Edinburgh single mum, 25, in 'disbelief' at Lothian Buses over £5 pick up fee for son's lost lunchbox
Beckie Cunningham discovered her seven-year-old had left his Hulk-themed food container on the number 14 service when she went to make up his lunch on Monday evening and notified the bus company through their website.
The lunchbox was left on the bus at around 3.30pm on Monday after Miss Cunningham, of Crewe Crescent, collected her two boys from school in Newhaven Road.
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Hide AdThe next day, Miss Cunningham received an email confirming the lunchbox had been found and could be collected from their lost property office in Annandale Street, with a sentence underneath which read: “Please note there will be a £5 fee chargeable on collection.”
The mother, whose children are able to attend school during the lockdown on certain days because her youngest has learning needs, said: “I just looked at it in disbelief and thought, ‘this is my son’s property and we should not have to pay to get it back.’ It’s ludicrous.”
Miss Cunningham says for the last two days her son has been taking the lunch in his school bag instead which has not been ideal.
She added: “I am a single mum on benefits just now and they are asking for money basically for something I have actually paid for in the past.
“I think the charge should be dropped. It’s ridiculous they have a charge for people losing their property.”
Lothian Buses has failed to respond to repeated requests for comment.