Co-op Refuses Customer Service due to Russian Birthplace, Ignoring UK Residency and Citizenship Status
A Co-operative Food customer was left "shocked" and "disappointed" after being told that the company's will-writing service refused to provide its services to them solely because they were born in Russia. The customer, who had moved to the UK as a child and renounced their Russian citizenship in 1999, had requested an update to their existing will, which included their partner and daughter as beneficiaries.
Despite providing proof of dual British and German nationality, as well as revoking their Russian citizenship, the Co-operative Food advised the customer that it would not be able to provide its services due to "specialist legal advice" instructing the company not to serve anyone born in Russia. The customer was asked to produce a certificate proving they had renounced their Russian citizenship, which they claimed was an unreasonable and discriminatory request.
Under UK law, the sanctions regime imposed on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine is intended to prevent individuals connected to the Russian government from engaging in financial or legal activities. However, it is unclear whether this regulation allows companies to discriminate against customers based solely on their place of birth.
The HM Treasury told the Guardian that its regulations take into account a customer's current residency status rather than where they were born. The company, however, claims that it needs to carry out "correct due diligence" to comply with these rules and that serving someone born in Russia could pose serious consequences for the business.
While it may be challenging for individuals born in Russia to access certain services, it is unacceptable for companies like Co-operative Food to refuse service based solely on a customer's birthplace. The Guardian urges consumers to speak out against such discriminatory practices and calls on companies to reconsider their policies.
A Co-operative Food customer was left "shocked" and "disappointed" after being told that the company's will-writing service refused to provide its services to them solely because they were born in Russia. The customer, who had moved to the UK as a child and renounced their Russian citizenship in 1999, had requested an update to their existing will, which included their partner and daughter as beneficiaries.
Despite providing proof of dual British and German nationality, as well as revoking their Russian citizenship, the Co-operative Food advised the customer that it would not be able to provide its services due to "specialist legal advice" instructing the company not to serve anyone born in Russia. The customer was asked to produce a certificate proving they had renounced their Russian citizenship, which they claimed was an unreasonable and discriminatory request.
Under UK law, the sanctions regime imposed on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine is intended to prevent individuals connected to the Russian government from engaging in financial or legal activities. However, it is unclear whether this regulation allows companies to discriminate against customers based solely on their place of birth.
The HM Treasury told the Guardian that its regulations take into account a customer's current residency status rather than where they were born. The company, however, claims that it needs to carry out "correct due diligence" to comply with these rules and that serving someone born in Russia could pose serious consequences for the business.
While it may be challenging for individuals born in Russia to access certain services, it is unacceptable for companies like Co-operative Food to refuse service based solely on a customer's birthplace. The Guardian urges consumers to speak out against such discriminatory practices and calls on companies to reconsider their policies.
i was at coop food the other day buying some bread and the cashier asked me where i was from and i said russia she got all nervous and changed the subject so fast lol guess what now they wont do will writing for anyone born in russia thats just mental 
like what even is the logic here? its not like they're gonna give away state secrets or something 
its just a bunch of discriminatory bs that needs to be called out!
this is just crazy! a company's refusal to serve someone because they were born in Russia? that's not cool, fam 
. the customer had already moved to the UK as a kid and renounced their Russian citizenship, but still they get shut down by Co-op 
. and what's with the "specialist legal advice" that says they can't serve anyone from Russia? 
is that even a real thing? 
. It's not right!
. We should all speak out against this kind of discrimination and encourage companies to review their practices 
.
.
it's all about residency status apparently but companies gotta do more than just follow rules they gotta think about their customers too. i mean if co-op food can turn someone down like that, what's next gonna happen to ppl who got born in other countries and just moved here? 
should be a law change or something so ppl get the service they deserve no matter where they were born 
1 in 5 people born in Russia have moved to the UK and have renounced their Russian citizenship, yet Co-op is still refusing service to them?! 
According to my research, over 200,000 Russians have moved to the UK since the Cold War era, and many of them are now living in the UK with valid residency status! 
So what's the hold up?! 
Newsflash: being born in Russia doesn't equal being pro-Russian or whatever. And for them to ask for a certificate proving you've renounced your citizenship is just plain ridiculous 
. Companies gotta get over themselves, I mean, we're not exactly living in a Cold War era anymore 
. We should all be speaking out against this kinda nonsense 
. Like, come on! Companies have a responsibility to serve customers based on their current situation, not where they were born. It's discriminatory and unfair, in my opinion 
. And maybe companies like Co-operative Food will realize that this kind of policy is just plain wrong 
! I think the Co-op is being super unfair here. Just because someone was born in Russia doesn't mean they should be denied service by a company in the UK. They've clearly moved around and have got British/German nationality, so that's proof enough for me! It's not like they're still affiliated with the Russian government or anything. I mean, it's all about residency status and citizenship, right? 
This is just ridiculous, if someone was born in Russia and moved here as a kid, shouldn't their residency status be the deciding factor, not where they got their first diaper change? 
The company's excuse about "correct due diligence" sounds like corporate-speak for "we don't want to do your will because it's inconvenient". 
its not like its a choice to be russian lol. 
Can't believe a company would treat someone like that just 'cause of where they were born 
I mean, I get it, sanctions and all that, but does it have to be so extreme? 
. If Co-op Food is gonna be all judgy on someone just 'cause of where they were born, then maybe we should start questioning their whole business model 
. Like, don't they have better things to do than be treated like that? 
This is wild how ridiculous the reason they gave for refusing service sounds - "specialist legal advice"