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Original poster

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

59 replies

Arachnophobic · 31/10/2011 21:58

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

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 Confused

OP posts:
thefirstMrsDeVeerie · 31/10/2011 22:25

Or women who dont want to 'juggle' a two year old and a 4 year old across a busy, dangerous car park.

Serenitysutton · 31/10/2011 22:26

But shops just can't do anything you want them to, they are limited by their systems.

SacreLao · 31/10/2011 22:26

Soup I think the point is that SOME disabled people could get to a store and SOME couldn't, to say that disabled parking takes up valuble P&C spaces is below the belt.

People CHOOSE to have children, no-one chooses to be disabled. P&C parking is a handy thing, for many disabled people parking spaces are ESSENTIAL.

Big difference!!

Very silly policy of Debenhams, I know in the past I have been given New Look vouchers and ordered online using multiple gift cards etc. with no problems.

Original poster
Arachnophobic · 31/10/2011 22:29

Yes I accept that once upon a time there was no Internet, just like there were no mobiles or iPods. The list is endless.

So now that the Internet does exist there is no excuse if people can't take full advantage of it, surely?

OP posts:
Sevenfoldedbloodybodies · 31/10/2011 22:29

yabu
I cannot see how this discrimination against anyone

Kayano · 31/10/2011 22:30

Sacre... I think soup was JOKING about valuable p&c...

Maryz · 31/10/2011 22:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sevenfoldedbloodybodies · 31/10/2011 22:34

i think talking about the silliness of P&T(een) parking is better than the daft point the op is trying to make

purplewerepidj · 31/10/2011 22:34

How did the disabled cope without the internet?

Simple. They didn't. They were either extremely rich and had servants to do everything for them, or they were locked away in institutions and lucky to get their basic needs met. Or, they were sent to Care In The Community and left to get on with it.

Things started changing properly about five years ago. The way people have been treated is appalling - I know several cases of severe sexual abuse of adults - and it's why things that discriminate need to be challenged. Just because it's "normal" doesn't mean it's "right".

SacreLao · 31/10/2011 22:35

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.

Xmasbaby11 · 31/10/2011 22:35

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.

Original poster
Arachnophobic · 31/10/2011 22:35

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

OP posts:
Sevenfoldedbloodybodies · 31/10/2011 22:36

purplewerepidj your right but who are the disabled?

lollystix · 31/10/2011 22:37

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.

purplewerepidj · 31/10/2011 22:37

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.

purplewerepidj · 31/10/2011 22:39

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 Hmm

Haka · 31/10/2011 22:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sevenfoldedbloodybodies · 31/10/2011 22:41

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.

Original poster
Arachnophobic · 31/10/2011 22:44

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.

OP posts:
Haka · 31/10/2011 22:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

purplewerepidj · 31/10/2011 22:47

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.

purplewerepidj · 31/10/2011 22:47

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

Maryz · 31/10/2011 22:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

eaglewings · 31/10/2011 22:51

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

eaglewings · 31/10/2011 22:53

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

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