Why isn't this classed as disability discrimination?

[Deleted User]

KJ2009 wrote: »

Due to the current financial climate combined with the cost of Christmas, today I had to seek a loan using guaranteed cheques, I heard many cheque cashing stores exist for this purpose and charge between £10 and £15 per £100 cheque written. I have been on the highest level of Disability Living allowance for years. The benefit has been classified as "Indefinite" There is no end date where it is up for review. My income is £240 per week and to make sure I could prove this I contacted both the Disablilty Living Allowance and also Income support in order to obtain letters stating which benefits I was on, what my current income is and the fact that it is indefinite. I also have a valid £100 Cheque guarantee card and cheque book.

I was going to "The Cheque Shop" in my local town as I had been told they were the cheapest interest charges. The website stated I just needed proof of ID, proof of address and a valid cheque guarantee card / chequbook. So basically I was looking forward to a small loan to ease the crippling month of January. However, when I went into the store and politely said I had brought everything necessary to apply for a loan using guaranteed cheques as security (I had I.D up to my eyeballs of every kind including last address) They turned me away as soon as I said I wasn't employed but on long term Disability benefits.

They wouldn't look at a single document I had brought with me. Now this really got me thinking because I was the perfect customer for them, my income is at a reasonable level £240 p/w, the income is indefinite and I feel looking back at the situation that they discriminated against me purely because I was too disabled to have a job.

How is that not Disability discrimination? I then went into Cash converters to ask them, they were much more sheepish when telling me I couldn't apply and they said they will be installing a computer system in a few months which may be able to accommodate applicants like me. The member of staff at cash converters definitely was uneasy about the fact that they were turning away an applicant based on the condition of their health (Which prevents possibility of work). I found that very telling. Anyway to end the story Harvey and Thompson accepted me straight away and even though this method of lending is very expensive you should have the right to apply for one providing you present documents proving a fixed income. When I got home I rang one more pawn broker, Abemarle & Bond (Who claim to provide a discreet lending service then paint their shop exterior black and bright yellow!) and they said they would not look at an application by somebody claiming Disability Living Allowance but they did concede that Disability benefits are more secure than Jobseekers allowance for example.

The whole point of writing a guaranteed cheque to these imbeciles is that they get their money no matter what. In fact I think the only way a guaranteed cheque is not paid is if the chequebook/card is reported stolen. So why the hell do they want all this stuff anyway?

So I look forward to any suggestions why that is not blatent disability discrimination
Thanks

It isnt DD any lender can refuse anyone they see fit to,as for indefinite dla award after 1 year they can come back to you and ask you to re-apply under whats known as right payment protection and if you are currently on i/s due to disability you will be transfered to the new esa at some point in the next 3 years

~Brock~

If a customer does not pay, a lender has the option of enforcing his rights via the courts.

Not many lenders, especially the short term high rate lenders, would want the negative publicity of enforcing a loan against a disabled person who could kick up a right fuss in front of a judge to say how 'vunerable' they were and that the lender shouldn't have taken advantage of them.

It's not discrimination its simple economics IMHO.

Jay_Tee

hullight wrote: »

I think it's discriminatory that you're on more money than me and I work 35 hours a week, but that's down to this government.

Benefits shouldn't be used to repay loans, there can be major problems down the line.

Perhaps if it bothers you that much, you should get a better paid job?