Locked Halifax Account

redrabbit29

Tried transferring £18.40 to my friend today via my halifax current account. Instead of transferring it said something about a security check and asked to phone me.

I clicked the button saying "call me now", which it did, although whilst doing this it logged me out meaning I didn't have their "security verification code". I am now locked out of my account completely.

I phoned them and they said, someone from the internet department should phone you. I asked when and they said "Maybe today, over the weekend or on Monday".

Nice. Anyone else had this issue?

rb10

Go into a Halifax or Bank of Scotland branch with two forms of ID (e.g. driving licence, passport, utility bill, credit or debit card from another bank ...) and ask to reset your internet banking. They'll put you through to internet banking on the phone, who will sort it out on the spot.

redrabbit29

Thanks RB10. I'll do that now!

redrabbit29

rb10 wrote: »

Go into a Halifax or Bank of Scotland branch with two forms of ID (e.g. driving licence, passport, utility bill, credit or debit card from another bank ...) and ask to reset your internet banking. They'll put you through to internet banking on the phone, who will sort it out on the spot.

Well problem still not solved.

Went to the branch who phoned up the internet banking people with my passport and driving licence inhand.

They said I should expect a call on my home number in the next 48 hours to confirm my identity and reactivate my account. They couldn't tell me why it was locked, and said it has to be my home number they phone me on.

Great!

moneysavingallday

REdrabbit - time to change banks. HSBC are good. LTSB are crackheads.

redrabbit29

Funny, I'm also having some annoyances with HSBC - nothing major at all though, been with them for 8 years and they've been good.

Halifax have been great too apart from this small issue.

I was thinking of moving current account though from HSBC to some other bank. It's my main one.

moneysavingallday

Which bank you going to go for RedRabbit?

redrabbit29

I have accounts with:

HSBC (my main account)
Halifax (have ISA and CC with them), and also
Nationwide (don't really use that as they refuse to give me a switch card, no use for it)
Natwest (just one current account used for seperate stuff).

Do you think a bank would give you two current accounts each with a switch card? I don't want another account with ANOTHER bank as I don't want to be with too many banks as it gets overly complicated I think.

rb10

In normal circumstances a transaction for £18.40 would not cause the level of security you describe - they only phone customers if there are unusual transactions.

Also, in nearly 100% of cases where someone has been locked out of online, they can go into a branch with ID, and their security will be reset straight away.

So it looks to me as though there's possibly something Halifax haven't told you. It's probably no problem, but it could be that someone else is trying to access your account. Obviously whilst this can be frustrating for the customer, I'm sure that in this sort of situation you would prefer that they take care with your money than leave your online banking wide open.

So although it is an inconvenience, there must be a reason why they were unable to unblock you over the phone in branch. Wait and see, and do post back here when you find out. I'd be interested to know!

Personally, if this was your only problem with Halifax, I wouldn't bother changing banks over this. They are only trying to protect your money!

redrabbit29

rb10 - entirely agree.

I would feel better if they do tell me there was a bigger reason for their concern, but I think to be honest their system has just failed. It would have been alright, had it not kicked me out of internet banking whilst trying to verify my identity. I did actually get an email saying "thanks for confirming your identity....".

My main current account is with HSBC - who I am considering changing from.

Halifax have been great, and my ISA is there, so won't leave them. Do you think they'd give me two current accounts?

Mikeyorks

Were you using a PC other than your normal? As they've recently increased their security to guard against unauthorised accesses via 'alien' PCs. If you trigger this you would normally get a screen asking you to select the telephone number you wish to be contacted on? If you're on a remote PC and have only provided your home number .... they will try you on that ... then lock the account if you don't answer :-

http://www.halifax.co.uk/onlinebankinghelp/numbercollect.asp?!!!!!HOME5