If you’ve been treated unfairly by a trader or a service provider, like a shop, bank or energy provider, you might have been discriminated against.
The law that covers this is called the Equality Act 2010.
It’s only discrimination if a trader or service provider treats you unfairly because of:
The Equality Act calls these ‘protected characteristics’. Marriage and civil partnership are also protected characteristics, but they only apply in the workplace.
Sometimes traders are allowed to discriminate because of age - check when traders and service providers can discriminate by age.
You might have been discriminated against if a trader or service provider:
Only some types of behaviour by a trader or service provider are considered discrimination under the Equality Act.
Direct discrimination is when a trader or service provider treats you differently and worse than someone else because of a protected characteristic. For example, you try to book a room in a B&B for you and your same-sex partner but the owner refuses to give you a double bedroom because you are in a same-sex relationship. This is direct discrimination because of sexual orientation.
Indirect discrimination is when a trader or service provider has a policy that applies to everyone so it seems fair, but it disadvantages people who share a protected characteristic. For example, a shop doesn’t allow customers to cover their heads so people who cover their heads for religious reasons can’t enter the shop. This could be indirect discrimination because of religion.
Indirect discrimination can be lawful if the trader has a good reason for the policy. For example, an activity centre says customers must wear protective helmets and clothing for some activities. This could disadvantage people who wear religious clothing - but the activity centre can justify the policy for health and safety reasons.
Traders and service providers must make adjustments if:
For example, you're visually impaired and ask a phone shop assistant to provide a copy of an instruction manual for a new smartphone in large print. The assistant refuses, saying it's accessible online. A reasonable adjustment would be to have a large-print version of the manual for customers to read in the shop.
Traders should anticipate what reasonable adjustments disabled customers will need. This means they should have already made the reasonable adjustment, but if they haven’t you can ask for one.
Discrimination arising from disability is when you’re treated unfairly because of something connected to your disability, and not the disability itself. For example, you have a visual impairment and a shop owner refuses to let you in the shop because you have an assistance dog.
Pregnancy and maternity discrimination is when you’re treated unfairly because:
You don’t have to show you’ve been treated differently to someone else. You just need to show you’ve been disadvantaged or treated badly because you’re pregnant or recently had a baby.
For example, you’re breastfeeding your baby in a museum and a member of staff asks you to leave because other visitors have complained. This is unlawful maternity discrimination.
Harassment is unwanted or unwelcome behaviour that you find offensive or makes you feel intimidated or humiliated. This could be abusive or threatening comments, jokes or behaviour. Only some types of harassment are unlawful under the Equality Act.
Harassment by a trader or service provider is unlawful discrimination if it’s related to:
For example, you’re eating in a restaurant and you overhear the waiting staff making transphobic jokes about you, which makes you feel embarrassed and intimidated. This is harassment.
Victimisation is when someone treats you badly because you complain about discrimination or help someone who has been the victim of discrimination. For example, the bar staff at your local pub racially abused one of your friends. You complained to the manager about it and he barred you from the pub. This is victimisation.
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Page last reviewed on 30 September 2019