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Natwest... How can they get away with it!?

I went to pay in a cheque and the woman at the counter said that Natwest are, too improve security, checking accounts more often and when they are checking your account you cannot access any of your money. She said that I needed to get an emegency card in case my account was being checked so that I could still pay for things, would I like her to set this up for me for free.

'Emergency card?', I said, 'so I'd still be able to access my money, I'd just need a different card?'

She replied by saying that Natwest do a free emergency card which she could set up - the Natwest Mastercard.

'Woah, hang on a minute', says I, 'you're saying I should get your "free" CREDIT CARD so I can pay for things whilst you stop me accessing my acount?'

Not exactly free if it's a credit card! How can Natwest stop you accessing your account and then promote their credit card as a 'free emergency card'?!?
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Comments

  • seeya23
    seeya23 Posts: 2,330 Forumite
    I went to pay in a cheque and the woman at the counter said that Natwest are, too improve security, checking accounts more often and when they are checking your account you cannot access any of your money. She said that I needed to get an emegency card in case my account was being checked so that I could still pay for things, would I like her to set this up for me for free.

    'Emergency card?', I said, 'so I'd still be able to access my money, I'd just need a different card?'

    She replied by saying that Natwest do a free emergency card which she could set up - the Natwest Mastercard.

    'Woah, hang on a minute', says I, 'you're saying I should get your "free" CREDIT CARD so I can pay for things whilst you stop me accessing my acount?'

    Not exactly free if it's a credit card! How can Natwest stop you accessing your account and then promote their credit card as a 'free emergency card'?!?


    THEY GOT BALLS :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
  • medders2604
    medders2604 Posts: 417 Forumite
    There was another thread with similar a few days ago a student being asked if he had recieved his free emergency card.
    It needs reporting for misselling although not sure who you should report it to. Someone will be along shortly with details of who to report it to no doubt
    :D:rolleyes:;):cool::o:rolleyes:;):o:o:cool:
  • butler_helen
    butler_helen Posts: 1,866 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    I think that's a sales pitch gone wrong! it should have been;

    customer: hi, can I pay in my cheque *please

    sales person: yes of course, whilst im waiting, what would happen if you were unable to use your debit card for any reason?

    customer: that would never happen

    sales person: it may well do, for example if you were abroad and your card was stopped because we considered the spending to be unauthorised.

    customer: hmmm well what would I do? *insert blank look*

    sales person: a credit card provides 'free' access to money 24/7 and is not linked to your bank account.

    customer: 'yes please, sign me up! I realise if I were to have my account 'checked' I would need a different card and it's free offering sounds great'

    sales person: sign here please...


    *only insert politeness if customer is well brought up and has not stood in a queue for hours
    If you aim for the moon if you miss at least you will land among the stars!
  • isplumm
    isplumm Posts: 2,211 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Hmmm ....

    Never heard of this before .... but I have heard of cards being checked at the point of sale .... the retailer would be told to call a number & you would need to answer some security questions .... but this is normally for large amounts ... also sometimes retailers don't understand the message, so just tell you the card has been declined!!!

    I just wander whether this was an underhanded selling method .... get you take out a credit card??

    You weren't saying to them that you were planning on going abroad soon ... maybe they meant that?

    Mark
    We’ve had to remove your signature. Please check the Forum Rules if you’re unsure why it’s been removed and, if still unsure, email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • Kavanne
    Kavanne Posts: 5,093 Forumite
    edited 11 June 2009 at 5:56PM
    I have credit cards. They are free as long as you pay them off when the bills come. Which was useful when my RBS card declined at a shop. I don't have my credit card with RBS though ;)

    Oh and my credit card provider gives me cashback so technically, by using the credit card, I come out on top!!
    Kavanne
    Nuns! Nuns! Reverse!

    'I do my job, do you do yours?'

  • isplumm wrote: »

    You weren't saying to them that you were planning on going abroad soon ... maybe they meant that?

    Mark

    I was just paying in a cheque!
    I think they're hoping that people will say 'oh yes sign me up for your emergency card' without questionning what it is.
    I do think it's quite shocking that they are promoting credit cards in such a concealed way.

    I know that credit cards are 'free' if you pay them off - but I think some people, as is evident from the media, forget to pay the cards off and end up with debt.
  • Kazipoo
    Kazipoo Posts: 806 Forumite
    isplumm wrote: »
    Hmmm ....

    Never heard of this before .... but I have heard of cards being checked at the point of sale .... the retailer would be told to call a number & you would need to answer some security questions .... but this is normally for large amounts ... also sometimes retailers don't understand the message, so just tell you the card has been declined!!!

    I just wander whether this was an underhanded selling method .... get you take out a credit card??

    You weren't saying to them that you were planning on going abroad soon ... maybe they meant that?

    Mark

    Not always for large amounts, sometimes just more than normal usage makes them decline... for example, last Christmas, went to Game, bought a PS3.... went to toys r us bought a DS, went to argos and bought some odds and ends... went to Sainsbury's for something for tea, then bobbed into Currys Digital to pick up a memory card for a measly £8 and it was declined!!! After the amounts I had spent in previous stores it seems ridiculous to put a stop on an £8 sale. To add insult to injury, they asked me for the password on my account, I told them I would not give it to them as it is my online banking password and i would give them randomly selected letters or numbers as per usual, they said, no, not the online banking password, the password you set up when you opened the account..... I didn't set one up when I opened the account :confused:... yes you did.... after a bit of too-ing and fro-ing, turns out that they wanted the answer to the security question, but they couldn't tell me what the security question was :mad: In the end, I reeled off a list of possible passwords/answers and as luck would have it, stumbled upon the right one :T

    In my opinion, I think they just randomly decline cards from time to time.... although Morrisons and Argos tend to be the favourite places to do it!!!
    Starting weight 17st 4lb - weight now 15st 2lbs

    30lb lost of 30lb by June 2012 :j:j:j (80lb overall goal)

  • Mrs_Ryan
    Mrs_Ryan Posts: 11,834 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    NatWest are terrible for this - when I had a Step account with them after using the card 3 times they would have to ring for authorisation. When it got upgraded to a Current Plus I used it 8 times in a row once without a peep.
    I asked them how could they justify being so strict with Step accounts and not normal current accounts? They said 'they made extra allowances at Christmas' which was a load of rubbish.
    Im with A&L now and even though I hate them with a passion :D I've never had to have the shop ring for auth...
    *The RK and FF fan club* #Family*Don’t Be Bitter- Glitter!* #LotsOfLove ‘Darling you’re my blood, you have my heartbeat’ Dad 20.02.20
  • willo65
    willo65 Posts: 1,012 Forumite
    Mrs_Ryan wrote: »
    NatWest are terrible for this - when I had a Step account with them after using the card 3 times they would have to ring for authorisation. When it got upgraded to a Current Plus I used it 8 times in a row once without a peep.
    I asked them how could they justify being so strict with Step accounts and not normal current accounts? They said 'they made extra allowances at Christmas' which was a load of rubbish.
    Im with A&L now and even though I hate them with a passion :D I've never had to have the shop ring for auth...

    If your card was cloned would you be hapier for the fraudster to get away with your money without any additional checks from the bank?
  • isplumm
    isplumm Posts: 2,211 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Willo65 ....

    I completely agree with you about this .... I had my card cloned & they took over £1k in about 6 days .... using exactly the same tactic .... asking for cashback on a very low spend ... Nationwide didn't stop them at all ... I got the money back ...

    So I would prefer that Nationwide did these checks ... I'd rather have to wait a few minutes than have all the hassle with card being cloned.

    I think the point is that the OP was told that her card might stop working, so she should get a credit card ... not a good selling point!!

    Mark
    We’ve had to remove your signature. Please check the Forum Rules if you’re unsure why it’s been removed and, if still unsure, email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
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