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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| HomeServe sends racial slur in letter to customer | HomeServe sends racial slur in letter to customer |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A home emergency repairs business has sent a letter to a customer in which his name was changed to include the word "Paki". | A home emergency repairs business has sent a letter to a customer in which his name was changed to include the word "Paki". |
| Amit Damani-Patel, from Leicester, said he was appalled to read the letter - addressed to "Mr Damani-Paki" - from HomeServe's gas service department. | Amit Damani-Patel, from Leicester, said he was appalled to read the letter - addressed to "Mr Damani-Paki" - from HomeServe's gas service department. |
| He said: "I was shocked, I had to read it three or four times. I could not believe what I was reading." | He said: "I was shocked, I had to read it three or four times. I could not believe what I was reading." |
| HomeServe said it had begun an "urgent investigation". | HomeServe said it had begun an "urgent investigation". |
| 'Stomach churned' | 'Stomach churned' |
| In a statement, the Walsall-based company said: "We are very sorry for any offence that has been caused." | In a statement, the Walsall-based company said: "We are very sorry for any offence that has been caused." |
| It added: "We are very proud of our diverse and inclusive culture and absolutely do not tolerate anything of this nature. | It added: "We are very proud of our diverse and inclusive culture and absolutely do not tolerate anything of this nature. |
| "We send millions of customer communications each year and have never received a complaint like this before." | "We send millions of customer communications each year and have never received a complaint like this before." |
| Mr Damani-Patel, who is of Indian origin, said the letter "made my stomach churn". | |
| He said: "I actually thought it was a joke - I thought there is no way this can be real." | He said: "I actually thought it was a joke - I thought there is no way this can be real." |
| The 31-year-old, who is currently working in Texas, added: "They have no idea about my heritage - I am British born and bred." | |
| 'Horrified' | 'Horrified' |
| The Race Equality Centre in Leicester said it "finds it difficult to see" how it could have been accidental. | |
| "Deliberate or not, there clearly needs to be a thorough investigation by HomeServe to establish how such a letter could be posted by one of their employees to their customer," a spokeswoman said. | |
| People also took to Facebook to criticise the firm. | People also took to Facebook to criticise the firm. |
| Josh Bryan wrote: "When I realised what someone had done I was horrified. It's 2015, hard to believe there are still people who find that kind of thing funny." | Josh Bryan wrote: "When I realised what someone had done I was horrified. It's 2015, hard to believe there are still people who find that kind of thing funny." |
| Paresh Daman wrote: "This doesn't look like a mistake. Wow HomeServe I wonder how many Asian customers you'll still have after this." | Paresh Daman wrote: "This doesn't look like a mistake. Wow HomeServe I wonder how many Asian customers you'll still have after this." |
| In February 2013, HomeServe was fined £30.6m for poor complaints handling and mis-selling, according to the Guardian website. | In February 2013, HomeServe was fined £30.6m for poor complaints handling and mis-selling, according to the Guardian website. |
| In 2011, the company suspended its entire sales workforce amid fears staff had been mis-selling its products. | In 2011, the company suspended its entire sales workforce amid fears staff had been mis-selling its products. |
| HomeServe said it would respond to Mr Damani-Patel as soon as the investigation was completed. | HomeServe said it would respond to Mr Damani-Patel as soon as the investigation was completed. |