Age Action warmly welcomes the Equality Tribunal’s finding of age discrimination against the Ulster Bank for refusing to give a car loan to a customer because she was aged over 65. 

The Equality Officer of the Equality Tribunal ordered the Ulster Bank to pay Ms Phyllis Fahey  €2,000 for refusing her loan application in 2005.  Aged 70 at the time, she was informed by a bank official that it was bank policy not to provide loans to persons over the age of 65.  She was supported in her case by the Equality Authority.

The ruling is highly significant for older people, according to Age Action. “Older people with good credit records and evidence of their ability to repay a loan, are frequently refused by financial institutions,” according to Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins.  “The inability to access credit can have a major impact on a person’s ability to live a fulfilling life.”

“Today’s ruling means another obstacle have been removed for older people.  We hope that all financial institutions will review their policies towards older people as a result.”

Age Action said the fact that Ms Fahey was supported in bringing her case by the Equality Authority was further evidence of the valuable work being done by the Equality Authority.