Stagecoach chiefs are to be quizzed after a pensioner with a free bus travel pass claimed drivers were issuing him tickets for further than the journeys he had taken.
Colin Stansfield, 66, from Penwortham, says Stagecoach drivers have given him incorrect tickets three times in the past month.
When a passenger has a NOW card for free travel, drivers still issue a ticket and the operator then claims the money for the journey back from councils.
Mr Stansfield asked for two tickets on June 17 – one from Preston Bus Station to the train station and one from the train station to the bus station.
But when he later checked the tickets they had been made out for more expensive journeys – from the bus station to Broadgate and from Penwortham Library to the bus station.
He took the tickets to Lancashire County Council which has now asked him to send them in so they can investigate.
He said: "I would suggest that people check their cards when they are issued and give them back to the driver if they are for the wrong destination. It is just not on."
Gavin Miller, head of business services for strategic planning and transport at LCC, said: "We have written to Mr Stansfield and asked him to send us his bus tickets for the journeys in question so that we can take the matter up with the operator concerned.
"We are aware that there are occasional instances where incorrect tickets are issued to passengers who are travelling for free using concessionary passes.
"Each complaint is investigated and taken up with the bus operator.
"Our method of administering the scheme allows us to investigate and take action where a complaint is made.
"Where we find that companies have overcharged we are able to claim back 10 times the amount in question as a penalty."
Lancashire County Council administers the concessionary travel scheme for the 12 district councils in the county.
There are around 267,000 registered pass-holders in the Lancashire Joint Scheme area. Around 25 million concessionary journeys are undertaken each year.
Of these, 143 resulted in no difference to the bus operator's reimbursement, 238 resulted in an overpayment to the bus operator, 18 resulted in an underpayment to the bus operator and 16 did not provide enough information for the council to calculate.
The cost of the scheme in 2008-9 was £28m. The 2009-10 cost is expected to be lower due to the lower reimbursement rate to operators.
A spokeman for Stagecoach said it would be inappropriate for the company to comment at this stage.
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