11 March 2005
Leading campaigners have today accused banks and credit card providers of discriminating against people with visual impairments by not informing them of high tech alternatives to chip and pin cards.
Technology is now in circulation that allows people to use an alternative chip and signature process for paying with credit cards but a study by the Royal National Institute for the Blind revealed that far too few firms are making consumers aware of this feature.
A measly one in five bank branches and under half of call centre staff offered the correct information when questioned by the institute.
Janice Allen, a spokeswoman for the National Consumer Council, described the credit card supplier's lack of promotion as "discrimination".
She said: "It's time that the banks and their card payment services business Apacs thought about their responsibilities here. It isn't just the disabled who are affected 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 mild dementia and other conditions."
Ms Allen also pointed out that failure to be able to use chip and pin "has a huge impact" and that "if you can't use the new chip and pin cards you are excluded from basic services that you have got used to using".
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