The company’s the problem

Like many others I am appalled and disappointed to hear of Serco’s complete lack of compassion for a family who needed just a little (three minutes worth) of help from them.

The lack of compassion and human decency is compounded by Stuart Garret’s attempt to justify the behaviour. Sometimes it is better to just say sorry!

They take plenty in subsidies, and charge plenty for a passage, not to mention the extortion for a place to lie down for the night.

It is possible to spend a night in a comfortable B&B for about the same money as Serco charge for a glorified slightly reclining seat – a seat which they have gone to great lengths to make sure you need to pay for if you are to have even a chance of getting any sleep at all.

By contrast, I remember sauntering up to the ferry in Aberdeen when it was an early departure and I had thought it was a late. I was let on to the ferry five minutes before scheduled departure, the boat was still able to leave on time.

I would like to add that I have always found the staff on board to be very helpful, they do perhaps represent some of the best of Serco.

Stuart Garret’s statement clearly illustrates that the problem is more with the company than with the people who work for it.

Craig Nicol
Lerwick