CALLS have been made for a bus company to change its policy after outcry over the revelation that it had made more than £130,000 by not giving customers change.

Thamesdown Transport, the largest bus service provider in Swindon, admitted that, after introducing its exact- fare policy in August 2005, it has made an extra £137,438 from customers.

In an overwhelming show of hatred for the policy, an Advertiser survey of Thamesdown users showed that 91 out of 100 people want the company to scrap the scheme in favour of a better system.

And Coun Derique Montaut, shadow member for transport and the environment on Swindon Council (Central, Lab), has accused the company of ripping off' customers.

Coun Montaut believes the vast majority of people in Swindon should be given top-up cards' so that money can be deducted from the card without punishing customers.

"You can't continue to rip off the public by demanding more money because people don't have the right change."

He said: "There are innovative ideas that are out there to solve these sorts of problems, because this is a huge issue.

"I have been caught out by the policy myself.

"I want to tell Thamesdown that there are other ways to save time, if that is the reason for this.

"A pre-pay system would encourage more people to use the bus, getting people off the roads, in turn relieving gridlock and saving time."

Paul Jenkins, managing director of Thamesdown, says that the company has a similar scheme called a Network Card - but only a small percentage of people use it.

He said: "We want to start using the Network Card for more people more often.

"The Oyster card scheme in London can only be used in London - it is their own technology. Most of our passengers have no problem paying the fare on our bus.

For those people who are unable to find the exact fare we have the alternative of buying weekly or monthly travel cards."

However, he added that those looking to use a Network Card must first travel to Thamesdown's offices to take a photo for the card, that they must pay £10 each time to top up and that they can only top up at certain pay-point' outlets.

Anne Snelgrove, MP for South Swindon, said that a system along the lines of the Oyster card is what the bus companies should be doing.

She said: "The money raised by the exact-fare policy is a huge amount of money.

"The system Thamesdown has is not nearly as effective as an oyster card.

"Thamesdown should be encouraging people to use the bus more, by making things easier.

"We need the bus company to be more honest, we can't expect users to pay more than the fare, when it is likely they believe the fare is too high to begin with."