2023-09-25 12:58:26
However, pensioner representatives see a case of age discrimination since there is no possibility for customers to apply for the bonus in the same way. The Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ) refers to the partner companies.
Both the pensioners’ association and the senior citizens’ association spoke out in principle on Monday in favor of reintroducing the repair bonus. This went on a summer break in June following several cases of fraud were uncovered. As part of the restart, some rules have been changed to increase security. The bonus is now paid out directly to customers and is no longer billed to the repair companies. However, customers must pre-finance the repair and submit an application for funding.
The fact that the bonus can only be applied for online is a thorn in the side of both associations. “The repair bonus is an important and welcome initiative, but it must be accessible to everyone. The purely digital application is a clear form of age discrimination,” said Ingrid Korosec, President of the Senior Citizens’ Association. Korosec and the President of the Pensioners Association, Peter Kostelka, are therefore also calling for an analogue option for people without internet access. This deficiency was already criticized when the repair bonus was first published, said Kostelka, “but nothing has happened so far.” It would be possible, for example, to issue paper forms at partner companies or at municipal citizen service offices.
The Chamber of Commerce, however, refers to the partner companies that take part in the funding. At the start of the new edition, the WKÖ had already asked them to “help their customers as best they might with downloading and printing out the form,” said Renate Scheichelbauer-Schuster, chairwoman of the federal trade and craft division in the WKÖ. If you would like to take advantage of the bonus but do not have internet access or a computer, you should contact your repair shop, the chamber said.
Around 2,000 companies take part in the repair bonus. In total, around 130 million euros are available for the campaign until 2026, which comes from the EU recovery and resilience fund. The repair bonus is intended to extend the lifespan of household appliances, thereby saving resources and avoiding electronic waste.
1695649271
#Repair #bonus #Pensioner #representatives #age #discrimination #Nachrichten.at
