Disability and dealing with companies

Hear-Hear

sunnyone wrote: "the alternative type talk/text phone are rubbish which means I cant use a phone at all"

Don’t dismiss the TypeTalk / TextPhone / Text Relay so quickly. It’s a great piece of kit, if you have been shown how to work it properly. Sure, it’s a little bit slower to complete a conversation than for a ‘hearing’ person, but if you are with BT, for instance, they will rebate the additional cost of the call (can’t remember the % amount, sorry).

The TypeTalk machine allows the user to get straight through to the Bank, Utility Company, or whatever on a dedicated number without having to go through the dreaded ‘Options’ etc. In the case of the OP, the nPower folks even have specially trained people at their end to deal with TypeTalk calls. Best of all…. the equipment needed is supplied (loaned) to users free of charge - both to 'Deaf' and to 'Hard of Hearing' - by the Sensory Impairment Teams within the local Social Services Departments.

I-Owe-You

I’m profoundly deaf – I’ve recently been dealing with Access to Work (DWP) regarding obtaining a Type Talk phone for my desk at work as I cannot hear at all over the phone.

Last week I had 4 missed calls from Access to Work who’d left a voicemail stating “they have called to arrange an assessment for my deafness phone”

If people who work closely with those with disabilities can’t use a little common sense (ringing me when I’ve stated loud and clear all over my application forms that I CANNOT HEAR OVER THE PHONE PLEASE EMAIL ME!!)…I don’t have much faith in any other company!

I empathise completely; I am dependant on my partner to call on my behalf for most of my utility queries/arranging appointments etc… it is very frustrating. I also really hope I don’t offend anyone, when I say that having overseas call centres operators also adds to my hindrances.

I wish you all the best!

Savvy_Sue

Hear-Hear wrote: »

Don’t dismiss the TypeTalk / TextPhone / Text Relay so quickly. It’s a great piece of kit, if you have been shown how to work it properly.

I agree, my mum's recently bought a TextPhone (see below) and although it's taken a few attempts for her to become proficient at using it, it does now make phone calls possible. She was ranting at one of the banks only the other day ... she said she didn't know what the operator would have made of the conversation! :rotfl:

Hear-Hear wrote: »

Best of all…. the equipment needed is supplied (loaned) to users free of charge - both to 'Deaf' and to 'Hard of Hearing' - by the Sensory Impairment Teams within the local Social Services Departments.

Not necessarily automatically. Mum had an older model, but it was no longer working well because it was designed for use with the classic BT dial telephones with round mouth and earpieces. But she'd got it, and it still technically worked (although she couldn't reliably use it), so although she was given some other pieces of kit she had to buy her own TextPhone.

However it was money well spent.

Hear-Hear

That's interesting Savvy_Sue. I suspect. like many things, it's down to which area of the country you are in. Certainly, in my part of the world, the Sensory Impairment Team have a really good Leader, and she gets her team to deliver a very high quality service. I suspect she also knows the system - how to to get sufficient funds from her superiors at County Council level. The Team are always able to, and always have been able to, produce whatever funds are necessary to purchase equipment for those who need it. Bear in mind, it's not even means-tested.

I'm really glad to hear that your Mum is able to communicate effectively on the phone now (even if she ultimately had to pay for her own TextPhone). This may give some hope and aspiration to others on here who struggle with telephone contact.

summerof0763

Hear-Hear wrote: »

sunnyone wrote: "the alternative type talk/text phone are rubbish which means I cant use a phone at all"

Don’t dismiss the TypeTalk / TextPhone / Text Relay so quickly. It’s a great piece of kit, if you have been shown how to work it properly. Sure, it’s a little bit slower to complete a conversation than for a ‘hearing’ person, but if you are with BT, for instance, they will rebate the additional cost of the call (can’t remember the % amount, sorry).

The TypeTalk machine allows the user to get straight through to the Bank, Utility Company, or whatever on a dedicated number without having to go through the dreaded ‘Options’ etc. In the case of the OP, the nPower folks even have specially trained people at their end to deal with TypeTalk calls. Best of all…. the equipment needed is supplied (loaned) to users free of charge - both to 'Deaf' and to 'Hard of Hearing' - by the Sensory Impairment Teams within the local Social Services Departments.

i was told,they no longer supply phones at all,but then i am not having a good time with sensory ot,so maybe varies area to area

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

Bloodheart wrote: »

I'm not as bad face-to-face - the problem comes from not knowing how others will act, how the situation will pan-out, what is said etc. face-to-face gives me a little more control, even if slightly more uncomfortable.

I'm tempted to go back to CAB as they were dealing with this previously - they tried to get a meter installed, which could not be done, and had a debt relief order put in place, but it's not been any help what-so-ever...but the problem with that is still that at some point I'm gonna have to talk to NPower again, and it can take months to get help from CAB.

It's just I'm certain there has to be SOMETHING that can be done for people like me in situations like this, I mean, how do people who are deaf, mute, etc. do these things?

I have Asperger's too & I find I communicate better on paper as face to face or by phone makes me anxious for the same reasons.

I usually tell the person im talking to that i'm autistic & that I have communication problems.

I can talk to people on the phone but if they say something that im not expecting or that I don't like then I get agressive really quickly & they refuse to talk to me.

I find it best to be honest.