Blue Light Card 4+

Application process

Absolutely astounded at the lack of understanding of the people processing applications. If unsuccessful you just get a standard message stating that you should reapply and look at the FAQ’s for types of ID. I uploaded a copy of my service pension monthly statement as per requirements only to receive the same standard response about 5 times. Despite me telling them that I am a veteran that retired in 2006, therefore, can’t send a photocopy of my ID nor pay statement valid within the last 3 months because I have neither. Nor a copy of my discharge paperwork. As the only way to contact them is via email the conversation is never clarified. “What have I done wrong?” Ridiculous. You need an alternative way of contacting yourselves otherwise I won’t be a unique case with respect to the application process

Developer Response ,

Hi, we would love to try and help you and get this resolved. Please reach out to me: [email protected]

Commercialising public sentiment for service professions is immoral

Staff of public facing organisations in the NHS and other service professions have historically received good will discounts from the kindness of shopkeepers. This is based on showing a staff ID or other evidence of being employed at the NHS. This commercial organisation creating an additional barrier and profiting from this function strikes me as objectionable. It is commodifying the goodwill that sometimes makes working in public sector professions such as the NHS feel worthwhile. I expect the next step is being charged by a middle manager to receive thank you cards from patients.

Most shop assistants thankfully do not care, and would accept my staff ID without further need for the blue light card charade. I have only met one person who has decided, despite my staff ID and multiple forms of evidence that I am a doctor and employed in the NHS, continues to require the blue light card as well. This person was not the most pleasant encounter I have had whilst shopping; going through a prolonged authorisation process to tell me that I am a doctor, and I work in the NHS, feels much the same as this encounter.

Developer Response ,

We’re really sorry to hear you feel this way. At Blue Light Card we pride ourselves on helping our members make savings across an extensive range of discounts. We work hard to bring discounts we know our members will love from retail partners across the UK. In order to secure these discounts we need to ensure that every one who has a Blue Light Card is eligible. This means we have a strict ID approval system so that we can ensure our members are employed by the emergency services, NHS, social care sector and armed forces.

Discrimination

I work at a NHS Covid Test and Trace centre and BLC was recommended to me and my colleagues as we are front line key workers hoping to benefit from the discounts. Myself and a few others were refused saying we don’t qualify, however other colleagues were successful and are using their BLC. I was told they was awarded in error but are still using their card.
I can see BLC rules, however I can’t see an issue of awarding Test and Trace assistants a card and maybe validate it for maybe one year until the pandemic eases. Just a thought.