Thanks to you, our members, RNID's loop campaign is gaining momentum. The more feedback we receive, the more easily we can identify and target the worst offenders, so we asked you: Have you experienced any problems with loops in shops and services? Not a member? Join us today to get One in Seven magazine with expert product reviews and advice on managing hearing loss, and the chance to have your say on the issues that affect you.

Terence Paget from Birmingham writes: Many! Shops, banks, post offices and the like which advertise their existence but, when one asks for a loop to be used, the cashier does not know how to use them or they are not charged, or "It's broken and we are getting it repaired."

Separately, I am appalled at the lack of the existence of loops, on the one hand, and the severe lack of understanding on how loops operate, on the other, by local authority departments. I am in correspondence currently with not less than five separate departments within my local authority area (a large city), and also with the police.

Jennifer Deakin from Retford writes: My problem has been one of not being able to find places where loops are available. This is in my personal life and also in my work environment, which is crazy.

I am a clinical psychologist working with people with a learning disability (who incidentally have extensive sensory deficits) and nowhere can I find an interview, training or meeting room that is looped. How bad is that?!

Frances Dunkley from Southend-on-Sea writes: I have found that the worst offenders are banks; sometimes the loop is not switched on, and the staff appear not to know anything about it or how to make it work. I have asked to speak to a cashier privately rather than have my business broadcast to the whole bank, but they are not happy with this.  On one famous occasion, the cashier wrote out her reply on a piece of paper and pushed it across the desk...

Stephen Ward from Northwood, Middlesex writes: I only started wearing hearing aids a couple of weeks ago (a pair of Oticon Epoq XW RITE Powers) but was thrilled at the prospect of taking my partner and step-daughter to the Barbican to see the latest 'Harry Potter' film, and testing out the 'T' setting. I'd even made sure with my audiologist that they came with a 'T' setting, as I was looking forward to going out to the cinema again - something I haven't done for quite some time.

At first, the sound effects sounded okay, although I needed to turn the volume up quite a bit. But, as soon as the dialogue started, it was as if I'd switched my hearing aids off: the sound was muffled, and totally incoherent. Disappointed, I therefore switched my aids back to their normal program for the rest of the film.

Diana Kinsey from Weston writes: On a visit to the theatre I asked for a neck loop, unfortunately none of them were compatible with my hearing aid. On another occasion at a concert hall the neck loop was directional which meant I had to hold it in position for the whole of the concert.

Deborah Kapaj from Maidstone writes: Yes. I asked for the loop system in Maidstone town centre Post Office (Bank Street), the cashier brought one of the systems to the counter as in your photo, but she wasn't sure how to turn it on. She then realised it wasn’t charged up. I said it wasn't good enough not knowing how to use it nor having the unit ready for use and I muddled through and lipread instead.

I found this very annoying at the time as the loop system was clearly displayed and you would expect the post office to get something as simple as this right.

Dan Weinberg from Barnet writes: Yes. Shops are a particular problem, they have the sign up but the loop is either not on or non existent. The best I've found is station ticket booths. Also a loop was used when I was doing some training and it made things so much better. 

Some of the worst places that have loops are older cinemas. Quite often I can hear the film next door but not the one I'm watching. Newer cinemas tend to be better and I can at least hear the film I'm watching. However, I tend to use the digital aids I've got without the loop setting in cinemas as I can still hear it if I'm near to a speaker.

Paul Kempton from Cardiff, Wales writes: Frequently!!! [ grrrr! ] – I'm usually told that it is MY hearing aid that is at fault! Which - frankly - compounds the problem and makes me feel even angrier. The simple truth is that loops are poorly maintained, not widely understood and inadequate for need.

I work for a large Local Authority in Wales (the largest actually), and am in a constant battle with them over the loops in their County Hall meeting rooms. They seem incapable of understanding that a small "discrete" microphone, stuck in the ceiling, cannot cope with a barn like meeting room alone!

When I suggest they try alternatives, the cost factor comes in - would this apply for mobility access? No, because it is a visible disability and mine is not.   I have also experienced problems in Swansea County Hall, in the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) buildings and once, when representing someone at a DLA Tribunal (I am a Welfare Rights Officer). They didn't have a working loop either! It simply isn't good enough. Shops are as bad, in my experience.

Anthony Wilson from Wigan writes: Not yet. Find quality of sound much better than hearing aid on its own. Particularly like funerals these days if the church has loop system! Also banks, but I often forget to switch over. Not a great shopper, Tesco's, the bookies, banks, coffee shops, newspaper shops, caravan dealers, most of these without loops. I would love loop systems on cycle tracks and canal towpaths. Dream on!

A member writes: I have had a number of problems in banks - HSBC in Beaconsfield constantly tell me the loop is on but it is not working and they don't seem to realise the difference it makes. Local supermarkets don't even have loop systems. The local post office only has one loop and I am invariably at the wrong window!

A member writes: I'd like to highlight the Sheriff Court in Dingwall. Despite drawing my problems to the attention of the authorities, I still can hear nothing. I am assured the loop has been checked, and so I think the problem lies in the lack of any microphone to pick up the speech of the key people.

The case against me (minor motoring offence to which I have pleaded not guilty) has yet to come to Trial and I wonder if it is legitimate for this to continue if I cannot hear? (I am defending myself.)

A member writes: Most NHS Wards (like the one I work on) don't have any type of loop system in place at all! Other than this, the lack of knowledge given to staff (through no fault of their own) means that most don't fully understand what 'Loop' is! So if they did have it they wouldn't know about it anyway...

A member writes: In a theatre I was given a loop but it did not seem to be on at all and so I missed quite a bit. In a church the loop was on but it was easier to hear without it, and sound was either too soft or too loud depending on the speaker.

At request I used a loop at a conference. It was great in the plenary session and the AV team were helpful, but there was no loop available in workshop room (I was a speaker in the workshop and wanted to hear floor questions.)  At a charity meeting I attended the speakers didn’t want to use the microphones (not realising how loops work.)

A member writes: I recently went to see the comedian Russell Howard at St George's Hall in Bradford. The website said they had loop facilities, but when I asked at the box office whether I needed to use an infrared receiver or just switch to T the attendant didn't know what a loop was.

They referred me to the kiosk upstairs. So I waited in the long queue with everyone buying drinks and sweets, only to be referred back down to the box office.

Time to ask for the manager. Thankfully he knew exactly what I needed. Pity he hadn't educated his staff. After 30 minutes of faffing we arrived in our seats just as the warm up act came on. Phew!

A few days later my Mum rang the same venue to book tickets for another production. Once again the person on the end of the phone didn't know what a loop was! Clearly education is still needed...

A member writes: I have found that in most banks, except the Nat West (very 'on the ball') you have to notify them several days in advance if you want the portable loop charging for use in the interview room. The Post Office counter loop is not always working, or staff don't understand it.

A member writes: I visited Empire Cinema at Great Park, Rubery, Birmingham. I was given a loop to enable me to use the loop in the cinema. When it didn't work we worked our way through all six of the appliances available. They ranged from hearing nothing to dreadful loud noise similar to scrunching up crisp packets!

I eventually had a refund and left my hearing friends to enjoy the film. I spoke to the manager who, though pleasant enough, knew nothing about how they worked. He confessed to having had no training. On previous visits I didn't even get that far as the staff just looked blankly and said no one else had ever asked for a loop system. The manager said he would enquire further and make my point to their head office and get back to me. Three months later I am still waiting.

Monica  Mackay from Cupar, Fife, writes: Oh yes, I have indeed and sent you a copy of my complaint to the Royal Bank of Scotland. I have been in the bank since and the rest of the staff came up and apologised and I assume that the clerk at fault had 'her fingers rapped'.  But it was very upsetting.

In June 2009 I had what must have been the worst experience of RBS banking in the over 50 years that I have banked with RBS, and following this experience I wrote to the bank to tell them about it. It was such a disappointment considering that my husband and I had excellent service the last time we were in the bank opening ISAs.

An elderly deaf friend asked me to accompany her to check on her direct debits. On arrival at the enquiries desk, we noticed a sign for using the loop system. Since my hearing is worse than my friend’s, I asked for the system to be checked to see if it was on. It was not a fixed system (although give the clerk her due she did know what a loop system was), so the clerk went off to find it.

The clerk came back and reported that it was at Ladybank branch and so not available. I thought it reasonable to ask for the sign to be removed since the loop was not available. I asked twice and I was totally ignored as the clerk turned to my friend to deal with her account.

Since my elderly deaf friend required all her time to deal with the account, I stopped asking about the loop at that time. On the closure of the business for which we had originally come into the bank, I asked again for the loop sign to be removed. The clerk was exceedingly rude. She informed that she had not removed the sign when I first asked for it to be removed as "she had not liked my tone"!

The clerk then received a lesson on why deaf people need to use a loop so that they can hear their voices to obtain the correct level of sound and tone.  No loop means no sound. Your clerk did then remove the notice with very bad grace.

She did not like me, my manner or disability and she let me know that by her complete failure to understand that she is there to provide a service to all, not just to those people she knows and likes. As I said earlier, we had excellent service from your bank in the spring.  It is just such a pity that RBS do not provide 'Deaf Awareness Training' to all your staff.