A 100-year-old man has filed a complaint with the Swedish Equality Ombudsman after being denied the use of his credit card due to age restrictions set by banks. The man argues that the age limit of 99 years is discriminatory and calls for a review of banking systems.
100-Year-Old Challenges Age Limit on Credit Cards as Discrimination
100-Year-Old Challenges Age Limit on Credit Cards as Discrimination
When you turn 100, you receive a letter from the king. However, according to a complaint to the Equality Ombudsman (DO), you can no longer shop with credit cards from several banks.
"I was automatically removed as a credit card customer when I passed 100," writes a 100-year-old man in the complaint.
A few days after his 100th birthday, the centenarian attempted to make an online purchase. But the transaction failed, indicating that the card was no longer valid.
The man contacted his bank, which initially couldn't find an obvious explanation. Eventually, they discovered the issue: the cardholder was too old, according to the bank's own system.
"Apparently, many years ago, they chose an age system with an endpoint at 99 years, which meant I was automatically removed as a credit card customer when I passed 100," the man writes in a complaint to the Equality Ombudsman, DO.
The bank apologized and assisted the man in completing his payment, according to the documents.
"Clear Age Discrimination"
According to the complainant, who has conducted his own research, several banks use the same system with 99 years as the upper limit. The man considers the limit a "clear age discrimination" and wishes for banks to review their systems and change the age limits.
DO will now investigate the matter and demands answers from the banks, reports the news agency Siren.