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Review summary

Based on reviews, created with AI

Most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Many customers expressed dissatisfaction with the service, citing frequent no-show buses, significant delays, and a general lack of reliability. People also found the staff to be indifferent, rude, and unhelpful, with some drivers exhibiting aggressive behavior. The pricing was a common point of contention, with many feeling the fares were too high for the poor quality of service provided. Some people were dissatisfied with the delivery service, noting issues with tickets not being accepted on different bus lines and drivers leaving stops earlier than scheduled. However, a few other people also felt that some individual drivers were professional and kind, and occasionally, buses were on time and reliable on specific routes.

What people talk about most

Service

Clients share negative opinions on service, consistently reporting issues such as buses not arriving, being... See more

Location

Reviewers mention ambiguous feedback about location. Customers report issues with buses not stopping at... See more

Delivery service

Consumers find delivery service to be negative. Many customers report buses not turning up, drivers ignoring... See more

Price

Customers consistently express strong dissatisfaction with pricing. Many reviewers feel that bus fares are... See more

Based on these reviews

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Charged for a ticket as the driver had the wrong destination on the front and didn't tell me, another driver then didn't stop when I tried to flag the next bus. The complaint form doesn't even work ve... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Disappointed with the removal of all Flexi tickets (before it was just the five day Flexi but now the three Flexi is also gone). Every other option is more expensive. First Bus put profit before the c... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Highly disappointed with the way it run, you can't plan your journey based on their time table, the journey may get canceled at anytime without any prior notice, I've been wasting my subscription eve... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Would never recommend. If you're able get a drivers license asap. 2 buses didn't arrive even though they were on the app as due. This happens numerous times and it isn't a first time situation. If you... See more


1.3

Bad

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

3K reviews

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Biggest joke


Once again, the 75 bus is running late... Cleve Rd at 01:26, then changed to 01:29. The app said four minutes, but the display at the bus stop showed thirteen minutes. Which one is correct?

The first bus keeps saying we’ve changed the timetable to improve the service... three times. However, the bus service is getting worse by the day.

It's always the same reasons:

1. Weather
2. Traffic
3. The bus broke down
4. No drivers

It's about time the management gets sacked and new management is brought in.

November 22, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

What’s the point of having online…

What’s the point of having online timetables if they’re out of date. Waited 45 in the cold for a non existent bus then tried phoning First for info, 15 minutes later still no answer so hadto call a taxi.
Never using a bus again.

November 21, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

THE ABSOLUTE PITS

THE ABSOLUTE PITS.
DRIVERS FLICK FAGS ON YOUR DRIVE AND BLOCK YOUR VIEWS, DON'T EVEN GUIDE YOU OUT.
The compliant procedure is a comedy act.
You can't reply to the emails - it comes up with an error message. When you phone they put you on hold for ages.

October 30, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

DRIVERS DURING THE WINTER

As winter has began bus drivers should wait until passenger are sitting before moving.

Moving when a passenger is on stairs is dangerous and can lead to injuries.

Which the victim can seek legal actions as result

November 19, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I would really appreciate if someone…

I would really appreciate if someone can help for the past few months there's been a lot problems with the bus from Leeds to Bradford x6 and the x11 for some reason it's always cancelled and the same time and thereno other options accpet to go all way to Halifax then Bradford a 45 minutes ride now has turned into a 2 hours journey what a servers and the call centre is a joke there's no one to complain to.

November 18, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Excellent in Causing Injuries

I have been injured 3 times on First Bus' services, twice in one day. They didn't even offer a refund, instead they demanded a doctor's note to prove my injuries (which is an unreasonable request, with the well documented issues accessing a GP).

I complained and they told me that the issues shouldn't reoccur.
Today their bus failed to show up, making me 30 minutes late for work. The bus going home was 10 minutes late and when I finally got on the driver slams down the gas causing me to fall on the bus floor.

If you want to be 30 minutes late for work and have your kneecaps smashed in, please use their service.

November 18, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

One thing i don’t understand is why…

One thing i don’t understand is why does the timetable say that the bus is coming at a certain time but then doesn’t show up? It’s very strange? Making people wait over 1h in the bus stop for a bus that will never appear.

I don’t know why does the company think that this is okay to do to people.

November 15, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

This service made to ruin people's…

This service made to ruin people's life. If you like to loose your job, miss your flight, be late most of the time, Then use their service. Lived in places like Morocco, Bosnia, Albania, Ukraine, Russia, Serbia. All of the above have much better bus system. Let alone any other Normal European nation. They can get away with anything!

November 14, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Bus Driver didn’t open door for pregnant women

I had just had a bus driver stop at the bus stop not even open the door and when I chapped he just drove off ! This is the 1A behind st Enoch heading to Clydebank. This is everyday where the drivers don’t stop ! This was just rude I’m pregnant and worked all day and want to get home and now I can’t as the 1 isn’t due for 45 mins and because the driver didn’t wanna open the door even when his bus was EMPTY! Your drivers done care about the public and you guys need to just get another company as first bus is HORRIBLE and not reliable. I pay £25 a week for a bus pass and cannae even get home or get to work half of the time ! Something needs to get done about this I’m ragin ! I’ll be taking this further and will be getting the CCTV to and be taking it to the press and going further as I refuse to pay anymore money to be treated like rubbish and to be ignored. People in the office don’t do anything for the complaints and can’t even complain on website anymore JOKE. Get rid of first bus and get McGills FIRST BUS NEEDS TO GO !

November 13, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

The worst customer service I have…

The worst customer service I have received in my life. For the past year I havent realised that if you dont physically tap off at the little machine that barely works it charges you for the end of the route! At times i was charged £3.10 and other times double the amount 5.60. This has happened for the past year, hence have lost alot of money. I spoke to Paul on the phone who was so frustrating and didnt show any sympathy. He was so patronising. I have worked at various customer service roles and am quite experienced, I hope he changes his role because it really isnt the job for him. Worst company ever!

November 13, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Bad service and stopped in bus stop…

Bad service and stopped in bus stop without any reason for 15min. No reason behind the delay and makes me to lose another connection to come back home. Expensive, bad customer service and poor reliability. Due to the delays, buses are busy and uncomfortable. Not recommended. Preferable to drive your car. The tickets are too expensive for the quality received

November 13, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Ridiculous bus service

If I could put no stars I would twice a bus has just drove right past after me stopping them so I’m left standing there with baby in pram in pouring rain drivers are ridiculous don’t stop at right stops break extremely hard when trying to get off the bus with a baby in the pram just absolutely ridiculous

November 13, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Single handedly the worst service I’ve…

Single handedly the worst service I’ve ever used. I’ve been getting first buses for over a year now and they are either awful or extraordinarily bare minimum (ie they might actually turn up on time once in a while) the amount of times I’ve had to pay for Ubers simply because buses have just never arrived or disappeared off the departure board last minute is horrendous. Maybe if public transport actually functioned well I wouldn’t have to be learning to drive. And to top it all off they have a consistent issue with their contactless machine, and when it doesn’t work on their end even after proving I have money in my bank and everything they simply won’t let you on. I’ve been stranded in town numerous times as a teenage girl in the dark because of this with no way to get home if buses won’t accept me. Awful awful service and I can’t wait until I don’t have to use it everyday anymore.

November 13, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

This company is the absolute worst!!

This company is the absolute worst!!! I wish there were more options... (not only once) my number 8 Kingsway was late this caused me to be late to my number 2 bus from the bus station ... the number 2 just closed its door when I asked if I can be let in and they refused!!!!! THEY ARE SOOOO ORGANIZED they refuse entry for being 30 seconds late but THEY can even cancel and it's fine!!!!
I wake up at 5 every day to get to work in time and this happens !!!
I cried because I was so frustrated... my work day needs to start at 7:30 and thanks to the company that increases the prices and decreases the service quality i wake up anxious every morning if I'm actually gonna get to work in time

November 11, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Raised a complaint regarding a…

Raised a complaint regarding a cancelled service for 38b bus to Barlanark and having to wait nearly 1hr and a half for a service that usually comes every 15-30mins depending on the day of the week. When I notified them via complaint that I requested reimbursement as I was extremely late for where I needed to be they said they would not reimburse because I used my ticket. I still had to attend where I was going so I think that’s disgusting that you would not reimburse just because I used the ticket, am I supposed to crawl there ?! We pay the most for fares across the UK in the most deprived part of the UK, it’s a joke. You expect better service when you’re being ripped off in fares. To add insult to injury we don’t have any competitor in bus travel to go elsewhere for travel any cheaper. Hate privatisation of the bus services, nationalise please. 🙏

November 2, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Thieves. Con-artists. Find ANY other way but AVOID first bus.

This company stole my money. AVOID AVOID AVOID!
I bought two tickets for £7.80 at York Park and Ride at Poppleton Bar - service operated by first bus. The display said next but was 24 minutes, but after 20 minutes nothing had changed and the next bus was still showing as 24 minutes away. I asked the woman who sold the tickers to me and she said "Buses are not moving at the moments as they are blocked by a march". By now there were large crowds of people waiting. I asked how long it would be. She said "Could ba an hour, could be ten hours." So, I asked for a refund and I would get the train instead. "Sorry," she said, "I can't give refunds but if you call this number tomorrow they will refund your money." So, I walked to the nearby train station and paid another £6.40 and took the train into York. However, the following day I was on the phone an hour with First Bus. Lots of long silences. Eventually the man spoke with a supervisor and said "You are not entitled to a refund because you could have just waited." I asked to speak with a manager but was told they are not available. What a rip off. They know I had no other choice, that I didn't use their service but they want to keep my money anyway. These large companies are rich, yet they still want to steal from the poor like some reverse Robin Hood. Total scumbags. Will NEVER use them again. By the way, it's cheaper to park in Poppleton village and take the train and the service is better.

November 9, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Worst bus services ever

Worst bus services ever. If this is first world country services, can’t imagine third world country services. This bus service is never on time.

November 10, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Charged again even though I had a monthly pass

Had to get a monthly pass for Glasgow, but whenever I scanned my QR code, it charged me £5 instead. Whoever designed a touchpad and scanner to be in the same place should not be allowed anywhere near tech.

This happened a few times, until I had to start adjusting my phone settings every time I got on the bus and adjusting them back every time I needed to pay for something.

I complained to First about this and they ignored me and I never got a refund. Complete con.

August 1, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

This company is run by morons

This company is run by morons - the timetable for the No. 7 service is different on the app from the one on their website.
If you pay 12p per minute, Traveline give you the times from the app, not the website, so take your pick.
What would it take for the actual bus times to be available to customers?
Why not make it more of a game and publish a third timetable? Really mess would-be passengers around.
Thank God for privatisation, or the service would be garbage.

November 7, 2025
Unprompted review

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