Disabled student wins access fight with RBS

Published on Friday 20 November 2009 21:46

A DISABLED teenager denied access to his bank because there was no wheelchair access yesterday won a landmark victory for disabled customers and £6,500 damages..

David Allen, 18, of Sheffield, who has muscular dystrophy, took legal action after the Royal Bank of Scotland failed to alter access. The bank had appealed over a ruling that it had not catered for his access needs.

But three judges at the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and ordered the bank to carry out the necessary access work

They also ordered the bank to pay Mr Allen's legal costs, awarded him another 3,000 damages for the delay and refused permission to take the case to the Supreme Court.

Speaking after the judgment, Mr Allen said: "I'm glad the bank finally had to apologise in court and acknowledge they treated me badly. I am still very disappointed that RBS would not willingly comply with the disability discrimination law."

Mr Allen's mother Ceri said: "This is just such good news for disabled people."

RBS said it had complied with the Disability Rights Commission's code of practice and arranged access to three other branches, as well as offering Mr Allen the use of telephone or internet banking services.