Banks and text verification - alternative banks?
Discussion
This might seem like a minor irritation to some, but it is something that I find utterly infuriating almost on a daily basis.
I’m currently with Clydesdale/Virgin Money and have been for many years. For quite a long time now whenever I try to buy something at home with my debit card I always have to go through the text verification palaver. Now if you live in an area of decent mobile phone reception then this will be a non-issue. But when you live in an area of appalling mobile phone signal then it becomes very wearing. I’m sick to the back teeth of it frankly. These texts take an age to appear, I often have to restart my phone just to get them through at all, and by the time they arrive they’ve inevitably timed out. My available timespan on Earth is being shortened by these cursed things.
I have spoken to the bank many times about this but nothing gets altered. I can’t understand why verification can’t be done through the banking app, surely that would be the ideal route? We have decent ish broadband so this would work for us, but there is no customer option than text. This has been highlighted this morning as I’ve had random-seeming automated phone calls and a text message saying there might have been fraud committed on my card, which I obv didn’t trust and so ended up ringing the bank directly. I asked these questions during that conversation explaining how ludicrous the whole thing was, and why wasn’t the fraud raised through the app? Then I would trust it. Stupidity seems designed into systems these days. Is there a reason for this backward tech?
So apols for the rant, my actual question is; which banks don’t use text verification for routine purchases but instead use other options? Are there any? I’m desperate to move banks and take all my accounts with me.
Ludicrous thing is, I also have a Virgin Atlantic card and that uses the app for these, so why can’t Virgin Money?
I’m currently with Clydesdale/Virgin Money and have been for many years. For quite a long time now whenever I try to buy something at home with my debit card I always have to go through the text verification palaver. Now if you live in an area of decent mobile phone reception then this will be a non-issue. But when you live in an area of appalling mobile phone signal then it becomes very wearing. I’m sick to the back teeth of it frankly. These texts take an age to appear, I often have to restart my phone just to get them through at all, and by the time they arrive they’ve inevitably timed out. My available timespan on Earth is being shortened by these cursed things.
I have spoken to the bank many times about this but nothing gets altered. I can’t understand why verification can’t be done through the banking app, surely that would be the ideal route? We have decent ish broadband so this would work for us, but there is no customer option than text. This has been highlighted this morning as I’ve had random-seeming automated phone calls and a text message saying there might have been fraud committed on my card, which I obv didn’t trust and so ended up ringing the bank directly. I asked these questions during that conversation explaining how ludicrous the whole thing was, and why wasn’t the fraud raised through the app? Then I would trust it. Stupidity seems designed into systems these days. Is there a reason for this backward tech?
So apols for the rant, my actual question is; which banks don’t use text verification for routine purchases but instead use other options? Are there any? I’m desperate to move banks and take all my accounts with me.
Ludicrous thing is, I also have a Virgin Atlantic card and that uses the app for these, so why can’t Virgin Money?
mikey_b said:
Do you have WiFi Calling enabled on your phone? That should route SMS messages via wifi instead of purely relying on a ropey cell signal. And I'm assuming you have wifi working because you want to verify via the app instead of a text message.
Yes we have wifi, and wifi calling has absolutely revolutionised phone calls. But texts aren’t covered by wifi calling currently. They’re also going to be switch off 3G too aren’t they which will make the job even worse….Mrs Harpoon had a Virgin Money savings account and used to have massive problems getting the SMS codes to login to that, even if she requested the code when her phone was outside with decent signal. I wasn't convinced their SMS delivery system didn't have problems.
First Direct will let you authorise transactions via their mobile app
https://www.firstdirect.com/help/bank-accounts/deb...
You can also get £175 for switching if you've not used them before:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/compare-...
First Direct will let you authorise transactions via their mobile app
https://www.firstdirect.com/help/bank-accounts/deb...
You can also get £175 for switching if you've not used them before:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/compare-...
snuffy said:
Nationwide use their banking app as verification. It pops up on you phone as soon ad you try and buy something online.
I also have a personal acc with Nationwide, so have now remembered that prompted by you. Do they do business banking? The Virgin accs are business accs.DaveGrohl said:
snuffy said:
Nationwide use their banking app as verification. It pops up on you phone as soon ad you try and buy something online.
I also have a personal acc with Nationwide, so have now remembered that prompted by you. Do they do business banking? The Virgin accs are business accs.DaveGrohl said:
mikey_b said:
Do you have WiFi Calling enabled on your phone? That should route SMS messages via wifi instead of purely relying on a ropey cell signal. And I'm assuming you have wifi working because you want to verify via the app instead of a text message.
Yes we have wifi, and wifi calling has absolutely revolutionised phone calls. But texts aren’t covered by wifi calling currently. They’re also going to be switch off 3G too aren’t they which will make the job even worse….If you scroll down the list, you'll see that whilst all recent iPhones support both WiFi Calling and SMS, quite a lot of Samsungs and Huaweis only support the WiFi Calling aspect. Don't know what network/phone you are on, but you may find it's a phone limitation rather than WiFi Calling as a whole.
mikey_b said:
Sorry, I missed this reply at the time. Whether SMS works over wifi calling depends on the network you are with, some support it and some don't. .
My wife and I are both on O2 and use wifi calling as we have no reception at the house. She gets SMS texts fine, I don’t. We both have iPhones. I understand the OP’s frustration as quite a few sites use the same method of security - Those that are more intelligent understand not everyone has reception and offer codes to be sent to WhatsApp or call you. These days even with something as mundane as car insurance you need an account, portal, login, password, activation e-mail and christ knows what else. No look it's this simple - you give me a quote, I pay, send me the policy. Done. I'm sure you can afford a second-class stamp from the money I just sent you.
It's all about moving the workload from company to individual.
It's all about moving the workload from company to individual.
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