Charities savage banks over 半導体素子 and Pin

By Guy Dresser
Updated: 12:14 BST, 11 March 2005

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BANKS and credit card providers are 効果的に 差別するing against the 無能にするd by not making them aware of the new high-tech 代案／選択肢 to 半導体素子 and Pin cards, 主要な 選挙運動者s （人命などを）奪う，主張するd today.

People with visual impair ments can't use 半導体素子 and Pin cards securely because they can't see the pads 適切に and also can't tell when someone is looking over their shoulder.

The banks have developed an 代案／選択肢, 半導体素子 and 署名, which relies on the new high-tech 半導体素子s in the card 同様に as a 支援する-up in the form of a 署名.

But a mystery shopping 演習 by the 王室の 国家の 学校／設ける for the Blind has 設立する that few bank staff are aware of 半導体素子 and 署名. When asked, just one in five bank 支店s and about half of call centre staff were able to give 訂正する （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） out on their availability.

Janice Allen, a spokeswoman for the 国家の 消費者 会議, said the 欠如（する） of 昇進／宣伝 of 半導体素子 and 署名 cards 量d to '差別'.

She 追加するd: 'It's time that the banks and their card 支払い（額） services 商売／仕事 Apacs thought about their 責任／義務s here. It isn’t just the 無能にするd who are 影響する／感情d but anyone who is getting on and has trouble remembering Pin numbers. Cognitive impairment is often associated with old people but it's also a problem with anyone who has 穏やかな dementia and other 条件s.'

Allen 追加するd: 'New 研究 shows the significance of failing memory in old age. It has a 抱擁する 衝撃 on the ability to use Pin numbers and if you can’t use the new 半導体素子 and Pin cards you are 除外するd from basic services that you have got used to using.'

In a letter published in the Daily Telegraph today, directors of six charities ? Help the 老年の, Age 関心, 国民s Advice, the RNIB and the Alzheimer's Society - 勧めるd banks to get a 支配する with the 状況／情勢 and start 促進するing 半導体素子 and 署名 more 広範囲にわたって.

Apacs 拒絶するd the charities' 批評 as outdated and （人命などを）奪う，主張するd that a '広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定' had changed since the mystery shop carried out by the RNIB. The 協会 has carried out its own 研究 and 設立する 無能にするd card 使用者s mostly happy wtih 半導体素子 and Pin.

'Anyone who isn't happy has only to talk to their card provider,' a 広報担当者 追加するd, 表明するing '失望' at the charities' 決定／判定勝ち（する） to criticise the 半導体素子 and Pin roll-out so 公然と.

He 認める, however, that not all banks might be putting out the 訂正する message: 'There's a 可能性 of a communications 問題／発行する between what we're 説 to everyone and what the 前線 line bank staff are 説, but that's something we're 演説（する）／住所ing.'

In January, This is Money publicised the 事例／患者 of Mary Summers, a visually impaired account 支えるもの／所有者 who was 辞退するd a 半導体素子 and 署名 card by her bank, Abbey 国家の. The RNIB says it 計画（する）s to support a （人命などを）奪う，主張する under the Disability 差別 行為／法令／行動する against banks which don’t give their 無能にするd 顧客s an 平易な-to-use 代案／選択肢 to 半導体素子 and Pin.

Abbey, 正式に taken over in November by the Spanish Banco Santander, has 拒絶するd the 脅し of litigation, 宣言するing that is was taking all reasonable steps to 確実にする it 従うd. 'The 行為／法令／行動する 要求するs us to make reasonable 成果／努力s,' a 広報担当者 told This is Money, 追加するing: 'That's what we're doing.'