TURKEY: Pensioner denied bank loan due to old age

ISTANBUL (Hurriyet), April 3, 2006: A 73 year-old pensioner who applied for a bank loan was denied it because of his age. Bekir Akemlek applied for a personal loan of 1000 YTL so that he could visit his daughter, who lives in Germany and who he has not seen for 17 years. Akemlek applied for the loan at the bank where he collects his state pension, but was denied it on the grounds that he is over 70. The distressed Akemlek stated, “This is the first time something has ever happened to me. They did not ask me how old I am. They did ask for a guarantor. If they had done, I would have found one. Besides, if the bank where I collect my salary will not give me a loan, then who will? Are they going to push us out of the way because we are old? They have wounded my pride. I am going to file a complaint against them.”