NGT Lite

50Twuncle

I have communication problems and wondered whether NGT Lite might be useful for myself and others
It appears to be a typetalk service that you can use from mobile phones ?
Is it chargeable or is it free to use ?

tomtom256

Is this not available via a google search?

Oh look http://ngts.org.uk/app_index.php?bookmark=setup

w06

it's a free app

Personally I really struggle to use it. I suspect my being dyslexic doesn't help. I'd recommend using it on a tablet or computer rather than the phone screen if you can, for ease of reading.

I've used it a couple of times for phonecalls that I needed to make and noone around at that point to help, or the odd organisation that refuse to talk to somebody on my behalf (but expect me to give confidential details to unknown thirdparty on keyboard elsewhere!)

it's better than not being able to make a call if there's no alternative

The connection regularly stalls which gets confusing.

50Twuncle

How does it actually work ?
If using from my PC does it connect via the internet to the normal normal phone line ?
if so - how does the recipient know who you are ?
I am wondering from a point of security....
I mean - will a bank accept a call made through NGTS ?

lemontart

I have this, but only use with my laptop tethered to my android phone, I struggle to get it to work at times as have to keep referring back the the video tutorials due to short term memory problems.

w06

It tehters to your phone in same way as whats app does if you use the computer app for that - you verify on your phone.

Barclaycard, the DWP and my van insurance definitely accept it

my issue, aside from difficulties in actually using it, is that barclaycard insist that I call them via text relay and not via my friend/carer who has my consent, can verify who i am by me speaking (I'm deaf) to them via him, and I who I trust with my personal data. A call centre worker and information stored in the cloud with unknown security isn't a good alternative to that.

Consequently, having been a muppet and locked myself out of my online accoutn, I can't use my barclaycard at the moment.

Tolly_T

I find this really easy to use. I have it on my computer. I linked it to my mobile phone as instructed. When I want to use it I dial the ngt prefix ahead of dialling the number I need to call. The software is open and it recognises that I have made a call and asks if I want to connect. After connecting the text relay person introduces themself to the person you're calling, asks if they've used text relay before and if not explains briefly how it works and then the conversation starts. You type your message followed by GA for "Go ahead" and this message will be read to the person you have called. Any response from them will be typed by the text relay person and will appear on your screen followed by GA.

As far as security goes I don't think it's different from someone speaking on the phone. The people you are calling will ask security questions and they have your answer relayed to them. If you give the correct answers they assume it's you, just as if you were speaking. If someone else has your security answers they can get through these checks whether they're speaking or using text relay. The only issue is handing these security details over to the text relay person. Not ideal but I've not had any problems. I personally wouldn't use it for banking for this reason and I don't use the same passwords for different organisations.

It's ideal for me. I've had problems using the phone for years and either avoided dealing with things I needed to or had to ask friends to make calls for me. It won't suit everyone but it's worth trying it out if you have problems using phones.

w06

Tolly_T wrote: »

As far as security goes I don't think it's different from someone speaking on the phone. The people you are calling will ask security questions and they have your answer relayed to them. If you give the correct answers they assume it's you, just as if you were speaking. If someone else has your security answers they can get through these checks whether they're speaking or using text relay. The only issue is handing these security details over to the text relay person. Not ideal but I've not had any problems. I personally wouldn't use it for banking for this reason and I don't use the same passwords for different organisations.
.

that's exactly my problem with the bank insisting that I use it instead of somebody who I know and trust. Handing my security details to an unknown third party - and them being stored in the cloud at least temporarily (I've not managed to get an answer to how secure that is) is a huge risk to my banking security. Not saying the person transcribing it isn't honest, but surely if we have to divulge information we should be able to choose who to.

50Twuncle

Tolly_T wrote: »

I find this really easy to use. I have it on my computer. I linked it to my mobile phone as instructed. When I want to use it I dial the ngt prefix ahead of dialling the number I need to call. The software is open and it recognises that I have made a call and asks if I want to connect. After connecting the text relay person introduces themself to the person you're calling, asks if they've used text relay before and if not explains briefly how it works and then the conversation starts. You type your message followed by GA for "Go ahead" and this message will be read to the person you have called. Any response from them will be typed by the text relay person and will appear on your screen followed by GA.

As far as security goes I don't think it's different from someone speaking on the phone. The people you are calling will ask security questions and they have your answer relayed to them. If you give the correct answers they assume it's you, just as if you were speaking. If someone else has your security answers they can get through these checks whether they're speaking or using text relay. The only issue is handing these security details over to the text relay person. Not ideal but I've not had any problems. I personally wouldn't use it for banking for this reason and I don't use the same passwords for different organisations.

It's ideal for me. I've had problems using the phone for years and either avoided dealing with things I needed to or had to ask friends to make calls for me. It won't suit everyone but it's worth trying it out if you have problems using phones.

Would you feel safe using it to buy things or pay for insurance using a debit card​ ?

Tolly_T

I'm always in two minds about this. I haven't used it to buy things using a debit card but thinking logically whenever someone buys something over the phone they are handing over all their card details to the person taking the payment. That person could make a note of them in the same way that the text relay person could. It's easy to get hung up on the risks because of the additional person but there are risks every time a purchase is made by giving the card details rather than using the card in person. Easier to think that way than to actually trust the system enough to use it for card payments though in my case.

I think this is something that it would be worth checking with the bank that issued the card. Ask what they would do if your card details were used fraudulently after you had given them out using text relay. My credit card was used fraudulently several years ago. It was a new card, I hadn't used it and I still had it with me when the card company called to check if I had made certain purchases. They picked up the unusual spending within a very short period of time and stopped the card when I told them the purchases weren't mine. Although obviously concerning that the details could be used when I hadn't handed them over to anyone it was reassuring that the company picked up on it.

w06

Just to come back to this

I used NGT Lite today, on my laptop, to call the DVLA

It's much more stable than it was 6 months ago. Still not the easiest to use but now that it doesn't stutter so much it was much easier to have a conversation (me talking person on the other end talking and their conversation typed by relay person)