To: Banks and Building Societies
Banks take notice of elderly customers !
Find more sympathetic security systems to accommodate those people who are , for any reason , unable to retain and remember PINs and other security information, without which they cannot operate their accounts/financial business over the 'phone.
Why is this important?
I have a good deal of contact with older people, who often have increasing difficulty retaining information because of failing memory. I have also had contact with people experiencing significant difficulties because of learning disabilities or brain diseases, eg. dementia. These conditions often also affect a person's mobility and it is not so easy for them to simply visit the bank or Building Society and re-assert their identity, with the support of utility bills, passports, etc.
Both of my parents are tragically affected by Alzheimers Disease. My father remains, for now, independently managing his own affairs (with considerable time and support from others). I have seen at first-hand the terrible frustration he experiences when trying to transact, or obtain information over the 'phone when agents are unable to help because he can't tell them the security information; he is unable even to recall his address of the past 2 years.
I see that it may be difficult to find a suitable alternative to memory-reliant methods to assure security but I believe the problem to be an urgent and common one. The institutions holding our money must provide the means for us all to access their services, no matter our age, memory or health status.
Both of my parents are tragically affected by Alzheimers Disease. My father remains, for now, independently managing his own affairs (with considerable time and support from others). I have seen at first-hand the terrible frustration he experiences when trying to transact, or obtain information over the 'phone when agents are unable to help because he can't tell them the security information; he is unable even to recall his address of the past 2 years.
I see that it may be difficult to find a suitable alternative to memory-reliant methods to assure security but I believe the problem to be an urgent and common one. The institutions holding our money must provide the means for us all to access their services, no matter our age, memory or health status.
