 round trips per week at £2.40 per ping. In round figures £700 a year. If that went on to the taxable income, it wouldn't hurt so much to give it up.
Silly idea, Dame. I paid for my Freedom Pass from my past taxes. What about returning my taxes to me, for a start. None of us ever have enough money to cope.
ReplyDeleteThe Dame must stop trying to undermine the law and ancient practice. She is always banging on about the Winter Fuel Allowance too. Even rich people need to keep warm.
DeleteDear Dame, a Freedom Pass is not given out automatically, but has to be applied for at the post office - in person. Consequently, very few "revoltingly rich old people" have such passes. They wouldn't dream of taking a bus or a train anyway, mingling with the smelly little people.
ReplyDeleteUsage of the Wrinkley Pass is entirely at the owners' discretion. If he/she wants to pay, he can do so - nobody is stopping them.. But, how many actually do so?
ReplyDeleteUsage of the Wrinkley Pass is entirely at the owners' discretion. If he/she wants to pay, he can do so - nobody is stopping them.. But, how many actually do so?
ReplyDelete