April 29 - Banking Frustration

Last week I had a rather frustrating time at the bank when I went in to pay my income taxes. Because I didn’t have a debit card, I couldn’t pay my taxes at the bank. I discussed this with two different tellers at the bank and then decided to write the following letter to the Client Care Centre at the national office:

My name is Susan Boman and I have been banking with CIBC for approximately forty years. This past week, I attempted to pay my taxes using my CIBC account. My effort was thwarted by the procedures in place at the bank. I am writing both to complain and to suggest that CIBC find a way to become more user friendly.

Although the tax form I was using indicated that I could make my payment at any financial institution, I couldn’t access my CIBC account to pay my taxes unless I used my debit card. Well, I don’t have a debit card, nor do I intend to apply for one. I am legally blind and would find carrying a card which I cannot see and cannot use, quite useless. I don’t use the bank machine at the bank entrance for the same reason. My preference, indeed my only viable option, is to go into the bank and speak with the teller on duty.

When I tried to pay my taxes this week, the teller was unable to proceed unless I used my debit card. Surely there could be some button she could have pressed to override the system. This override would have been very helpful for me and for others who for various reasons might choose not to use a debit card. It is my hope that CIBC will be able to address this problem before the next tax season rolls around.

This year I paid my taxes at another financial institution where I have a small account. I fear that unless CIBC proves itself to be more user friendly to those of us with sight challenges or other disabilities, I might be moving my account to that other banking institution.

I will wait to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Sue Boman

P.S. I have posted this letter on my blog site, and will also post your response on the same site.  www.whitecaneconnections.blogspot.ca

April 24 - Proof of Poor Vision

On the Easter weekend, we were fortunate to have our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter come for an overnight visit. We love it when they are able to come. Of course, we love it for all the usual reasons of their company, but while they are here, Jen usually takes it into her head to help me with some house cleaning.

In particular, Jen inspects the shelves of the fridge, discarding things such as salad dressing with have gone beyond their expiry date. She usually sorts through the pantry section making sure that I have canned goods lined up with like items grouped together.

This past weekend, she tackled the counter top beside the phone. This small space has become a bit of a catch all for me for a selection of miscellaneous items. It was while she was working at this that she called me into the kitchen

“Mum, I now have proof of your low vision,” she exclaimed.

I noted she was holding up a small box in her hand.

“What is it?” I asked.

“This is the proof,” she explained. “This is a box of chocolate mints left over from Christmas. I am positively sure that if you had been able to see that it was here, you would have polished these off already.”

So, no need to go to the optometrist or ophthalmologist. The proof of my low vision is an uneaten box of chocolate mints!

April 17 - Elections and Voting

Now, before you get too excited, let me assure you that I am not going to write a rampage about the various political parties and their views on current issues. This isn’t to say that I don’t have opinions myself, but just that I don’t think that my blog is a place to express those opinions. Instead, I would like to talk about the voting procedures for those of us who are unable to personally mark the ballot form.

Over the years, I have had several different experiences at the voting stations. Originally, I used to have to produce not only my government issued picture ID, but also my CNIB card and ID number. This was apparently sufficient for someone to accompany me to mark my ballot. The emphasis was all on me.

Then after several elections, the emphasis changed. It was the person who accompanied me who needed to produce ID and fill out or sign a form. In fact, several years ago when Lyle came with me, he was required to swear on a Bible that he would honestly fill out my ballot in the way that I requested. I found this unusual in two ways. Firstly, there was a significant lapse of time before a Bible could be located. Secondly, while Lyle and I have no problem in recognizing the Bible as the Word of God, what about the people for whom an oath on the Bible is meaningless.

Yesterday’s voting procedure was a continuation of the confusion, although I do think that there has been some progress made. Neither Lyle nor I were required to show picture ID. However, when it came my turn to vote, there was an initial flurry of activity as the young woman at the registry table went away to find her supervisor. She eventually came back with the appropriate form. She announced that she had never seen or filled out one of these forms before but she did manage. Lyle signed the front of the piece of paper. The woman then handed the form to me to sign or mark the back.

This is the part that I found most interesting. If I couldn’t see to mark the ballot, how was I to see what I was signing to give permission for Lyle to mark the ballot for me?

I’m not sure what the solution should be. However, I do take voting as a serious responsibility and feel that it should be made as stress free as possible for those of us who are unable – whether it be for poor sight or whatever reason – to mark our own ballots.