Computer issues meant some 150 pensioners in Norfolk were hit by a delay in getting their concessionary bus passes renewed.
And it has sparked calls for the council to compensate those who had to pay for their bus trips while the matter was sorted.
Norfolk County Council has confirmed that, after the authority switched to a new database to manage the 190,000 plus concessionary bus passes, some passes were not renewed automatically.
It is understood that was because the software supplier for the database had to remove the auto-renewal process for a period of time while another error - which meant passes were being auto-renewed for the wrong people - was corrected.
The issue meant approximately 150 passes were held up and people only received them after their existing passes had expired.
A council spokesperson said: “A new database was implemented which meant that some passes were not renewed automatically as they should have been.
"About 150 passes were slightly delayed and we are not aware of any not being received.
"New passes were printed and dispatched three days before the existing ones were due to expire.
"We are unable to control Royal Mail delivery times and unaware if any other passes were received late but only received one complaint so do not believe this to be a widespread issue."
County councillor Alexandra Kemp called for the council to recompense those pensioners who had to buy bus tickets for trips to GPs and shops because they did not have their passes.
The independent councillor for Clenchwarton and King's Lynn South said: “With the cost of living crisis, food and fuel prices soaring, pensioners cannot afford to pay for bus travel they should be entitled to for free.”
Age-related bus passes, which expire every five years, entitle holders to free bus travel on all off-peak services - from 9.30am until the last bus of the day - on Mondays to Fridays and all day free bus travel at weekends and Bank Holidays.
Some rural services in Norfolk accept travel bus passes before 9.30am on weekdays.
Share