Earlier this week, two Asian tourists boarded a bus in Valletta on route 81 to Mdina. They paid the driver with a banknote which, from where I was seated, I could tell was a blue note. No change was given.

Upon reaching the top of Saqqajja Hill, the driver told them to alight and explained where they should catch the bus back to Valletta. Upon seeing this courtesy I expected him to give the tourists their change. But alas, I was wrong. The change was never given.

I alighted too and asked the tourists how much they had paid the driver. They claimed they had given him €5 (but I'm pretty sure it was a blue banknote, so it must have been either a Lm5 note or a €20 note). It was then that I told them that they had been overcharged. They told me that they had realised it but preferred not to say anything.

I gave them a 50c coin to use on their return to Valletta, for which they were very grateful.

This blatant abuse must stop. Authorities please take note.