Bank turned-off credit card
Discussion
So, having an exciting shopping evening at Tesco last Friday (23rd) and at the checkout, I used my Visa card (as usual) and it was declined.
I was slightly concerned as it is always paid up and have been with my bank (the one that is against 'unfair banking') a long time, so used the debit card instead.
Call 'customer service' to find out the reason for the card being declined was a piece of mail was returned to the bank so the usage of the card was stopped. Now, bear in mind, this is the same bank that has all my details, has previously texted me, the same UK mailing address for the last 25 or more years and I have never been behind in a payment, it was not an abnormal use of the card and to say I was slightly more than not happy would be an understatement.
After usual meaningless and inane 'customer service' assistance, followed by the 'customer complaints' reiteration of 'this is procedure' so that and I quote 'that you would call the bank' I do begin to wonder who operates this stupid system.
According to 'Customer service', the bank does this 'lots of times'.
Which makes me think that the system obviously doesn't work, so why don't you fix it?? (ok, why ask for miracles from a bank?)
Anyway, official complaint made to the bank and I know nothing will ever be done due to the inability of the IT system design to operate even close to sensibly.
The last time I had a problem was when I came back from the USA and changed my actual residential address from the US to the UK... easy, but not when the bank employee doesn't actually press the enter key to change over. I was in the bank with the employee at the time...
Rant not really over as I read the 'customer complaints, but we don't actually do anything' department letter this morning and the words of the week are 'we are sorry, our system is automated and we can't text,call or write to you and let you know what we have screwed up yet again'
Bearing in mind that mail had allegedly been returned to the bank, one would have thought that the 'customer complaint' information letter would have been both recorded delivery (or tracked) and/or e-mailed. But then again, I don't work for a bank, so what would I know about customer service?
We will see....
I was slightly concerned as it is always paid up and have been with my bank (the one that is against 'unfair banking') a long time, so used the debit card instead.
Call 'customer service' to find out the reason for the card being declined was a piece of mail was returned to the bank so the usage of the card was stopped. Now, bear in mind, this is the same bank that has all my details, has previously texted me, the same UK mailing address for the last 25 or more years and I have never been behind in a payment, it was not an abnormal use of the card and to say I was slightly more than not happy would be an understatement.
After usual meaningless and inane 'customer service' assistance, followed by the 'customer complaints' reiteration of 'this is procedure' so that and I quote 'that you would call the bank' I do begin to wonder who operates this stupid system.
According to 'Customer service', the bank does this 'lots of times'.
Which makes me think that the system obviously doesn't work, so why don't you fix it?? (ok, why ask for miracles from a bank?)
Anyway, official complaint made to the bank and I know nothing will ever be done due to the inability of the IT system design to operate even close to sensibly.
The last time I had a problem was when I came back from the USA and changed my actual residential address from the US to the UK... easy, but not when the bank employee doesn't actually press the enter key to change over. I was in the bank with the employee at the time...
Rant not really over as I read the 'customer complaints, but we don't actually do anything' department letter this morning and the words of the week are 'we are sorry, our system is automated and we can't text,call or write to you and let you know what we have screwed up yet again'
Bearing in mind that mail had allegedly been returned to the bank, one would have thought that the 'customer complaint' information letter would have been both recorded delivery (or tracked) and/or e-mailed. But then again, I don't work for a bank, so what would I know about customer service?
We will see....
Edited by D900SP on Saturday 31st January 15:00
Banks generally rely far too much on one event predicting another, e.g. returned mail predicting credit card or account details being intercepted in the mail and thus them incurring fraud losses. It's usually devised by some over zealous risk strategist and whilst statistically valid is always arguably over cautious. Most importantly (for them) it's cheaper than actively calling people to establish actual facts.
Strawman said:
Should this say card in the thread title and be posted in another section? I thought this was going to be about a lease deal car with a black box fitted that could remotely disable the car if a payment was missed or something.
You are right, I just noticed that the 'd' is missing.....probably the bank's fault. Strawman said:
Should this say card in the thread title and be posted in another section? I thought this was going to be about a lease deal car with a black box fitted that could remotely disable the car if a payment was missed or something.
It's here! Bloke on TV said hire co disabled his rental car as they tracked it to war zone in the Ukraine. Didn't do much good as a 'local' re-enabled it!Squishey said:
How does the bank know that you haven't just left your address and are trying to disappear with their money?
Has your card been unblocked now?
I don't see the problem other than a minor inconvenience and mild embarrassment.
Let me think now, ok:Has your card been unblocked now?
I don't see the problem other than a minor inconvenience and mild embarrassment.
I have been with the bank for over 25 years, have NEVER had any mail returned, NEVER been behind in the card payment, had NO abnormal activities on the card, it is my ONLY UK Visa card, the UK residential address has been valid for 25 years, the card payment is not due for a while yet.
There is enough in my account, with the same bank, to cover this month's card payment and funnily enough my mobile-phone and e-mail works.
I also live abroad for may years and still used the card without any problems.
So, how much risk do you think I am to the bank?
Their money? surprising enough, the bank can track each transaction and if I had lost the card, I would have reported it...
I take it you work for the risk analysis department of the bank as that would explain the structure of the question.
I work in the electricity industry so have nothing to do with banking.
As I said, it's embarrassing to have your card declined and an inconvenience calling the bank to find out what's going on but that's all. As long as the card is unblocked then it's finished. I just don't understand why you got so angry and felt like you had to lodge a complaint.
As I said, it's embarrassing to have your card declined and an inconvenience calling the bank to find out what's going on but that's all. As long as the card is unblocked then it's finished. I just don't understand why you got so angry and felt like you had to lodge a complaint.
D900SP said:
I have been with the bank for over 25 years
Unfortunately the length of time you've been with a bank has been of Jack Schitt significance since about the time Captain Mainwaring left Walmington-on-Sea. Banks are only interested in new customers, not old. It's wrong but there you go.That said I baled out of Nat East 25 years ago when they tried to charge me £5 to take £30 out of my own account...
As for possible fraud, it's better that the banks are a little over-sensitive than the opposite I think.
D900SP said:
Squishey said:
How does the bank know that you haven't just left your address and are trying to disappear with their money?
Has your card been unblocked now?
I don't see the problem other than a minor inconvenience and mild embarrassment.
Let me think now, ok:Has your card been unblocked now?
I don't see the problem other than a minor inconvenience and mild embarrassment.
I have been with the bank for over 25 years, have NEVER had any mail returned, NEVER been behind in the card payment, had NO abnormal activities on the card, it is my ONLY UK Visa card, the UK residential address has been valid for 25 years, the card payment is not due for a while yet.
There is enough in my account, with the same bank, to cover this month's card payment and funnily enough my mobile-phone and e-mail works.
I also live abroad for may years and still used the card without any problems.
So, how much risk do you think I am to the bank?
Their money? surprising enough, the bank can track each transaction and if I had lost the card, I would have reported it...
I take it you work for the risk analysis department of the bank as that would explain the structure of the question.
You'll have triggered either the 'gone away' or 'account takeover' red flags.
You might want to investigate why it was returned, oiff you don't know already...
IMO this kind of hiccup simply highlights,
- That you should always carry at least two completely different credit cards, and
- That you should operate accounts at more than one bank.
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