Sir, – Using my combined free bus pass/public services card, a plastic card which contains not only my PRSI number and my signature, but a recent photograph, I travelled by bus this week to transact some business at a Permanent Tsb branch. It seems certain accounts are deemed inactive after a mere three years of non-use. My journey to alter this state of affairs necessitated a round trip of 70 miles to Letterkenny, which as an octogenarian I did not wish to undertake by car in wintry conditions.
In the absence of a household bill, which I had not considered an essential accessory that day, my official card, issued by the Department of Social Welfare, was not sufficient to convince the cashier of my identity.
He refused, despite my protestations, to undertake any banking business for me. Even the validity of the card had to be confirmed by a phone call to a senior official.
Many people do not have a passport, and many do not have a driving licence. A government-issued identity card should suffice for any bank. – Yours, etc,
ELIZABETH CAVE,
Donegal Town.