The O2 has announced a deal with SignVideo that promises to bring huge benefits to deaf and hard of hearing customers that use British Sign Language (BSL).
Fans wishing to book tickets or make enquiries to the London venue are now able to liaise directly with the venue’s customer service helpline through a link to SignVideo on The O2 website. This will connect them to a fully qualified SignVideo BSL interpreter who will relay the conversation in real time to The O2 customer service agent.
The service is offered free to all customers requiring it. SignVideo is in addition to the Texttype facility already on offer and a dedicated accessible booking line that handles over 31,000 special access requests annually.
“We’re thrilled that The O2 has chosen us to help deliver BSL customer services,” said Jeff McWhinney, chairman and founder of SignVideo. “The O2 is already supporting its deaf BSL customers by offering performance interpreting, so it’s a natural extenstion to add customer services in BSL too.
“Using text-based services like email and webchat for customer services actually creates more of a barrier for us deaf BSL users, and as a result we struggle to gain easy access to help when we need it. I am sure the deaf BSL community will be delighted that they can now contact The O2 in their own language, quickly and easily, and we would encourage other entertainment venues to follow The O2’s great example.”
