O.A.P and Disabled

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
A

Ashley

Guest
O.A.P and Disabled Customers

A few questions surrounding both of the above.

I presently give a 20% discount to O.A.Ps on food and I am getting a bit concerned about what age limit I should put on it. 60 or 65? It is presently 65 but if I drop it in line with HMG I will need to reduce it from 20% to say 15%.

I am considering extending the above discount to include disabled people.
If we do so how can we ascertain if a person is disabled when it is not obvious it was suggested that the key for the toilets would be good proof. Anyone know how the National Trust and the like run the schemes they have in palce for disabled discounts.

Staying with disabled discounts the whole point about it is to help people who may not have much money and I was thinking I should extend it to accompanying carer's do they have any sort of card etc that whould indicate that they are the persons carer.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Don't envy you this one. There is a shift away from a set pensioner age (60/65) with much more flexibility for when people can take state pension and already there is massive flexibility on when people drawn their personal/occupation pensions. Similarly pensioners do not take to the term OAP (unless it suits of course). So what age you offer your discount really is increasingly arbitrary.

Similarly when dealing with people with disabilities - how do you determine what level of disability qualifies? Just because someone is disabled does not mean they have a lower level of income. Also what type of disability do you want to cover - phsyical where it's visable that someone is disabled - or all non-visible forms. You'll need to watch the DDA! Some people with disabilities take great offence at people making any form of assumption about them - it's hiding to nothing situation tbh.

It's comendable what you want to do - but making it happen - might just cause you more problems unless you just keep it simple. Stick with 60/65 for pensioners. Make sure you are fully accessible for disability and leave it at that.

jmho;)
 
I'm sorry I don't know enough to answer your questions, but would like to say full credit to you for what you are doing. I hope that it works out and you get enough genuinely thankful customers who appreciate yoru efforts to outweight the freeloader types.
 
nickmann said:
I'm sorry I don't know enough to answer your questions, but would like to say full credit to you for what you are doing. I hope that it works out and you get enough genuinely thankful customers who appreciate yoru efforts to outweight the freeloader types.
Always a concern, I do a Christmas party for deaf children the local deaf association is next door. The helpers at the DA come and do the games and one dresses up as Santa. This year I was told by a women that I was not doing anything for the hearing children and they would not be coming this year, both the women who helps us organize it and I where jaw dropped stunned. Also what most do not understand accept anyone involved in the finances of a firm is that my operating profit is around 20% so this is not being done out of greed. But as with most things in life all people see is money changing hands.
pammy said:
Don't envy you this one. There is a shift away from a set pensioner age (60/65) with much more flexibility for when people can take state pension and already there is massive flexibility on when people drawn their personal/occupation pensions. Similarly pensioners do not take to the term OAP (unless it suits of course). So what age you offer your discount really is increasingly arbitrary.

Similarly when dealing with people with disabilities - how do you determine what level of disability qualifies? Just because someone is disabled does not mean they have a lower level of income. Also what type of disability do you want to cover - phsyical where it's visable that someone is disabled - or all non-visible forms. You'll need to watch the DDA! Some people with disabilities take great offence at people making any form of assumption about them - it's hiding to nothing situation tbh.

It's comendable what you want to do - but making it happen - might just cause you more problems unless you just keep it simple. Stick with 60/65 for pensioners. Make sure you are fully accessible for disability and leave it at that.

jmho;)
I know where your coming from Pammy I find it odd in this day and age that people should be ashamed of anything (I sadly remeber the offical words that where used when we where kids). I never even considered the DDA, cheers for making an already hard choice even harder. I will give thoughts later but I must get some work done now:(.

I'm thing I may remove the wording 'O.A.P' and replace it with 'over 65'.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
zooman said:
I'm thing I may remove the wording 'O.A.P' and replace it with 'over 65'.
Think thats the way to go mate. As for the disabled side I am 100% with Pammy, best to leave the discounting alone and just make sure everything is spot on for gaining entry and seating etc.
One of my mothers biggest issues (she is in a wheel chair) is that she can get into places ok but when it comes to sitting down for a meal she cant get her wheelchair under the table, perhapse look at a few adjustable height tables with lots of room around them??? just an idea
 
You could try doing it indirectly by offering discounts on gatherings for the many support groups that exist.

My sister in law is registered deaf blind. Although she has an implant and can hear up to a point apart from being able to tell dark from light she can see SFA.

But she and members of her local support groups go to regular gatherings with their escorts/partners/carers. They almost always get a deal from the venue.
 
My wife works for a totally Dissabled Hotel ( www.st-annes-hotel.com ) It is a mine field waiting to blow you apart. I applaud your thoughts but I would be very wary of the dissabled. Some can be very rude and play upon their condition. Some can be really nice. Some are well off, others not so well off. You can't tell either. There are so many rules and regulations that one has to adhere to. Facilities that have to be inspected etc. Stick with the over 65's mate. I am truly sorry if my views offend people. I have no wish to offend anyone.
 
And hope these two don't turn up ......;) ........... Sorry ....
 
Last edited:
lotusmark2 said:
perhapse look at a few adjustable height tables with lots of room around them??? just an idea
Just done a Google on them and have not seen one that is suitable for a bar. Have you seen one that is suitable for a bar?

In the past I have tried to get planing consent on removing a wall to install a disabled toilet but try to get permission to do anything to a graded building.
 
Stick with the over 65's mate. I am truly sorry if my views offend people. I have no wish to offend anyone.

I agree - forgive my basic query but why the assumption that OAP's and disabled are short of money? I know some are so please dont have a go at me for that. There are many earners that that get less income than 'others' and OAP's can be very well off indeed!

(note - it bugs me that here in Harrogate that OAP's with homes only in the lower council tax brackets that can receive home insulation free of charge !! WHY? :mad: An OAP in a larger house paying MORE CT may have even less money to live on but they cant get it free why? - rant over ;)

Thats said I applaud and understand your efforts to provide a discounted service for those who 'need' it and therein lies the difficulty - I'd stick with the over 65's ;) imho
 
grasmere said:
I agree - forgive my basic query but why the assumption that OAP's and disabled are short of money?
I under no circumstances believe that OAPs and disabled people are all poor, but the reality in 2006 is a huge amount of both groups (probably more so OAPs) are left on the breadline with insufficient state benefits. At the end of the day I am not trying to feed the masses but give them a discount for they can come and enjoy a nice meal and a sherry. I have been doing it for years now and of course it offends when they ask and get a discount, then drive of in their Rover 75 but I believe the positives out way the negatives.
Satch said:
You could try doing it indirectly by offering discounts on gatherings for the many support groups that exist.

My sister in law is registered deaf blind. Although she has an implant and can hear up to a point apart from being able to tell dark from light she can see SFA.

But she and members of her local support groups go to regular gatherings with their escorts/partners/carers. They almost always get a deal from the venue.
I feel that is an excellent idea and with reflection in all probability what I will do.
 
Interesting question.

Regarding the disabled, that is surely an absolute minefield. How on earth do we go about even defining being disabled?

I can only comment on wheelchair problems.

I would tend to improve both the access, and the facilities for disabled customers as opposed to discounts.

Are you thinking about what has already been mentioned regarding wheelchairs and tables?

Toilets, doorways, and most important, room to get the wheelchair to the table, and all the other facilities, are most important and sometimes forgotten.

I would personally go for the ultimate disabled facilities, as opposed to discounts. Folks that go out for a meal, can usually afford that luxury, it is the reputation that will get you bums on chairs :)

Having ramp access is just the first step in making your premises wheelchair friendly. Can you get any type of government grant for improvements\modifications?

Converting a property to being fully wheelchair compatible will not be cheap, and I just wonder if you would ever cover the cost, let alone make profits? To then offer discounts is admirable?

Can you get access to a wheelchair? if so you can get first hand experience of just how difficult it can be to cater completely for these unfortunate folks. Weaving in and out of tables with waiters carrying food might be entertaining ;)

Is the car parking suitable? Gravel is terrible, cars that park close together are a very big no, no. Is there easy parking for vehicles that actually carry wheelchairs and need room for the occupant to get in, or out?
Ordinary customers that park in disabled spaces, or folks with disabled badges that are fully mobile and still insist on parking in limited disabled slots is another big no, no. How could you cater for this?

Good luck with the quest and top man for thinking about it.

Regards,
John
 
My GF is in a wheelchair (aged 29) due to a bike accident.

Shes upbeat and perfectly happy with her lot - and takes the micky out of herself - she has a T shirt that has the disabled symbol on it and the phrase 'I only did it for the special parking' :D

She is doing a degree in 3d design, and should be OK job / work wise.

She also got a decent payout from the numpty in the citroen..

BUT! Many of her mates from the basketball team didnt get any money - and its a surprisingly often occasion that people get into this situation, and are, quite honestly, f***ed over by the govt / local council / benifit agnecy. It took her over a year to get disability assistance dosh - they keep sending a bloke over to check if she is still disabled (oh - no - sorry - jesus popped over last week and Im fine, thankyouverymuch...).
people have died (seriously) as they havent had adapted accomodation sorted for them.

All in all - if they have a blue 'badge of invincibility' (as she calls her parking ticket) then they might qualify. But then again - theres a lot of p*sstakers out there.. difficult call.

Oh - her 'care-er' is her mum... :)

You wont belive what the expenses are being in a 'chair - its amazing how much more expensive it is. A lift (1 floor, domestic) is over 10 grand - and it breaks down on a 2 weekly basis... she pays most of Boots' staffs pensions... her tyres are ONLY availible from the chair supplier...
 
guydewdney said:
Oh - her 'care-er' is her mum... :)...

;) Unaccustomed as I am for going off topic :rolleyes:

My carer is my wife. The carers allowance is taken into consideration when looking at my entitlements. If the carer was my next door neighbour, then I get the full benefits without any deductions???

My wheelchair\stretcher (it is specially adapted to recline into a stretcher) is supplied and maintained by the local authority?

Sorry to hear about the regular visits from the assessment team, that must be frustrating.

Please pass on my best wishes for the degree and sorry for going off topic.

Regards,
Laid back John
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom