Hi Paul,
This amused me even more, as a recipient of braille bank statements for all of
my adult life, as an equality advisor, and as a former computer programmer.
As an equality advisor, I'd have asked that equality and diversity manager
where his evidence was, as his assertion, without reasons, that what works for
sighted people would work for blind people is a flawed piece of
one-size-fits-all thinking, which is the opposite effect of diversity.
As a former computer programmer, I bet nobody specified that if a flag were set
in the system to show the reader has requested single-sided statements, then
when page is full print page return, print page return again, else no action.
As a recipient of braille bank statements since the seventies, I cannot
understand why the service so often deteriorate due to technical progress
(presumably in reverse gear).
I've had some weird things happening with Natwest, but this time, it's
confusion over whether to print in Standard English Braille Grade 1 or Grade 2,
which fo r reasons of their own they don't understand, as they call them
'graded and ungraded'. No sense in inventing their own jargon for this, because
it has led to confusion, as it was bound to do.
Best,
Clive
Best,
Clive
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Paul Leake
Sent: 10 November 2015 23:19
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: braille from HSBC technical issues
Very well put George! It made me smile!
Kind regards,
Paul
Twitter: @paulleake1
paul.leake@xxxxxxxxxxxx
----- Original Message -----
From: George Bell <george@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: "access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date sent: Tue, 10 Nov
2015 21:13:47 +0000
Subject: [access-uk] Re: braille from HSBC technical issues
Hi Derek,
Having been in the business of selling and supporting braille embossers for
around 30 years, I think I can safely say that I do know a modest amount about
the production of braille.
I don't know who this Equality and Diversity manager is, but he is certainly
not talking out of his mouth. He certainly knows nothing about braille
production by the sound of things. He may even be being given wrong
information by a lower member of staff.
Any, and I repeat, ANY double-sided braille embosser is capable of producing
single-sided braille! It doesn't matter what price bracket the embosser is in,
be it thousands or hundreds of thousands of Pounds.
And even if for some silly reason the embosser was locked in such a silly mode,
what is to stop them sending 2 new page commands after each page. The result
would be what you want.
I'm happy to talk to anyone about this if they wish more information.
George
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Derek Hornby
Sent: 10 November 2015 18:41
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] braille from HSBC technical issues
Hi All
Some of you may remember discussions here about HSBC making changes that mean
rather than Braille on one side of page, new way is Braille on both sides for
statements.
Here is what the Ombudsman says on this matter.
I will add in my comments.
"I called HSBC to explain the difficulties you're experiencing.
I said you're happy to compromise in receiving statements on A4 size, so long
as it is able to compromise in providing you the option to choose Braille on
one, or both sides of the paper.
HSBC have said it has liaised with its equality and diversity manager about
this. Unfortunately, it advised this is an option they're unable to provide
but if it were, they would have happily arranged this for you."
MY COMMENTS
I notice the bank doesn't give a reason as to why they cannot arrange for
Braille on one side of page.
"HSBC explained statements that are not Braille printed are also
printed on both sides of the paper. It explained customers who
receive non-Braille statements aren't provided the option to have
one sided paper statements either. HSBC have advised it does
this in order to minimise the amount of paper it uses, which is
reasonable."
MY COMMENTS
yes, reasonable if true!
I am told by a sighted person, that back of each and every
print page, the information is exactly same!
So basically sighted customers do read statement details on one
side of each page.
It's like this for print
Page 1 statement details
page 2 (back of page 1) general information.
page 3 statement details
page 4 a repeat of back of [page 2
and so on.
So how does that cut down on paper!
"You said as HSBC are able to provide one sided Braille letters
then it should be able to provide one sided Braille statements
too. However, HSBC have advised that the production of letters
and bank statements are separate. It explained statements are
automated on a different system and this system doesn't give the
option of having one sided printing."
MY COMMENTS
If that was true, how does the
automated system manage when it comes to grade 1 or grade
2 Braille. As they do offer that choice.
Regards, Derek
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