AIU/WWYD - nearly burst into tears and feel really angry now.

[JaneS]

What happened to me today doesn't happen often, but I've never found a good way to deal with it.

The backstory is that I am dyslexic and fully literate, but I do struggle to fill in forms because I don't find it easy to write block caps or to copy information. I can't do numbers at all - any number longer than 3 digits I can't memorize without a huge struggle, and if I copy a number I will almost always reverse some digits. I cope fine in my day-to-day life (which is postgrad study), but I struggle with admin tasks, esp. banking. I'm aware that people often assume I'm illiterate and trying to hide it.

I'm trying to keep this short, but basically the bank cashier today asked me to come back with 'someone who looks after you'. I'd failed to fill in the numbers on a form correctly, twice in a row, after telling her I struggled to do this and would she mind helping me. I assume she thought I was of very low intelligence but I felt really humiliated (aside from the fact I don't can't imagine how horrible that would feel for someone of genuinely low intelligence who was trying to manage on their own).

WWYD? I did speak to the manager as I wasted a lot of time filling in forms incorrectly and not being given any help from the cashier, but I am considering putting in a formal complaint.

I am at the cashier's attitude - would have really been so difficult to help you? YANBU and should complain formally.

Really sorry that you've had such a horrible time. Can you not ask the bank etc to fill mout forms for you in future. Tell them you are dyslexic or if you don't want to just say you've forgotten your glasses and can't see the form. It prob would'nt hurt to send a letter explaining your situation so they can train their staff.

she was bloody rude and nasty

helping customers is supposed to be her JOB

I would make an icily thorough complaint

I think you should complain to the manager if you feel so upset by it. At the very least you should be able to give them guidance on how you should have been treated. They obviously need a little more training and your input could be very constructive. You are obviously intelligent and able to stand up for yourself but others may not be.

How awful, and how humiliating. I would say a strongly worded complaint is in order. What did the manager say?

That is disgusting, I would definitely make a formal complaint.

My husband is dyslexic and has been embarrassed like that more times than I care to remember. There are a lot of small minded people in this world

I hope you're ok. Chin up.

name and shame the bank and the branch!

YANBU, that is very upsetting, I would complain, the cashier was very rude. For what its worth my (adult) DS is dyslexic, and he finds form filling a nightmare, to the point where he will deliberately avoid doing it. I think people in general are unaware of some of the problems faced by people with dyslexia.

Ok, think I will put in a formal complaint. I did talk to the manager and he was quite nice but did say it is not really the cashier's job to ensure that I can complete the paying-in slip, only her job to check it.

I did what I normally do, which is to go up to the counter and say (nicely, I hope), that I can't fill in the slip very well and would they help me. Then if they ask, I tell them I'm dyslexic.

I deliberately avoid forms, Kurri, just like your son. I often get my partner to do them, but this time I really was in a hurry. I got it wrong twice and I felt as if I was right back in primary school getting it all wrong and not knowing why. Sorry to ramble but it was horrible.

Greensleeves, it's Barclays (I won't say where if you don't mind). I've always banked with them but their customer service has gone from lovely (when I started) to piss poor. A couple of years ago I filled in a cheque wrongly (too much), so it bounced, and they very nicely cancelled the penalty charge. But lately they have been getting worse.

I work in a bank although not on the counter and yanbu what a horrible attitude and glad you bought it to the managers attention. If it is the same as where I work the cashiers bonus' are largely made up based on customer service.

There is no reason he/she couldn't have helped you with the forms. Depending on what the forms were for he/she could gave filled them out while you just signed them. Sone things do have to be completed in full by the customer but no need at all for that comment in any situation.

You poor thing - hope it wasn't my bank!

yanbu at all what a cow. Even if you had a learning disability that is no way to speak to anybody.
on your behalf.

I know some people pretend that they have a problem with their sight in these cases.
Then that is classified as a "disability" and hopefully then the staff are a bit more bloody sensible. Seems a bit sad though that people have to resort to this.

Yes, noviewsonbiscuits I know some people pretend to have a problem with sight. My mum teaches adults who are sometimes almost illiterate, and they often do this - that's precisely why I don't, I just say I can't do the numbers and forms.

wolfnipplechips - It's odd, I only really remember I have a learning 'disability' in situations like these! But at least it only happens to me some of the time. I worked with a lady when I used to volunteer at Oxfam, and I can't help feeling that so much of her life she must feel proud of herself for being clever and independent, only to get slapped down. Horrible.

loolop, really appreciate your post. Feels good to know that what happened today was an anomaly and most bank cashiers are nice! The form was a paying-in slip for a cheque. She said she can't fill it in as it is all personal information.

Damn ... getting teary again every time I look at this thread. Stupid!

LittleRedDragon I had a similar response on Monday from a Barclays cashier, I wanted to pay several cheques in so took them to the counter, handed them over along with my card and asked to pay them in as I have done many, many times before. The harridan behind the counter wouldn't do it for me. She offered me a paying in slip, a calculator and a dirty look instead.

Zero customer service.

Little red - next time you are in ask them to order you a paying in book. Then it will all come pre printed with your account details and all you will need to fill in is the amount(s) of the cheque. And as that's not personal info so the cashier can do it for you.

You're not at all stupid to be upset! Am for you. She was at best hugely insensitive, at worst really just a horrible cow. "Someone who looks after you", indeed .

Hope you are able to resolve it in a way that makes you feel better, ie get a properly apologetic and sincere reply from the bank.

loolop, I know it sounds stupid, but I have had lots of these and I always just mess up the slips filling in the amount and so on. I know it is stupid but I really struggle even if it's made as easy as possible. I have to fill in something if I get a new paying-in book now as I've used all of those at the back of my cheque book and I can't manage the form, so we're back to square one.

I do usually get my partner to do cheques and so on, it's just this once when I really needed the help ... perhaps I just need to track down a bank with people like you in it!

cross-posted with you, Dorothea. Thanks, you are very kind. Mind you, if I did normally have someone to look after me, how bad would I feel if I'd just had my first trial of going on my own?

What an awful response from the cashier! I am and at the idea that they would treat a customer in such a way. Appalling!

What an ignorant woman. Yes do complain.The more people who realise what difficulties dyslexics face the better.

Definitely make a formal complaint. Point out that they have been unhelpful to you as a disabled customer.