Discounts for OAPs

[Will e]

I haven't ignored anything, you just haven't listened to what I've said. You used median wealth to prove your point, which is ridiculous and I've told you so. You can have two pensioners living on the same low income. One rents the other has a million quid house. On paper the house owner is a millionaire. The renter is a pauper. Yet they live on identical incomes.
Now you know why I said you were a wum in that earlier post. It's because you are one and you are proving it with every reply here.

Apart from him being a WUM he's diverting every point you make to something else.
Wasting your time with people who are never wrong.

 

[RTGAdmin]

Because we can’t afford it?

Where have we gone wrong here, I genuinely don’t know. We have one of the higher retirement ages in Europe, the exception being the Nordic countries, but they also pay massively more than us each month.

What is different that means other European countries can pay more or for longer?

They were introduced in 1974

Only for people in full time education though.

They then brought out the 26-30 railcard when I was over 30

 

[JonnotheMackem]

My aunt and uncle sit on a house down south, that has gone up in value 30x since they bought it 50 years ago. They have a relatively healthy pension that affords them several cruises a year.

My uncle complains endlessly about being skint despite having significantly more assets to his name than I do. I do delicately try to explain he could sell up, move back to Sunderland and have a tidy sum to live a much more comfortable life up here but he doesn't want to and apparently "shouldn't have to". Your stereotypical boomer, I guess.

Being a pensioner was generally synonymous with being in poverty not that long ago. It's hard to claim that's the case now. In France, the average pension is now higher than the average worker's wage. Nuts, frankly.

Has he ever said that someone out of work should move somewhere else?

 

[Mousehold Mackem]

Has he ever said that someone out of work should move somewhere else?

Get on your bike?

 

[dangermows]

Often Absolutely Poked

 

[Lonz]

Has he ever said that someone out of work should move somewhere else?

I’m not sure, but he had to do it himself. That’s how he ended up down there in the 70s.

 

[JonnotheMackem]

I’m not sure, but he had to do it himself. That’s how he ended up down there in the 70s.

Well, that's fair enough then - as long as he's not being a hypocrite, I can sort of see his point.

 

[DaveH]

I haven't ignored anything, you just haven't listened to what I've said. You used median wealth to prove your point, which is ridiculous and I've told you so. You can have two pensioners living on the same low income. One rents the other has a million quid house. On paper the house owner is a millionaire. The renter is a pauper. Yet they live on identical incomes.
Now you know why I said you were a wum in that earlier post. It's because you are one and you are proving it with every reply here.

The other aspect of that is rising house prices.

Based on what neighbours have sold their houses for, my house has doubled what I paid for it 20 years ago. Does that mean I am considerably more wealthy than I was then? No, it only shows that markets have inflated prices to stupid levels (especially in my area), and I have neither sold the house or died. That is my wealth achievement, still breathing, no great earnings. "Eeee look at him, he can afford a house worth nearly half a million". No I can't, but I could afford one worth half that a couple of decades ago.

 

[Lonz]

Well, that's fair enough then - as long as he's not being a hypocrite, I can sort of see his point.

I understand it’s not ideal, but when are things ever? It’s more the pleading in poverty crack that irritates me, when he objectively isn’t.

 

[Son of Stan]

Is that actually included?

Folks may be interested.

smb coast to coast possee in Greystoke next friday.

Id steer clear!!

Yeah the Wright Bros coaches take disabled and senior bus passes. Only runs a limited 3 or 4 day service from July - Sept but it's excellent. I was on it last year and there was an old guy got on - he fell asleep on the bus and we saw him later- asleep on a bench but with a lovely view of Derwentwater. Driver said he was a regular, and even if he sleeps his day away it's a change of view for him.

 

[spen666]

Where have we gone wrong here, I genuinely don’t know. We have one of the higher retirement ages in Europe, the exception being the Nordic countries, but they also pay massively more than us each month.

What is different that means other European countries can pay more or for longer?


Only for people in full time education though.

They then brought out the 26-30 railcard when I was over 30

You are missing out the 18-25 railcard which existed since 1982 and no requirement to be a student, just under 25

 

[SPUFF]

Yeah the Wright Bros coaches take disabled and senior bus passes. Only runs a limited 3 or 4 day service from July - Sept but it's excellent. I was on it last year and there was an old guy got on - he fell asleep on the bus and we saw him later- asleep on a bench but with a lovely view of Derwentwater. Driver said he was a regular, and even if he sleeps his day away it's a change of view for him.

Thanks.

Someone made me aware of it on here but predumed it was a private service.

Good option for parents visiting sisters caravan, preferable to them bloody driving

 

[BiG]

It is marketing, simple as that.

You run a seaside cafe that is quiet during the week out of term time, so you need to attract people in. The cafe 5 minutes walk away does an OAP discount, because OAPs are generally the people out and about at the time you need customers through your door. Do you give a similar (or better) discount to get more customers, or not bother and make a loss that morning?

The question really is, should private businesses have the freedom to offer discounts to any group they like, in order to market their business and increase income? Surely the answer is yes, so long as it doesn't disadvantage any protected characteristic, such as a white skin only discount.

Well age is a protected characteristic. But you aren’t subjecting anyone to a disadvantage. Except, apparently, the OP

 

[PJH]

It is marketing, simple as that.

You run a seaside cafe that is quiet during the week out of term time, so you need to attract people in. The cafe 5 minutes walk away does an OAP discount, because OAPs are generally the people out and about at the time you need customers through your door. Do you give a similar (or better) discount to get more customers, or not bother and make a loss that morning?

The question really is, should private businesses have the freedom to offer discounts to any group they like, in order to market their business and increase income? Surely the answer is yes, so long as it doesn't disadvantage any protected characteristic, such as a white skin only discount.

Well age is a protected characteristic. So is it arguable that other ages are disadvantaged because they don't qualify for an OAP discount? Kids can be banned from places as law does allow restriction of goods and services to 18 year olds.

Though on that thinking that's now just triggered a thought in me is that does having an age at which you can draw the state pension after meeting qualifying years discriminatory against a protected characteristic?

Well age is a protected characteristic. But you aren’t subjecting anyone to a disadvantage. Except, apparently, the OP

Just pointed that out myself right after you. Technically every not getting the discount is disadvantaged. Giving a discount based on another protected characteristic wouldn't last long legally. White only discount, women only discount (Shelia's Wheels was legal at the time, not legal now), heterosexual only discount and so on.

 

[spen666]

Well age is a protected characteristic. So is it arguable that other ages are disadvantaged because they don't qualify for an OAP discount? Kids can be banned from places as law does allow restriction of goods and services to 18 year olds.

Though on that thinking that's now just triggered a thought in me is that does having an age at which you can draw the state pension after meeting qualifying years discriminatory against a protected characteristic?

Just pointed that out myself right after you. Technically every not getting the discount is disadvantaged. Giving a discount based on another protected characteristic wouldn't last long legally. White only discount, women only discount (Shelia's Wheels was legal at the time, not legal now), heterosexual only discount and so on.

Are working age adults being discriminated against at football as children and pensioners get discounts?

 

[PJH]

Are working age adults being discriminated against at football as children and pensioners get discounts?

Strictly speaking, yes. The same seat in the same ground for the same football match can have a different price based on age. (well only counting children who can attend a match without an adult)

Also plenty of pensioner discounts out there aren't actually at pension age with many still being at 60. A 12 year old, 30 year old and 60 year old can all go see The Sheep Detectives (picked for being a PG) tomorrow lunchtime at my local Cineworld. 12 year old pays £7.49, 30 year old pays £8.99 and 60 year old pay £7.99. For the same film at the same time in the same screen.

Clearly the Equality Act 2010 made exceptions to allow this to continue being legal otherwise someone would have challenged it by now, even just to test the law. But can't say it isn't discriminatory.

 

[r@mside]

The other aspect of that is rising house prices.

Based on what neighbours have sold their houses for, my house has doubled what I paid for it 20 years ago. Does that mean I am considerably more wealthy than I was then? No, it only shows that markets have inflated prices to stupid levels (especially in my area), and I have neither sold the house or died. That is my wealth achievement, still breathing, no great earnings. "Eeee look at him, he can afford a house worth nearly half a million". No I can't, but I could afford one worth half that a couple of decades ago.

Actually, yes it does because wealth includes assets.

The fact so many pensioners own their own homes and have paid off their mortgages goes a long way to supporting the myth that OAPs are wealthy.

 

[DaveH]

Actually, yes it does because wealth includes assets.

The fact so many pensioners own their own homes and have paid off their mortgages goes a long way to supporting the myth that OAPs are wealthy.

Are the terms assets vs liquidity?

You might own your home, but if you only have £5k income per year, then you are really going to struggle.

 

[BiG]

Strictly speaking, yes. The same seat in the same ground for the same football match can have a different price based on age. (well only counting children who can attend a match without an adult)

Also plenty of pensioner discounts out there aren't actually at pension age with many still being at 60. A 12 year old, 30 year old and 60 year old can all go see The Sheep Detectives (picked for being a PG) tomorrow lunchtime at my local Cineworld. 12 year old pays £7.49, 30 year old pays £8.99 and 60 year old pay £7.99. For the same film at the same time in the same screen.

Clearly the Equality Act 2010 made exceptions to allow this to continue being legal otherwise someone would have challenged it by now, even just to test the law. But can't say it isn't discriminatory.

I went to Gigg Lane for a Bury game one Mother’s Day, dressed in a floral maternity dress but still trying to look local by combining it with a flat cap and a fake moustache. This was because it was free entry for mothers.

I was refused because of the tache.

I should have sued.

 

[Frijj]

It is marketing, simple as that.

You run a seaside cafe that is quiet during the week out of term time, so you need to attract people in. The cafe 5 minutes walk away does an OAP discount, because OAPs are generally the people out and about at the time you need customers through your door. Do you give a similar (or better) discount to get more customers, or not bother and make a loss that morning?

The question really is, should private businesses have the freedom to offer discounts to any group they like, in order to market their business and increase income? Surely the answer is yes, so long as it doesn't disadvantage any protected characteristic, such as a white skin only discount.

Age is a protected characteristic.