AFTER an enquiry from a Citizens? Advice Bureau client with regard to chip and pin cards I carried out some research in Tavistock to see if the banks were able to help out. The client had memory problems and was worried about forgetting his PIN. He had asked one bank and two building societies for a card without a pin but with no success. These Chip and Signature or Pin Suppressed cards are supposed to be available to people with disabilities and staff in banks are supposed to be trained in dealing with these enquiries. Of the four banks I visited, only HSBC was able to give me instant and accurate information, with other banks? responses ranging from ?There?s no such thing,? to ?We can?t do anything without an account number.? I found the Mencap website useful in explaining about chip and pin but essentially it?s the banks that need to train their staff to avoid discriminating against people with disabilities. I would be interested to learn from your readers if they have encountered similar problems. Mandy Kenyon Development officer West Devon CAB Kingdon House North Street Tavistock [email protected]">[email protected]
