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Chrissie takes up arms against voice recognition

Following reports that Birmingham City Council's automated phone system is unable to recognise Birmingham accents, Chrissie Maher, our founder commented:-

"The millions of pounds which goes into building these systems is just stupid.

Anyone calling a rent arrears department will be anxious and upset anyway but to then have their voice not recognised because of their accent is awful.

The Brummie accent is instantly recognisable and should be celebrated. You can bet the people who developed these systems are posh or from London."

Media coverage:-

The Sun

Debenhams clears up coffee confusion

Debenhams has provided customers with a ‘plain English’ coffee menu, replacing potentially confusing terms such as ‘Cappuccino’ and ‘Caffe latte’ with ‘frothy coffee’ and ‘really really milky coffee’.

So, rather than ordering something that sounds exotic but which you’re not entirely sure about, you can now get precisely what you want in no uncertain terms.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 November 2012 09:13 Read more...

On the soapbox

With our press officer, Marie, having no mobile reception while holidaying in Devon, I was left to take up the soap box last week. It was a whirlwind of radio and newspaper interviews with some hefty report readings that brought me headaches and a vivid reminder of why I've spent a lifetime shredding these documents and shouting Scouse curses at the jargon masters.

Chrissie with hair in bunches and ready to take her grammar test. Photos courtesy of Paul Francis Photography

On Monday I woke up to the news that my cheques would no longer be acceptable. This wasn't because I've spent my entire pension, but because the banks felt it would be easier for them. The box came straight out and my trusty stand-in press officer Steve Jenner came to the rescue so that I could add my voice to the objections.

Of course it isn't about plain English and I'm the first to admit that I'm no financial whizz-kid. This isn't the Campaign trying to be financial experts, but just me having a say as a customer.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 August 2012 12:38 Read more...

Universal confusion over Universal Credit?

One of the most important changes to the law in this country is due to come into effect in October next year. But straight-talking supporters of Plain English Campaign fear that few of the people who this law will be relevant to will understand how it will work.

Chrissie Maher, founder of the campaign, had this warning for the Department for Work and Pensions.

‘I have read the draft Universal Credit Regulations and the Briefing Notes. They are frightening. It is almost as if we haven’t been campaigning for clarity in public documents for all these years. The Government keeps referring to ‘clarity’ and to the use of ‘plain English’ in these – but at no point has the Department for Work and Pensions consulted us on this.

Last Updated on Thursday, 27 September 2012 12:34 Read more...

Chrissie's comments

It's summer here in the UK, just in case you were wondering! I wanted to spread a little sunshine for those of you looking forward to the school holidays because there's still plenty to smile about, despite the never-ending rain and constant streams of jargon and gobbledygook.

First I hear on a radio programme about an NHS Trust banning the use of endearments and nicknames with elderly patients as it could be demeaning. It reminds me of that 'darling' and sadly now deceased, English comedian, Dick Emery and his comedy sketch where he objects to being called 'Madam' instead of 'Miss'. I'm sure that as an opinionated grandmother in her mid-seventies, I have been called a few things that I might object to, but for many of us older folk, we are just pleased when someone takes time to call us at all.

Today's papers tell us how one in four hospitals are breaking the law with poor care for elderly patients - an NHS Trust is being fined £35,000 for breaching the privacy of patients' details - a top doctor claims 130,000 elderly NHS patients are being killed as part of a Liverpool Care Pathway, a method of looking after terminally ill patients that is used in hospitals across the country. And the so-called experts are worried about respecting my dignity by banning the use of words like 'sweetie', 'dear' or 'darling'.

Last Updated on Monday, 20 August 2012 10:41 Read more...

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