When Tanisha Bryant’s Greyhound bus to Canada was canceled this winter, she says the company compensated her with a $479 voucher for future travel.
She kept it and planned to use the credit when her schedule and budget aligned, according to NBC10 Philadelphia.
In April, Bryant, who lives in Philadelphia, and a friend logged on to Greyhound’s booking site to reserve a trip to Virginia Beach with Greyhound. To her shock, the digital voucher registered a balance of $0.
“I thought, maybe I made a mistake,” Bryant recalled. “So I tried it again. Zero dollars.”
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From $479 to $0 voucher
Bryant says she immediately phoned customer service, only to be told, “It looks like you’ve already used this voucher.”
When she asked when and by whom, the agent had no record — and promptly hung up.
“I was speechless,” Bryant said. After multiple calls and emails, she filed a complaint with NBC10 Philadelphia.
She shared her documentation — the original ticket, voucher details and correspondence — with NBC10. Three days later, Greyhound’s customer service team reached out. Instead of reissuing a new voucher, Bryant was informed the carrier would refund her the full $479 in cash.
“I received an email that they decided… we’re just gonna give you the money outright,” she said.
When NBC10 asked for Greyhound’s official response, the company declined to explain the initial error but issued this statement: “We are committed to doing everything possible to ensure our customers have a positive travel experience. If they have questions or need help before, during, or after their trip, our dedicated customer service team can provide timely assistance by phone, chat, or email.”
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Preventative steps for travelers
Many tourism companies offer travel vouchers to compensate consumers for failed trips. In 2020, GMA reported passengers had over $10 billion in untapped travel credits.
Still, even legitimate vouchers can sometimes lead to unexpected complications. To safeguard yourself in the event of a failed voucher, it’s wise to adopt a few best practices.
- Document the voucher immediately: Note the voucher number, issue date and expiration. Screenshot the digital voucher or save the email as a PDF to have a permanent record.
- Confirm usability before shelving it: Call customer service as soon as you receive the voucher. Ask the representative to verify the balance and expiration, and record their name, employee ID and call time.
- Use it promptly: Policy changes or system errors can render unused credits worthless. Booking your next trip as soon as possible helps you minimize the risk.
- Understand terms and conditions: Read restrictions such as blackout dates, transferability and refund policies. Many vouchers expire within a few months and may carry blackout or minimum-spend requirements.
- Protect with travel insurance: If you paid for the original ticket with a credit card or have separate travel insurance, verify whether it covers unused vouchers or additional out-of-pocket costs if the voucher fails.
A good tip to remember is to capture every detail when you receive your voucher and confirm its value before it’s too late. Acting swiftly not only protects your travel credit but also spares you the kind of ordeal Bryant experienced.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
