To think that Debenham's policy has the potential to discriminate against the disabled?

[Arachnophobic]

Went to order online, the site didn't like my discount code so had to ring .

I have two gift cards, with 25 quid on between them. Transaction totals in excess of 40 quid. First she says you can't use both, you can only use one. System doesn't allow otherwise. She says please pay the remainder with a debit card, as your one gift card doesn't cover it. So I fish my card out. Then she says actually I have just realised you can't do that either, and if you can't pay the total amount using one gift card you have to go to the store.

Ask for a manager, she says no one around, complain by email. I say "no thank you, I'll wait". Within two minutes uncaring arrogant manager comes on and basically refutes my argument (below) saying that gift cards are a convenience thing, in other words Debenhams are doing us a favour.

My point is (and this doesn't apply to me btw) that those who are disabled or otherwise housebound and unable to get to the store are effectively penalised as a result of this policy, and it is entirely out of keeping with recent Equality legislation.

Picture the scenario FFS - disabled person, no one to rely upon, receives gift cards from distant relatives by post. Wants to place an order and effectively can't order what they want because "the system doesn't allow it". No way of getting to the store.

Do other large retail organisations operate like this? I thought this was the 21st century

[Arachnophobic]

I agree it's not direct, it's indirect.

The same Policy applies to all persons regardless of circumstances but has the potential to adversely affect a minority group.

[ouryve]

I wouldn't say it was direct discrimination against the disabled.

I would say that Debenhams website is bloaty and crap, so I'm not surprised their entire computer system is crap.

And when I buy gift cards for people, I try to get ones I know they could easily use.

[MsHighwater]

Haka, having access to the internet is, at least in theory, a matter of choice.

[Andrewofgg]

SoupDragon never joke about P and C spaces unless you have a very thick heatproof jacket!

[SoupDragon]

Good lord, of course I was joking abut the P&C spaces!

[Andrewofgg]

It's an extremely silly policy - but it's only discriminatory against the disabled if you are prepared to say that every big retailer which does not allow all shopping to be done online and delivered - regardless of value. Come on now.

[eaglewings]

[Sevenfoldedbloodybodies]

sorry op, but most people would not get a disabled person a gift card(I would hope) my dd is 16 and has never been given one.
so although the shops policy might be flawed. using disabled people and discrimination is wrong imo.

[eaglewings]

Seven, can I ask you to read all the small print for me as you seem to have it Sussed soooo well :)

[eaglewings]

I totally agree

I have days, weeks even when getting out the door is hard work, let alone driving for 30 minutes to town, then walking round a hot shop, then standing in a q (having finally having been able to make a decision) to pay, then having to drive home.....

Step sitster has Bipolar and agoraphobia and only goes out once a week when her CPN fetches her to go to a community project

We both do loads of Internet shopping

Buts it's not just disabled, DM lives 2 hours drive from a town, 4 hours from her nearest Debenhams

Good to know it's not worth sending mum or dss vouchers for this chain store

[purplewerepidj]

Arachnophobic, or because it's safer to send than cash!

[purplewerepidj]

Why not? Why shouldn't a carer support the person to buy it? I would (and have) Gift cards are supposed to be convenient and quick. The op has pointed out that, actually, that isn't the case.

"The disabled" is such a sweeping generalised term that it can't possibly cover the needs of all the people it presumes to include.

[Arachnophobic]

seven you are suggesting that everybody researches the gift card policy before sending it which is ridiculous.

Gift cards may be sent instead of cash because the recipient is unable to get to the store in person.

[Sevenfoldedbloodybodies]

but then you wouldn't send them a gift card..... would you, so kind of knocks the op's cries of discrimination out of the water.

[purplewerepidj]

Sevenfold, in my head the mythical "disabled" are people who need support to carry out everyday tasks either because of a lack of physical ability or a lack of ability to understand - whether how to do an everyday task or why it should be done.

Corporations seem to think it = wheelchair

[purplewerepidj]

Oh and I know plenty of disabled people with no access to a computer, no computer knowledge and who wouldn't necessarily have the ability to learn.

[lollystix]

From my experience working for a company like this it's not about an intentional 'policy' to accept payment a certain way (and certainly not about the intention to discriminate) but rather these sorts of oversights and issues are due to system limitations.

I'm not defending them but I can imagine this happening in my company due to archaic systems which are stuck together and added to over the years with Sellotape and string to try and keep up with the latest 'novelties' like gift cards.

I know the easy answer is 'update the system then' but this generally costs hundreds of thousands (even millions) and takes time and these updates fight with other business priorities. I'm sure they're aware in the business of this limitation (although perhaps not at call centre level).

Don't flame me-as I say I'm not defending them but i work with these kinds of issues everyday in my company. Shit systems that cost a shit load to fix basically.

[Sevenfoldedbloodybodies]

purplewerepidj your right but who are the disabled?

[Arachnophobic]

In which case seven feel free to bugger off to another thread

[Xmasbaby11]

I can't see a clear connection between the use of the card and disabled users. If someone was so severely disabled that they could not get to a shop, I'd like to think the giver would be thoughtful enough to buy a gift voucher for an online store (of which there are many) like Amazon.

I personally think that online shopping has caught on very quickly in the UK and the majority of high street shops have adapted to this very well, even though it may well result in the closing of their stores.

[SacreLao]

Apologies to soup in that case.

I'm not too good at picking up on the tongue in cheek remarks, but then again
I am a miserable old bitch these days.