Online savings scams
Senators warn that online discount and savings schemes may conceal recurring charges and expose consumers to scams, citing personal losses and calling for public warnings and scrutiny.
I support Senator Darragh O'Brien's call for a debate on the online offers he spoke about, even if it does nothing but highlight the risks people take by revealing bank details and other details to unknown entities. People need to be warned about the number of online scams being developed by agencies inside and outside the State. There is grave cause for concern, particularly if a State agency is promoting an offer that will potentially cost consumers significant amounts of money.
I, too, welcome the publication of the White Paper. I was going to ask the Leader to organise a debate in this House soon in order that we could tease out the many elements of it. I would have no difficulty with the type of consultation process Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh mentioned. This is the most significant reform in the history of the State and will eliminate our unfair and inefficient two-tier system. The consultation process is very important and significant and we need to consult as widely as possible. This will build on the very steady progress Deputy James Reilly has made since he became Minister for Health in reforming the health service. He is to be applauded for the very significant reductions we are seeing in waiting lists and people on trolleys. This is the most important element of the health reform we will see during the next decade. It is important that we consult very widely and I look forward to having that debate or consultation process initiated in this House as soon as possible.
Comment on this
Like the last speaker, I support the Leader of this side of the House, Senator Darragh O'Brien, in his remarks about the so-called online savings and bonus operations. I am thankful to the Senator because when he raised it originally, a council colleague of mine in County Kerry contacted me to say she had looked up her Visa account and found out she had lost approximately €36 over a three month period. I was laughing at the idea of it until I looked up my own and found I had been taken for €60. It happened when I booked online a train ticket from Charleville to Dublin and at the end of my transaction a pop-up box offered me a €10 discount on my next Iarnród Éireann fare. I thought it was very good form and very good business on the part of Iarnród Éireann to reward regular customers such as me. I was chuffed at the idea. I am very vigilant when signing off on any financial offers online and am reasonably computer literate and it must have been a very well worded document for me to have clicked it without realising it would cost me €12 per month in perpetuity had I not been alerted to the fact. I am very disappointed that Iarnród Éireann would be associated with such activity. With Senator Darragh O'Brien and others, I call on Iarnród Éireann to desist immediately because there must be hundreds of people, some of whom may be sitting in this Chamber, who have not checked their balances yet. There are some regular train users here such as Senator Paul Coghlan. I hope everything is all right in his account.