Companies causing distress by removing traditional payment means

p00hsticks

dw89 said:

It’s a large Utility provider that is the only supplier, they removed all options that she uses, namely Cash, Transfer and Cheque. The only things that remain are storing cards (credit/debit), DD, or Apps. There’s also some pay thing (don’t know what it is myself but something to do with yet another card which can’t apply to her). If this is objectively against some regulation or law I’d be interested to know and I’ll try doing something about it. 

It might be worth you clarifying exactly what this 'pay thing' is. It sounds like it might be Paypoint. If it is, then the provider issues you with a card that you use to make cash or card payments to pay your bills over the counter at any Paypoint operator - we paid my later MILS utiltiy and council tax bills this way at the local Co-op convenience store.

la531983

p00hsticks said:

dw89 said:

It’s a large Utility provider that is the only supplier, they removed all options that she uses, namely Cash, Transfer and Cheque. The only things that remain are storing cards (credit/debit), DD, or Apps. There’s also some pay thing (don’t know what it is myself but something to do with yet another card which can’t apply to her). If this is objectively against some regulation or law I’d be interested to know and I’ll try doing something about it. 

It might be worth you clarifying exactly what this 'pay thing' is. It sounds like it might be Paypoint. If it is, then the provider issues you with a card that you use to make cash or card payments to pay your bills over the counter at any Paypoint operator - we paid my later MILS utiltiy and council tax bills this way at the local Co-op convenience store.

In my experience you dont even need a special card - you just take the paper bill in and they scan the barcode on it and you pay.

dw89

flossy_splodge said:

I am sad to read so much lack of understanding on here as to how difficult this world is for SOME older folk.

Just because some of our older citizens can keep up and cope does not mean ALL can and we need to be a bit more compassionate to those struggling.

The main reason for change is so often just to inrease profits and hence handouts so the stress to a few who do NOT understand the technology is real and will not be resolved by heartless folk saying 'tough, just get on with it'.

What a nasty world we are becoming. Money is NOT the only thing worthwhile pursuing, inclusivity matters and not just for kids and minority groups.

I hope these folk can be helped to find a resolution.

I couldn’t agree more. The world has become a distinctly worse place in the last twenty five years in my experience. For all the claims of tolerance and inclusivity I find it the complete opposite so goodness knows how my relative feels 25+ yrs my senior. People forget they barely had TV’s in their youth, no computers. They’re completely lost. 

Re the paper statement. I disagree personally having worked in the computer industry for thirty years. Both should be an option as one you ‘can’ control yourself, one you cannot. Nanny states aside it’s worked fine for millenia. If something is going to collapse it happens a lot more easily if it’s not physical. 

dw89

la531983 said:

p00hsticks said:

dw89 said:

It’s a large Utility provider that is the only supplier, they removed all options that she uses, namely Cash, Transfer and Cheque. The only things that remain are storing cards (credit/debit), DD, or Apps. There’s also some pay thing (don’t know what it is myself but something to do with yet another card which can’t apply to her). If this is objectively against some regulation or law I’d be interested to know and I’ll try doing something about it. 

It might be worth you clarifying exactly what this 'pay thing' is. It sounds like it might be Paypoint. If it is, then the provider issues you with a card that you use to make cash or card payments to pay your bills over the counter at any Paypoint operator - we paid my later MILS utiltiy and council tax bills this way at the local Co-op convenience store.

In my experience you dont even need a special card - you just take the paper bill in and they scan the barcode on it and you pay.

It may have been true but, on this supplier, what I’ve said stands. No cheque slip, no barcode, no faster pay bank details, no postal address, just what I said. She showed me the previous bill from six months prior which had them all on. Now, they’re not there.

dw89

p00hsticks said:

dw89 said:

It’s a large Utility provider that is the only supplier, they removed all options that she uses, namely Cash, Transfer and Cheque. The only things that remain are storing cards (credit/debit), DD, or Apps. There’s also some pay thing (don’t know what it is myself but something to do with yet another card which can’t apply to her). If this is objectively against some regulation or law I’d be interested to know and I’ll try doing something about it. 

It might be worth you clarifying exactly what this 'pay thing' is. It sounds like it might be Paypoint. If it is, then the provider issues you with a card that you use to make cash or card payments to pay your bills over the counter at any Paypoint operator - we paid my later MILS utiltiy and council tax bills this way at the local Co-op convenience store.

I’m sure you are spot on. Where my rel lives there’s no shops (we org delivery) and she doesn’t drive so it’s not an option even if it’s that (which I am sure it is). Like I said the options that were ‘no hassle’ for them (calling bank to transfer or cheque) are not there now hence why all this started. DD is the only option that would fit them currently and they always resisted it for the reasons said. Nothing more than that. 

dw89

DullGreyGuy said:

2childmum2 said:

My parents are in their 80s and simply cannot get their heads around online banking, anything on their phone past a text (mum only) or a call (with difficulty). It's not that they won't change, they simply don't understand how it all works however much time I patiently spend explaining. So they are gradually losing their independence. Thankfully they are with Nationwide, and they can get to the branch. Staff there are really understanding and sort out anything they need. Not all elderly people can adapt easily.

Ageuk are campaigning about services all moving online and how this is affecting older people. Scroll down on this page to see how many this affects

A home telephone became the norm in the 70s when your parents would have been in their 30s... how are they not comfortable making a call? 

That doesn't sound like not being able to cope with change but a degeneration in faculties which personally would make me worried about them trying to go into the bank and do anything on their own. I'm not implying the bank staff would be wanting to do something bad but if they've forgotten how to use a phone after 50 years of using one do they understand what they're asking the bank staff to do? My great aunt was sending money in envelopes to her long dead nephew for years before someone caught and stopped her. 

I can’t speak for 2childmum2 but my point personally was that they’ve removed all forms of bank transfer. All that remains is Pay Apps, DD, Credit/Debit over the phone or (what I now understand to be) Paypoint.

Again, I also can’t speak for elderly people, I just know from what I’ve seen they find interaction with young people (who don’t understand the tech gap, slowness, etc etc) very difficult. Times have moved without them and it’s hard. It was easy for them to stick a cheque in the post, they didn’t need to speak to anyone, didn’t need to worry about numbers, scams or anything. Our experience is not theirs.

la531983

I think this all could be resolved rather quickly if you just named the company. Its hardly going to identify you to a street, if that is your worry here. I feel something is being missed.

dw89

Nothing’s being missed, company name is irrelevant as to whether something is legally ok or not or within industry regs. There’s 4 options as said, that’s it. Previous bill shows the options now missing. I wouldn’t have brought this up otherwise and I’m not into the out everyone/thing culture if there’s no actual wrongdoing.

JGB1955

dw89 said:

It was easy for them to stick a cheque in the post, they didn’t need to speak to anyone, didn’t need to worry about numbers, scams or anything. Our experience is not theirs.

Isn't that what paying by DD is?

• Refunds

  Customers are entitled to a full and immediate refund for any incorrect or unauthorized direct debit 
• Advance notice

  Businesses must notify customers at least 10 working days in advance of any changes to the amount, date, or frequency of a direct debit 
• Cancellation

  Customers can cancel a direct debit at any time by contacting their bank or building society 

la531983

dw89 said:

Nothing’s being missed, company name is irrelevant as to whether something is legally ok or not or within industry regs. There’s 4 options as said, that’s it. Previous bill shows the options now missing. I wouldn’t have brought this up otherwise and I’m not into the out everyone/thing culture if there’s no actual wrongdoing.

What does their website say?