A goodwill gesture from a bus company has seemingly backfired after travel vouchers sent to appease a disgruntled passenger were out of date.

Maureen Jopson received two explorer tickets from Arriva after complaining three times about its drivers.

But the travel passes, recently sent to her Coxheath home, had an expiry date of 2012.

Mrs Jopson first complained in December, after a bus driver allegedly failed to stop, but says she had no response.

She voiced concerns again at the start of the year, after her friend claimed to be verbally abused by a driver.

Mrs Jopson says that when the grievance was pursued by the bus company the driver had no recollection of the incident, so it could not be taken further.

A few weeks ago, she claims, a driver shut the bus doors in her face, but once again the driver said he did not remember the incident when a complaint was lodged.

Mrs Jopson, of Stockett Lane, said: “There’s been several times that the bus has just driven past, or the level of customer service has not been good enough, but the bus drivers always say they have forgotten about the case when a complaint is made.

“It seems like they say they can’t remember the incident as an excuse for not taking it further" - Maureen Jepson

“It seems like they say they can’t remember the incident as an excuse for not taking it further. The fact I got out-of-date passes from a director says it all.”

An Arriva spokesman said it had dealt with the complaints in line with its customer service procedures, and Arriva regional managing director Heath Williams had responded to her directly.

The spokesman added:“If Mrs Jopson still remains dissatisfied she can contact us again or direct her complaint to the Bus Appeals Body.

“The error with the out-of-date tickets was a genuine mistake, and new vouchers are on their way.”