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BHS Aggressively and Covertly Trying to Sell OAPs Store Cards – Who do I complain to?
Comments
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No credit history = no credit
My father recently discovered this - mortgage paid off, mobile contract through work, and no need for credit - applied for his own mobile and was asked to call as they needed further information. That was the problem - they had no idea how credit worthy he was. Thankfully he sorted it all in one phone call, and without any intervention from us young 'uns!0 -
It's a bit sad that this has turned into a "my mum's more financially savvy than your mum" debate. So the lady hasn't ever had dealing with financial matters and therefore wasn't able to ascertain what she was signing up to, it doesn't mean that she deserved to be mislead if that's what happened.
Ill be the first to hold my hand up to the fact that I rarely read all of the small print on forms unless its for something like a CC or bank account. If I thought I was signing up for a clubcard etc then I'd almost certainly not bother.
To the OP, I'd say that your best bet is to go straight to BHS themselves. Try and get hold of an address for a customer relations manager at their main office rather than a generic customer service department - it's likely to have more impact. I wouldn't hold your hopes out for much more than a few gift vouchers though. Highly unlikely that they're going to admit liability to any wrongdoing... If you're not happy with their response en take it to the FOS, what's the worst that can happen?0 -
My 72-year old mother recently bought some furniture in BHS. She was told by a woman at the desk that she ought to apply for a BHS ‘store card’, as it would entitle her to a £30 discount.
Having never owned a credit card in her life and with no intention of getting one, she asked ‘is it a credit card’. Instead of getting a straight answer, the store woman replied ‘no, it’s a store card – it’s not the same thing’.
That seems like a straight answer to me.
She asked if it was a credit card. The answer was "No". She was told it's a store card and a store card is not the same as a credit card.
Generally, most people understand the difference between a credit card, a store card and a loyalty card.I am utterly livid that a member of BHS staff could deny such a card to be a ‘credit card’ (store cards are the same thing, it’s simply semantics), and angry that they’d offer one to a 72-year old lady.
Isn't that discrimination? Should the card only be offered to men? Only men under a certain age?
My neighbour is 73. She recently acquired an M&S credit card which she uses to collect points. She's quite chuffed with it. She would probably have been upset if she wasn't offered the card because she's a woman or because she's 73.
And it's not just older women who don't understand credit. Reading these forums it's obvious there are many young men who are equally confused.
I don't know what the answer is. But not to offer an adult credit because of their sex or age seems a little unfair.
Having said that, BHS's website only mentions a credit card. Nothing about a store card jumps out from the screen. If BHS were pushing a credit card as a store card that's a different matter.0 -
sophieschoice wrote: »Don't be ridiculous. They haven't grown up with store cards. If stores push the 'loyalty' factor they think they're getting a Nectar or Clubcard.
i`m sorry but someone in their 70s has grown up with store cards and credit cards after all they were in their 30s in the 1970s and 40s in the 1980s
i was selling store cards in the mid 70s0 -
She was lied to, fact. The person who did it seriously deserves a punch in the face. If it had been a man, I would personally do it and take whatever consequences. The bad publicity resulting from any subsequent legal action they might take would be my revenge. I'm just gutted it's not a man.
Is that the sort of behaviour you learned from your Father?
Your family dynamics have suddenly become very clear and explain why your poor Mother is the way she is.0 -
The irony being that she was turned down by Barclaycard (she's got no credit history ever, on top of moving several weeks ago), when she has around £140K in her Barclays account.
Under the compensation scheme she is only covered up to £85k.
Perhaps she should consider divesting some funds to other financial institutions?0 -
It's a bit sad that this has turned into a "my mum's more financially savvy than your mum" debate.
Assume you refer to me - and what I posted.
What I resented was the implication that at 72, this 'dear, little old lady' was like all ladies over, say 70, is a 'dear little old lady' who cannot be trusted to make decisions. At 72 she could still be driving (my parents both drive and both have their own cars; they are far from unique in this) why talk about her as if she is in her dotage and needs protection?
Her age is not relevant at all; many older people are up to speed with things; some are not. So the inference that no-one 'old' should be offered credit is false.
The ISSUE is that is, as has been said, OPs mum asked if it was 'credit' and was told it was not then BHS are at fault.
But there is NO REASON not to offer credit/store cards to someone 'elderly'.
Now LYING about them - different thing.
So the OP's defence is not her/his mother's AGE but whether mother was LIED TO.
Don't put it DOWN; put it AWAY"I would like more sisters, that the taking out of one, might not leave such stillness" Emily Dickinson
Janice 1964-2016
Thank you Honey Bear0 -
it doesn't mean that she deserved to be mislead if that's what happened.
It's even worse, she was deliberately lied to. But apparently because she wasn't savvy enough with financial products, it was her fault for having the innocence to believe what she was told. Which by implication, means there's no wrong-doing on the part of the company doing the lying.0 -
It's even worse, she was deliberately lied to. But apparently because she wasn't savvy enough with financial products, it was her fault for having the innocence to believe what she was told. Which by implication, means there's no wrong-doing on the part of the company doing the lying.
No one has said that. Valli summarises the comments on the thread well:But there is NO REASON not to offer credit/store cards to someone 'elderly'.
Now LYING about them - different thing.
So the OP's defence is not her/his mother's AGE but whether mother was LIED TO.0 -
She's younger than my mum
My mum is online; books our holidays, and uses internet banking, shops online etc
If you're going to be so condescending about OP's mum and how naive she is...
Of course Op's mum hasn't 'grown up' with store cards. They weren't around then. Doesn't preclude her from knowing what they are though.
She's younger than my grandparents too, both of whom are in their 80s and both of whom use internet banking, Skype, Facebook and they run a small business from home together for a few hours a day.
There are honestly bigger things to worry about, but complain if you wish.
CK💙💛 💔0
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