Bank Accounts and Age Discrimination Legislation

Melissa177

If you want to open a Premier account with Alliance & Leicester, you have to be 21, say the rules.


Is it legally okay for A&L to discriminate against a would-be customer who is under the age of 21, but can satisfy all the other terms and conditions (ie, depositing £500 a month for example)? How do the new Age Discrimination Laws apply to banks?


This issue doesn't affect me as I am over 21, but I would be interested to hear others' views on the matter.



Melissa

Gordon_the_Moron

Interesting... they could maybe justify it based on the fact that an 18 year old has no credit history?

However, if a 20 years and 364 days old person and a 20 years and 367 days old person with the same credit history both apply is accepting one and declining the other legal?

Don't know enough about the age law to be able to give a definite answer.

:xmassmile DA MORON :xmassmile

sgx.saint

I too am uncertain. But just like a nightclub, a bank as far as I am aware is well within their rights to turn anyone away for an account, regardless of age, credit history etc.

Obviously, from a PR point of view, their reasons for turning someone away would have to be justified.

sinizterguy

I dont see how its got anything to do with the age discrimination laws. It could just as easily be justified by credit history etc ...

CopperPlate_2

From what I can see this law applies to the employment relationship only and not in any other circumstances.

http://www.ageconcern.co.uk/AgeConcern/age_discrimination.asp

The first paragraph of this is telling as well:

http://www.ageconcern.co.uk/AgeConcern/F4AB3CD1548E4657811686F75537E882.asp

So from what I can see it is entirely down to the organisation to set whatever arbitrary 'qualifiers' it wants (obviously within the existing legislation).