RBOS keep blocking my VISA card

Help_Wanted

I have had the same VISA card from the RBOS for almost 10 years. I have always paid off the card in full and never missed a payment. Over the last year the card has been stopped several times while paying for an item. This then involves a phone call to the RBOS credit card centre to unblock the card to allow payment to go through. I realise credit card fraud is a big problem but it seems that RBOS are almost paranoid and as a customer I am increasingly becoming irritated with the prospect of yet more phone calls to unblock the card. I had to laugh re the telephone numbers on the credit card.... 0870 for UK and +441... for outside the UK. Do they think customers are going to use the more expensive number or the cheaper number..... mmmm...... one to ponder on:D

I wondered if this scenario is common with many other credit card companies. I also have an M&S card and made some large purchases on it recently and they didn't even blink so I'm seriously thinking of using this card and dumping the RBOS.

Would love to hear if many others are having similar problems or if you think your credit card company is the one to be with.

Thanks in advance.....

gizmo111

I made a number of large purchases on my egg card recently and received a call from their security checking they were genuine, but the card was never stopped.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I got rid of a card from them a couple of years ago after they made me speak to them on the phone for a purchase in Woolworths one day.
Would'nt have minded but it was only for 20 quid.
I'd had the card for over 10 years and never missed a payment and payed off in full each month.
The woman on the phone made me feel like a criminal,with all the questions she asked.
I appreciate it's security but when your'e standing in Woolies on a Saturday afternoon on the music counter and everyone in the queue is listening to your conversation it's a bit much.
It was'nt worth the bother.

inmypocketnottheirs

Dump it. It's too much hassle.

fozmcfc

My Natwest (part of the RBS group) mastercard card has been refused several times in exactly the same way. I seem to be able to make one purchase, but then the next one gets refused, whether it's the next day, week, month or even a few months.

Got refused at Faro airport in Portugal once, very annoying. Sometimes it is advisable to make big purchases on a credit card to get the added buyer protection it gives, but I'm always apprehensive when using it in a shop, in case it gets refused.

Made loads of large purchases with my Egg card over the years and never once refused on or off line.

I appreciate it's an anti-fraud procedure, but they must have a ridiculous threshold for flagging up.

mitrant

This seems to be quite common. I've had my Capital One card blocked several times due to their system flagging up some of my transactions as being "unusual" (the word the customer advisors like to use) - I once had a £3.75 transaction trigger the system and didn't realise for several days until I attempted to use my card in a store and it was declined...quite embarrassing.

In some ways it is comforting to know that the credit card companies are trying to look after both yours and their interests in monitoring transactions that may be suspect, but it is alarming that your credit card could be blocked without your knowledge.

Twister84

Help_Wanted wrote: »

I had to laugh re the telephone numbers on the credit card.... 0870 for UK and +441... for outside the UK. Do they think customers are going to use the more expensive number or the cheaper number..... mmmm...... one to ponder on:D

I think you might find it difficult ringing a number starting with "0870" from abroad

wullie

Help_Wanted wrote: »

I have had the same VISA card from the RBOS for almost 10 years. I have always paid off the card in full and never missed a payment. Over the last year the card has been stopped several times while paying for an item. This then involves a phone call to the RBOS credit card centre to unblock the card to allow payment to go through. I realise credit card fraud is a big problem but it seems that RBOS are almost paranoid and as a customer I am increasingly becoming irritated with the prospect of yet more phone calls to unblock the card. I had to laugh re the telephone numbers on the credit card.... 0870 for UK and +441... for outside the UK. Do they think customers are going to use the more expensive number or the cheaper number..... mmmm...... one to ponder on:D

I wondered if this scenario is common with many other credit card companies. I also have an M&S card and made some large purchases on it recently and they didn't even blink so I'm seriously thinking of using this card and dumping the RBOS.

Would love to hear if many others are having similar problems or if you think your credit card company is the one to be with.

Thanks in advance.....

The same thing kept happening to me.. I solved the problem by putting my card in the shredder and using another company.

mitrant

Twister84 wrote: »

I think you might find it difficult ringing a number starting with "0870" from abroad

I think the joke is that the number starting +441 will work within the UK and would be the cheaper number to call so there is no need to call the 0870 number at all.

Help_Wanted

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

I got rid of a card from them a couple of years ago after they made me speak to them on the phone for a purchase in Woolworths one day.
Would'nt have minded but it was only for 20 quid.
I'd had the card for over 10 years and never missed a payment and payed off in full each month.
The woman on the phone made me feel like a criminal,with all the questions she asked.
I appreciate it's security but when your'e standing in Woolies on a Saturday afternoon on the music counter and everyone in the queue is listening to your conversation it's a bit much.
It was'nt worth the bother.

I had a similar experience in a local store. Apart from feeling very uncomfortable I was asked various confidential questions in earshot of those around me.

I called the RBOS credit card centre last night to ask if the blocking policy was stricly for RBOS credit card customers or did all credit card companies enforce a similar policy. I was politely informed that most credit card companies block credit cards now if they feel that there are "unusual" purchases being made. The assistant also suggested that I call them first before making any large purchases so that a note could be placed on my account although she couldn't guarantee that it would work.

If feedback on this thread throws up a few good credit card companies then it would be worth the extra work involved to jump ship.

Thanks to all for your comments and experiences, appreciated :beer:

Help_Wanted

Twister84 wrote: »

I think you might find it difficult ringing a number starting with "0870" from abroad

Hi Twister.... Although it would never be my intention to use an 0870 when calling from abroad you can actually do it although I think it depends on the telecom companies abroad. They don't all supply the service :cool: