Well done Natwest

[Pigeon]

I found my card blocked today. Apparently someone had cloned it and tried a test purchase of something for £3 in London. The bank spotted it straight away and put the kybosh on it. So well done to them - while it is a PITA having to wait for the new card at this time of year, at least I haven't lost any money.

Now the interesting thing is this. I am resolutely old-fahsioned in the way of not using the card if I can pay by non-electronic means. So in the past couple of months, apart from ATMs which I always check for unauthorised additions, I have only used the card at four suppliers - Dabs, Farnell, Metronet (the ISP), and SP Services, from whom I tried to order the Roadcraft video. Now, the first three I have dealt with before, on many occasions, but the fourth one was the first time. And they seem rather less together than the others. They emailed me to say they were out of stock, which situation persisted for some time, and after a while I got fed up and cancelled the order, so there was never actually a transaction made to show that they had had my card details. So I have suspicions...

The bank said it wasn't worth reporting it to the police, because the fraud hadn't actually been successful and if it had they'd have informed the police anyway. But it seems to me that the atypically small number of possible suspects in my particular case might make it a useful item in someone's investigation... any professionals care to comment?

[simpo two]

Unfortunately I fear that's just the kind of private detective work the police don't persue. The syndrome is 'NIH' or 'Not invented here'.

[matchless]

I am not suprised really as Nat West are part of the "Royal Bank of Scotland" group now and they are a really superb Bank!, I can testify for them as years ago I worked for a "Spiv" who paid me when he felt like it and the Bank always covered my Debts knowing my money would go in eventually!, hows that for service

matchless

[Pigeon]

I didn't mean in terms of an investigation into my card in particular; I was thinking it would be potentially useful for tracing suppliers of credit card details. Or is that what you were saying they won't be doing anyway?

[nel]

I had a similar instance the first time that I bought from a particular internet site, but in my case they spent £600 buying train tickets in Germany. Natwest called me, stopped the card and paid all fraudulent use themselves - a very good service.

Because most of my card use is in France where UK cards suffer alot of fraud, they quite frequently call me on my mobile to check purchases. On a couple of occasions I've called my wife while she's still in the shoe shop to ask her what shoes she's bought this time - she's convinced that I'm paying Natwest to spy on her!

[matchless]

yet my credit card company told me card fraud is very rare in France since chip and pin was introduced there years ago? HUH?

matchless

[nel]

matchless said:

yet my credit card company told me card fraud is very rare in France since chip and pin was introduced there years ago? HUH? matchless

My British cards with chips only started working here a couple of years ago. Even now there are some big retailers here that require signature instead. The problem is, because they are so used to chipped cards they don't even know that they're supposed to check the signature (for what it's worth!) - indeed they normally give me back the card before I sign.

Maybe things are better now with chip and pin, but I was told by a Natwest operative a few years ago that CC fraud using british cards in France was a particular problem for them.

[TypeR]

In the days before chip & pin, my local petrol stations never looked at the signatures on the backs of cards. Their attititudes was that they were covered for fraud by the banks so they didn't really give a stuff who's card was being used. If the transaction was below the £50.00 floor limit, the transaction didn't even need electronic authorisation!!

[ZR1cliff]

matchless said:

I am not suprised really as Nat West are part of the "Royal Bank of Scotland" group now and they are a really superb Bank!, I can testify for them as years ago I worked for a "Spiv" who paid me when he felt like it and the Bank always covered my Debts knowing my money would go in eventually!, hows that for service matchless

Nat West are a top bank,ive been with them for years and have had hassle free banking, one time i had my card nicked,they gave me the address's of the places my card was used at(Off licenses & garages,for fags & booze) and i went round to all the places and got them to save the videos for the police,the police got a conviction and Nat West made no bones about giving me my money back from the criminal abuse.

[BliarOut]

There is another way

If ever I make a high value purchase on any of my cards I always take the mobile with me as I know it will ring in about 30 seconds once the transaction starts. Causes the odd delay, but they do a good job of looking after my money. Not only that, they give me a direct line to my account manager if I need to chat about anything. Been with them 25 years and still happy with them.

[vipers]

BliarOut said:

There is another way If ever I make a high value purchase on any of my cards I always take the mobile with me as I know it will ring in about 30 seconds once the transaction starts. Causes the odd delay, but they do a good job of looking after my money. Not only that, they give me a direct line to my account manager if I need to chat about anything. Been with them 25 years and still happy with them.

Youve lost me there, how does this work please?

[BliarOut]

If I buy anything over about £300 they ring my mobile to make sure it's me that's using it. Usual security type questions etc. If I don't authorise it, the purchase doesn't get authorised. Simple, but effective

[trooperiziz]

Pigeon said:

I found my card blocked today. Apparently someone had cloned it and tried a test purchase of something for £3 in London. The bank spotted it straight away and put the kybosh on it. So well done to them - while it is a PITA having to wait for the new card at this time of year, at least I haven't lost any money. Now the interesting thing is this. I am resolutely old-fahsioned in the way of not using the card if I can pay by non-electronic means. So in the past couple of months, apart from ATMs which I always check for unauthorised additions, I have only used the card at four suppliers - Dabs, Farnell, Metronet (the ISP), and SP Services,

Have you not used your card in other shops offline? Paying for petrol, restaurants, etc...?

Your card could have been cloned the old fashioned way.

[pdV6]

trooperiziz said:

Pigeon said: I am resolutely old-fahsioned in the way of not using the card if I can pay by non-electronic means. Have you not used your card in other shops offline? Paying for petrol, restaurants, etc...?

I'm guessing that the entire point of the post was that this isn't the case.

[Pigeon]

Correct If it's not an Internet purchase I pay cash. I am perhaps a little odd that way, but it works for me.

[BliarOut]

Pigeon said:

Correct If it's not an Internet purchase I pay cash. I am perhaps a little odd that way, but it works for me.

Well you do ride an MZ