Big Brother is watching

Banks, mobile phone companies and government push the public to do business online, without considering that the cost of a secure broadband service is beyond the financial means of many pensioners.

The younger unemployed or low-paid worker may be ‘tech-aware’ and can avail of free Wi-Fi here and there, but has no guarantee of service. Consumers’ rights are being eroded.

There is no longer a financial paper trail for the average ‘Joe’: he can request it, but there is a charge. If he talks to reps on the phone, he does not know if he is speaking to someone from the bank, mobile company, or a hired agency for a government body. He is kept at arm’s length from those to whom he is paying for a service. The customer is alienated.