WHY DO TAGS EXPIRE?

Below is a simplified explanation of the logic behind trip expiry. When a passenger buys a ticket to board our buses, both the passenger and IBL enter into an agreement as follows:

  • IBL commits to provide a bus service for which a ticket has been bought by the passenger.
  • In terms of same agreement, a Passenger commits to use the bus service as presented by IBL.
  • IBL commits to ferry the passenger to their chosen destination as per its prearranged route and times at the value of the ticket.

As a result of this sale agreement, IBL will incur costs for providing the bus, the driver and related operational costs in order for IBL to fulfil the agreement to load the passenger. To offset these costs, IBL will collect fares from its passengers to enable it to run the service.

Once a bus is provided by IBL, the passenger must use the bus as agreed. This practice is similar to booking an airline ticket, if a passenger does not board the airplane, the passenger will lose the ticket as the airline would have incurred costs in ensuring that an aeroplane was available to the passenger. In the case of an IBL passenger, provisions are in place to protect the passenger from losing the trip that he/she did not use. Below is an example of the mechanism currently in place to protect passengers losing their trips:

DAYS                          TRIPS                          EXPIRY

  • 4 Day tag =        8 trips                 = 8 days
  • 5 Day tag =        10 trips                = 8 days
  • 22 Day tag =      44 trips                = 40 days
  • 26 Day tag =      52 trips                = 44 days

Put simple as an example, a Passenger that buys a 26-day tag has up to 44 days after purchasing the tag to use the bus. Passengers normally use at least two trips per day meaning that all trips will be finished long before the expiry date. Passengers are requested to manage purchase according to the number of days they work.

Interstate reserves the right to refund a passenger who cannot use the trips in exceptional and unavoidable circumstances that can be substantiated by valid proof.

Passenger fare increase

The Passenger fare increase is a provision put in place for all bus operators across the country to adjust their ticket fares annually in order to offset increasing operational costs such as ever increasing bus replacement costs, fuel, parts, labour and other related costs including annual inflation. All bus operators across the country and industry increase their fares proportional to their annual cost inflation. This is a norm in the industry and not only an Interstate Bus Line practice.

Some of the proceeds from the ticket fares are used by IBL to plough back to the community as part of our Corporate Social Investment initiatives.

 How to manage your tag?

A tag has a small electronic chip similar to a sim card on a on cellphones. Cellphone sim cards are sensitive to any damage and for that reason they are stored deep inside the cellphone to protect the sim. A tag works on a similar principle, tags are extremely sensitive to magnets, keys, key rings and any metal objects. It is very easy for a tag to be corrupted if it comes into contact with any of these.

What is contained in the tag?

  • Tag number
  • Loaded trips, remaining trips

Why is a tag important?

  • It costs R50 to replace it
  • It is an electronic wallet for a passenger and safer than carrying cash
  • It talks for you if and when you cannot tag
  • When presented to scanner IBL can use the tag to identify the passenger
  • IBL competition and loyalty programmes
  • Tags are cheaper than paying cash.

Most important rules to remember

  • Do not lose your tag
  • Report it immediately when it is lost, so that it can be blocked and later refund all trips not used.
  • DO NOT MIX IT WITH METAL OBJECTS AND MAGNETS

What to do when it is lost or damaged?

  • Immediately visit the help desk or our offices, please make sure you have the following with you
  1. The tag itself and it must be in your name
  2. Your ID
  3. Your loading slip

Can a Passenger be refunded his/her tag?

  • Interstate Bus Lines will refund all trips on any defect tag provided it is registered in your name and you retain your loading slip.
  • Visit our helpdesk at Central Park or our offices in Oliver Tambo Avenue, Hamilton
  • If you experience any problems on a tag, please use our toll free number 30606 and send us an SMS. We will contact you and resolve the problem.
  • IBL reserves the right to verify the validity of the fare payment through inspections on board buses.