Ageism

MCOD

Hi

I wonder if anyone can tell me if it is legal to charge different rates for different members. i.e. if you are under 35 your social club membership is xxx and older it is higher??

I understand the child and adult rate but not why you can charge say 21 - 35 xx fee and 36+ xx at an increased rate.

is this legal.

M

Nemeses

MCOD wrote: »

Hi

I wonder if anyone can tell me if it is legal to charge different rates for different members. i.e. if you are under 35 your social club membership is xxx and older it is higher??

I understand the child and adult rate but not why you can charge say 21 - 35 xx fee and 36+ xx at an increased rate.

is this legal.

M

Why would you charge someone extra based on their age????

clairefontaine

Nemeses wrote: »

Why would you charge someone extra based on their age????

Car insurance does it all the time.

krudler

Nemeses wrote: »

Why would you charge someone extra based on their age????

Cinemas do, loads of places do in fact.

Nemeses

Interesting...

I should get out more often.

kneemos

MCOD wrote: »

Hi

I wonder if anyone can tell me if it is legal to charge different rates for different members. i.e. if you are under 35 your social club membership is xxx and older it is higher??

I understand the child and adult rate but not why you can charge say 21 - 35 xx fee and 36+ xx at an increased rate.

is this legal.

M

On what basis would you charge more for older people?do they use the club more or something?

MCOD

krudler wrote: »

Cinemas do, loads of places do in fact.

Mmmh yes that is quite true, I forgot about that, like woodies with their OAP discount and hairdressers etc, that is quite right, so I suppose that answers my question, no it not ilegal !!

but I was surprised at the bracket, when it is usually child v adult or student discount or OAP discounts. At 40+ ish LOL it did not expect it to impact on me until i hit the grand age of retirement.

Jeez maybe I am getting there quicker than I thought.

MCOD

Car insurance is "supposed" to base their premiums not on age but on trends and claims and unfortunately, it mean young drives get a bad rap, but at least they have something to substantiate why their are differ premiums. Golf Club membership or similar clubs ???? i just dont get it.

MCOD

No its a social club, similar to golf so I don't know how it can be justified. But as Krudler said, even cinemas do it, so may be it is not illegal, just strange.

Artful_Badger

Seniors usually get a discount, as do juniors. Never heard of anywhere that set the bar at 35 though. I suppose there are standard rates and the place can reduce it as and when they wish.

Michael D Not Higgins

I know of one Dublin sports club that charges more as you get older. It's because the older members essentially subsidise the younger ones who wouldn't be able to afford the full fees.

kneemos

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

I know of one Dublin sports club that charges more as you get older. It's because the older members essentially subsidise the younger ones who wouldn't be able to afford the full fees.

Sounds like a scam.Younger people supposedly have more disposable income.

MCOD

35 is a bit of a strange level as opposed to 36+.

Anyway, it is obviously not illegal and well I am not going to challenge it but I suppose if you were that way inclined you could put up an argument.

I would have thought that for disposable income the bracket would be 30 +

brick_top

kneemos wrote: »

Sounds like a scam.Younger people supposedly have more disposable income.

your joking right , older people have far more disposable income

Sir Humphrey Appleby

AFAIK under the Equality Act it is unlawful to discriminate,in the provision of a service, on grounds of age, with very very few specific exceptions, most place that offer age based discounts are in fact acting outside the terms of the act.
Check it out at www.equality.ie

stefan idiot jones

It's because of the cost of steam cleaning the upholstery after the oldies have urinated on them.

rubadub

Old and grey wrote: »

with very very few specific exceptions,

Can you name some of these? And point to the actual law?

It is so common I presumed it must be legal as big companies do it, or government owned ones like the zoo (if they do own it) or dublin bus etc.

In this case they might simply charge what people are willing to pay, perhaps younger people would not get as much use from the club, and so not be taking up space or using facilities.

Sir Humphrey Appleby

rubadub wrote: »

Can you name some of these? And point to the actual law?

It is so common I presumed it must be legal as big companies do it, or government owned ones like the zoo (if they do own it) or dublin bus etc.

In this case they might simply charge what people are willing to pay, perhaps younger people would not get as much use from the club, and so not be taking up space or using facilities.

I am not a lawyer, I provided a link to the Equality Authority website which will give you all the info you need, if in doubt call them.

rubadub

Old and grey wrote: »

I am not a lawyer, I provided a link to the Equality Authority website which will give you all the info you need

Thought as much, "bloke in the pub" talk. I checked the site, it did give me the info I needed, i.e. none -it's evidently perfectly legal as I expected.