Driving In The Fraud

(Our college is part of a local bus card scheme. Students pay a £5 deposit and are eligible for discounted fares on local buses. However, students in receipt of a college bursary are entitled to have the deposit waived. A parent has come in to hand in a form for the bus card for her son.)

Parent: “I’ve been told that I just have to write ‘bursary’ on the front and it will be free.”

Me: “If your son is receiving bursary, then yes, you would be entitled to have the fee waived. Has he been approved for it?”

Parent: “No, I can’t get hold of them.”

Me: “Okay, not a problem. We can hold onto the form until it’s approved. When did the application go in?”

Parent: “I haven’t applied for it yet! I can never get hold of anyone!”

Me: “I’m sorry about that. In that case, you would have to either pay the £5 deposit, or make the application for bursary and return the bus card form when that has been approved.”

Parent: “For God’s sake, this is so complicated! It’s like pulling teeth! Why can’t you just send the form and tell them the bursary is approved?!”

Me: “Because that would be fraud, madam.”