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04 Sep 2006
A 75 year-old woman was refused a contract with Carphone Warehouse's TalkTalk internet service because she was "too old", according to media reports.
Shirley Greening-Jackson was told that she could not sign up to the combined internet and phone package because she was too old to understand the contract, according to the Daily Mail.
If Greening-Jackson returned, accompanied by a younger member of her family who could explain the small print to her, the application would be reconsidered.
Greening-Jackson told the paper: "I was absolutely furious. The young man said: 'Sorry, you're over 70. It's company policy. We don't sign anyone up who is over 70.'
"I have just completed a visa form to go to Russia. Last year we walked the Wall in China and here is this person saying I would not be able to understand a basic form - and it was basic. It is pure ageism.
"Somebody has decided that when you turn 70 you lose a lot of your mind. I find this is ridiculous."
Carphone Warehouse admitted to its over 70 rule on the BBC Radio 4 programme You and Yours last week.
The company claimed that the policy was introduced to "protect the elderly" and was discretionary.
"It is not our policy to refuse business from adult customers of any age group. However, we do ask our agents to use their discretion when dealing with older customers," said a spokeswoman.
She added that the rule was introduced last year following complaints that staff had mis-sold products.
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Do you agree?
TalkTalk
Like your correspondent above TalkTalk promised me Broadband when I applied last June. They have asked me for my MAC code SEVEN times and I am still not connected. Their customer service is pathetic - either you can't understand the language or they can't understand your enquiry. My fuse blew today and I have written them a strong letter cancelling my contract also alleging they have not honoured their side of the deal. They appear to be running a ship of Titanic proportions and all they seem to be doing is rearranging the deckchairs. I am going WalkWalk into the lifeboat while there is still one remaining.
Posted by: Bryan Lillywhite 14 Nov 2006
purely commercial
Perhaps TT are of the view that older customers don't offer the loyalty potential they require to get payback in their business model. If so, they have misunderstood loyalty. It has to be earned by quality and value. Fail on either and customers will walk anyway. Never assume inertia will hold them. Suggest TT publicly revoke this policy and actively seek older subscribers. Such people generally reward treu value with loyalty. Take the time to make it easy for them and earn respect. This may require losing the dreadful tech support people in South Africa, many of whom are slow, ill-informed, poorly trained, surly and offer very poor pronounciation. Or maybe TT know that older clients will be intolerant if that kind of poor service. Pip Pip!
Posted by: Ralph 18 Oct 2006
uk web hosting
As age play part, vision is eventually impared.
Posted by: shane 11 Sep 2006
too old.
I am wondering if carphone warehouse are not too old. I signed up with them in June and I am still waiting to get broadband.They tie us into a contract but fail to keep their side of the contract. An 85 year old customer still waiting.
Posted by: George Sankey 08 Sep 2006
Too Old for TalkTalk
As a retired professional engineer who has set up computer systems and networks and still advise friends on computers,I was considering TalkTalk but they won't want me as I am 78.
Posted by: misceng 06 Sep 2006
Too Old
Talk Talk deserves to lose the custom of all from 69 years of age onwards. I would not deal with them.
Posted by: Joe McGale 05 Sep 2006
From a talk talk person
Rubbish this was just one employed fool who made a mistake which will cost him is job. He was way out of line I work for talktalk and there are many people over the age of 70 on talktalk
Posted by: J Smith 05 Sep 2006
Too old
With the demographics indicating that there will be a prevalence of 'crumblys' soon, where are the Car Phone Warehouse going to get their customers. If 70 is too old to understand the small print then surely raising the retirement age is pointless as who will want to keep on a doddering old twit even if he can rad small print walk 15 miles in a day and other wise lead a full and active life. ( by the way Carphone warehouse idiot, its called Irony).
Posted by: Dave 05 Sep 2006
Too Old ??
What absolute rubbish. What I do find is that young Yoof type assistants in shop are mostly mentally retarded and certainly uneducated, which is the fault of modern politics and stupidity. There are an awful lot of very bright over 70's around. I have been with BT since Broadband was first available in this are and never once have they asked my age. I am now over 70.
Posted by: Allen Mawby 04 Sep 2006
b******t
this company wants to get itself sorted or it will find itself with a lot of bad publicity from us older IT geeks, at 74 I and my colleagues can match most 30 year olds on the internet, you don`t stop learning until you are dead !!! you can enlarge print on any MS windows page as big as you want.
Posted by: D Wilkie 04 Sep 2006
Rubbish
I am a pensioner and fully understand the internet, yes you have to be careful! having said that, I have made purchases from many other countries, no problems but large amount of money transactions would have to be selective.
Posted by: Peter Bonnick 04 Sep 2006