Hoodwinking senior citizens - letter

With monotonous regularity wide publicity is afforded in the local dailies of special concessions and attractive privileges offered to senior citizens by various business establishments and even state banks.
The facilities offered relate essentially to special concessions in;
* Banking- enhanced interest on deposits.
* Health Care-special concessions.
* Special telecommunications packages
* Insurance- age concessions and special privileges

Despite the wide publicity afforded either by advertisements or news items when you attempt to make use of the afforded privileges/concessions inevitably there is “a hitch”, “a slip between the cup and the lip”. Most advertisements have been misleading and not genuine.

My experience has been most frustrating, irritating and totally disappointing in attempting to invest some money at a special rate in a bank, and obtain a cellular phone on a special package.

When I visited one bank that had advertised these special rates I was told that the facility had since been withdrawn and only if a very large sum of money is deposited a special rate can be granted.

My inquiry from the mobile phone company that offered a special package was equally disappointing.

They were vague and said that the modalities of the scheme had not yet been worked out and no distinct concessions were evident. My humble and timely plea to “Senior Citizens” is - do not be duped by the various business institutions that offer special privileges and concessions.There is always a hitch when you visit the institutions in response to their advertisements; They offer other schemes.

Joseph Fernando
Nawala