A pensioner refused a car insurance quote has been awarded damages and has had his claim of age discrimination upheld by the Equality Tribunal.
Mr Jim Ross (77) claimed that Royal & Sun Alliance discriminated against him on the grounds of age when he was refused a car insurance quotation by the company.
The company argued its refusal to quote was not unlawful as it was covered by an exemption under the Equal Status Act. Under the act, difference in treatment may be justifiable if based on actuarial or statistical data.
However, the Tribunal Equality Officer found the respondents failed to satisfy him that the actuarial or statistical data had come from a source on whichit was reasonable to rely.
Nor was he satisfied that their "across-the-board" policy was reasonable as it did not take all relevant factors into account in considering individual requests.
The Equality Officer said that the complete refusal based solely on a person's age was not acceptable.
The Equality Officer upheld Mr Ross' complaint of discrimination and ordered that the sum of €2,000 be paid for loss of amenity suffered.
Age Action Ireland welcomed the decision and stated it "fully endorses the view of the Equality Authority that it is not acceptable to refuse a quotation based solely on a person's age".
Spokesman Mr Paul Murray said: "It is outrageous that older people should be the targets for unfair pricing, no matter what the service."