You must speak to us, Post Office tells pensioner who can't

[TrueBlueTerrier]

You must speak to us, Post Office tells pensioner who can't speak

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3197781 ... speak.html

A pensioner who is deaf and without speech was left without his benefits after Post Office officials insisted on speaking to him to access his account.

Norman Berry, 64, was without his pension credit and disability benefit for five weeks after losing his Post Office card on holiday.

Repeated attempts were made by family members to obtain a replacement, who were told that a new card could not be issued without officials talking to Mr Berry, from Stechford, Birmingham, to authorise it.

Mr Berry's sister, Jean Spencer, said she explained to customer services that her brother could not speak or hear, but said they would not accept it.

She said: "I explained that he could not speak but they said they still needed to speak to him.

"Eventually we wrote a letter and his daughter, who does sign language, telephoned every day.

"We even went into his local Post Office, where they know him, and they telephoned them up with him there but they would not accept that.

"It's been really frustrating for him. Luckily he has family and we've kept him going but what if a person like him has no family?"

A Post Office spokesman said: "We are very pleased to confirm that a new card was issued to Mr Berry last week and we are very sorry for the delay."