Disability Discrimination

[pinkbabytots]

This is not for me but for a very good friend of mine. He has been battling with his bank for six months with regards to excessive bank charges. The problem was that because he has a disability he was not able to put things in writing. On one occasion he was informed to 'stop using his disability to his advantage'. Personally, I cannot believe how he has been treated. He has now been refused any refunds with regards to the bank charges and I am personally taking this up on behalf of him with the financial ombudsman. I'm pretty clued up on what can be claimed back with bank charges but not so clued up on the disability issue. We feel that the bank in question has taken avantage of the fact that my friend cannot communicate by letter and so has been treated differently. Any advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance

[RATTER15]

Wasn't there a landmark case very similar to this in the papers just a week or so ago, where the bank had to repay a lot of money, I think it was in the Mail.

[pinkbabytots]

I've not heard anything about this case but would love to know more details.

Thanks

[fiesata]

You don't say what your friends disability is ,but it's impotant to remeber that just because someone has a disability doesn't mean they are covered by the act the wording is as follows

Subject to the provisions of Schedule 1, a person has a disability for the purposes of this Act if he has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

This site explains it clearly
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/Rig htsAndObligations/DisabilityRights/DG_4001068

You would need to prove that they were trating your friend differently because they were disabled.

Charges can be reclaimed just for the reason they are unjust -see here

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/business.cfm?i d=587612007

As a physically disabled person myself I encounter prejudice from many sources including colleagues and even my employer so I do have sympathy My advice would be for your friend to find another bank