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Families in limbo over 'unacceptable' bus payments

David Howard/Geograph Flagfinders vehicles parked outside a depot in Braintree, EssexDavid Howard/Geograph
Flagfinders gave families two weeks' notice to pay £366 upfront for its service across Essex

Parents said they had been left in limbo after a bus company changed how it took payments for school transport.

Flagfinders gave families two weeks' notice to pay £366 upfront for its service across Essex, having previously offered a monthly payment scheme.

Many people would suffer financial difficulties as a result of the "deeply unprofessional" new rules, Braintree MP James Cleverly said.

Peter Nathaniel, of the transport company, said "difficult decisions" had been made due to rising costs of staffing, insurance and vehicles.

However, he admitted: "You all should have been notified far sooner than you have been."

Binnie Grant Binnie Grant, who is wearing a white top and standing in a fieldBinnie Grant
Binnie Grant says Flagfinders is attempting to "draw profits" from families

Parents are due to pay on a termly basis, meaning further payments would be expected at the end of each term.

Binnie Grant said being given two weeks at the end of the summer holidays to find the first cash instalment was "unacceptable".

"Who has got that kind of money in their bank at the moment?," said the mother-of-two, from Bulmer Tye.

"This just seems like a commercial venture where they're trying to draw profits."

Mark Everitt, whose son travels from Rayne to Great Dunmow, said he was not sure how the youngster would get to school.

"Between now and February they want £1,100," he told BBC Essex.

"It's just not feasible. We can't afford it... Not up front like that, but monthly it wasn't an issue."

PA Media James Cleverly, who is wearing tortoise shell glasses and a suitPA Media
Braintee MP James Cleverly says he has been "very, very clear" with Flagfinders that he will not "drop this"

Mr Cleverly said he told Flagfinders its decision had put families "in a really difficult place".

"They are putting people in a position where they have to try to find hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of pounds at incredibly short notice," said the Conservative MP.

"If they're hoping that we will just take it on the chin and that parents will go into financial difficulties to make it easier for the company, they’ve got another thing coming."

Essex County Council also called for a "favourable response" from the bus operator amid the backlash.

Mr Nathaniel, the managing director at Transport Made Simple, which owns Flagfinders, said it had fallen "well below the standard" it strived for.

"Our team have been exceptionally busy over the summer period but we lost focus on what matters most, the customers," he added.

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