Joanne Harris

Dear sir,

I am writing to lodge a formal complaint against your company and the manager of your Huddersfield branch.

I went into my local branch of JD Sports to buy an item priced at £35. I offered my debit card, which happens to be a chip and signature card.

Your manager refused to accept it.

I offered to show ID. Your manager still refused.

I explained that I suffer from discalculia, the inability to process and remember numbers. This is why I have a chip and signature card.

I also explained that refusal of such a card is in direct contravention of the 2010 Equalities Act, which meant that your company was breaking the law by effectively discriminating against the disabled.

Your manager refused to listen, to give his name or to give the name of a supervisor.

I would like to express my anger and disappointment in your company at this behaviour, which not only breaks the law, but which also denies access to your shop to a disabled minority. Many blind, elderly or otherwise disabled people have chip and signature cards. It has been made very clear by banks that these are as legitimate as chip and PIN cards. Your employee, either by lack of training or (as he said) because of your illegal policies, humiliated me in public and made me feel like a criminal. Fortunately I am articulate enough to express my feelings about this. Many disabled, blind or elderly people are not. This e-mail is on their behalf as well as mine.

For myself, I doubt I shall ever shop at a branch of JDSports again. However, on behalf of others in my position, I await your reply.

Sincerely,

Joanne Harris

 

 

Later I was able to speak to a member of JD Sports Customer Servives, who told me that, having checked with Head Office, it was “the policy of JD Sports to refuse chip and signature cards except in the case of international customers”.

When I asked why, she was evasive, and said that it was for “security reasons”.

When I said that this didn’t make sense (the chip in a signature card is the same as the one in a chip and PIN card), she was unable to answer.

When I mentioned the 2010 Equalities Act, she seemed unaware of its existence.

I asked for her name, but was told that “it wasn’t policy” to give them.

 

I’m still waiting for an answer to my e-mail.

 

TO BE CONTINUED….