There are a number of problems with Bristol bus company First and their change tickets.

To start with they can only be exchanged for cash at the bus station.

So regardless of when and where you receive one, you have to make a journey into the centre of the city to get the money.

That could end up costing you more than the ticket is worth.

Of course First wins both ways, because you either spend more money with them travelling into town or they keep the money they owe you.

And whilst the change ticket represents your money, it cannot be used on a bus to help pay for a fare.

Surely there is no other instance, in any other business, where a customer hands over money and instead of the correct change receives an IOU.

Of course if a passenger tried to hand First an IOU for a bus journey, they would laugh out loud.

But the principle is the same.

A generation ago, buses carried conductors who took fares and gave change. There were no problems with change tickets then.

And when the drivers began taking the fares, they too managed to give change properly.

So why today do 900 First passengers each week face being given change tickets?

Isn't this simply a case of ensuring drivers have a sufficient float on board to provide passengers with change?

For if something is going wrong nearly 1,000 times a week, doesn't it need to be sorted out?

And not solely for the benefit of First.