Finland's consumer watchdog has told bus companies in several cities that they must compensate monthly travel card holders who lost out when service was disrupted by a bus strike.
The Competition and Consumer Authority (KKV) says that the municipal companies serving Tampere, Turku and Lappeenranta misinterpreted the conditions of sale on their monthly tickets when a bus strike caused disruption in March and they declined to offer compensation.
KKV reminded bus companies that they cannot claim force majeure to avoid refunding customers when there is a strike.
"Public transport services must match the levels agreed, or which the customer has good grounds to expect," said Annina Huolman from KKV. "When a purchased service is substandard, the customer has the right to expect a price reduction reflecting that."
Both Tampere and Turku agreed that in future they need to pay refunds in such cases. Lappeenranta began paying out before negotiations began, and promised to continue that practice in future.
