@ITWorks Thanks for the link..... which shows some "options"... one of which is the one I mentioned in my post.
Next Generation Text service
"A text relay service is designed to help customers who struggle to use a phone because they have difficulty hearing or speaking. It's effectively a translation service, which converts voice-to-text or text-to-voice."
Sounds good .... BUT.... .it is NOT FREE as is the 0800 number shown at the end of that page, for an "alternative" way of contacting customer services..
"You can also contact our customer support team on 0800 432 0200 or by using our online chat service."
..Reading this paragraph.
"The cost of a text relay call should be the same as if you made the call without text relay. We know that text relay calls can take longer than a normal voice call, so we make adjustments to your call charges to make sure that you aren't out of pocket."
Does that mean that PlusNet will refund ALL charges made during one of these calls? to customers who are not yet using PN Phone service ? ?
or only to those who have already signed up,....i.e. already "provisioned".
I am not in the same league as the younger texting generation. on the speedy use of a phone keyboard, to send text messages.... in the scenario of someone wanting to know about "provisioning" I am sure they would need to send long and complicated messages, ( which can easily be done via Live Chat) and by return the messages would also be similar in manner ...
I would suspect that many "hard of hearing" and "sight impaired" disabled persons are of similar age.... i.e. retired... and similarly afflicted with slowness of texting, as I am................. however, even the younger disabled persons, would probably struggle with the text to voice option, unless they were asking a simple question with a simple YES or NO answer. .....
Whilst I appreciate there may be some "technical" or "operational" need to suspend a service.... and somewhere, someone thought about where they could make the necessary suspension... they probably do not understand the difficulties entailed, by disabled people, as already mentioned...
The current suspension does discriminate, in as much as, it makes their lives more difficult than it already is, compared to an able bodied person. Just because there is an alternative service, (NGT) which is difficult to use, does not make the suspension any less of a problem to those with hearing or sight problems.
For an example only...
IF ... a shop has a doorway, that needs a couple of steps to get into it.... and it also has a ramp..... if you suspend the access to the ramp..... disabled people have to access it via the step..... as the alternative,... it makes life more difficult,.... that is why legislation was put in place to make more places more easily accessible to disabled people
