Barclays suggested ‘mystery shoppers’ could pretend to be blind or deaf

Bank faces criticism over adverts saying people testing its services could fabricate' conditions for 45 a visit

Barclays is facing criticism over adverts for paid mystery shoppers" which suggested that people could pretend to be blind or deaf to test the services at the British bank's high street branches.

The bank hired market research firm Ipsos to carry out testing at branches. The Barclays-branded instructions said candidates for the roles would ideally be blind or deaf, but also suggested candidates could fabricate" conditions if necessary, for 45 a visit, according to the Mail on Sunday (MoS).