Egg Money fail to authorise transaction

CopperPlate_2

I have an Egg Money credit card and have had it since September last year. Twice, when making purchases, the card has been returned to me by the retailer as "Not Authorised" and an alternative form of payment requested. The transactions were not "Declined" or "Referred" just not authorised. The same happened to my wife with the additional card in a jewellers the other day

I phoned Egg only to be told that there was nothing wrong with the account and that it could be the retailer's terminal that was at fault. I subsequently still managed to pay for all of these transactions using another card, no problem, from the same terminal.

Any suggestions? I know that there can be problems when the network is busy and if the transaction 'times out' it can be declined, but neither the retailer nor Egg can explain it. It was different retailers and it's a bit annoying not being able to rely on the card.

CP

jonesMUFCforever

Egg are known to be quite keen on the 'security checks'.
It may be useful if you know in advance that you are going to make purchases outside of your normal spending habits to send them a secure e-mail advising them of this.
My bank uses 'FALCON' and have now been told that even cash withdrawals at a cashpoint may be declined for this reason.

CopperPlate_2

The purchase wasn't that big - less than £100 from the jewellers, and the other transaction was for about £60 worth of shopping from Sainsbury's: both places I've purchased from before. Surely, if they were genuine 'security' checks, the transactions would've been referred to the issuer to confirm the identity of the person presenting the card? It's p****d me off a bit I have to say - I can't now rely on the card when I'm making purchases, which means I've to have a second one with me just in case, and I can't be bothered with that kind of hassle. I have to say, it's never happened to me before with any other card, so perhaps it's a peculiarity with Egg.

CP

Oldhand_2

Hi,

Yes, I've had my Egg Money card declined once, for a very low amount. I contacted Egg and they said it must be the retailer's fault. The card went through OK at the same retailers a day later.

My wife's card (same account) was declined in Feb when apparently it was Egg's fault. They offered an additional 2% cashback and I have just had £70 credited to the account. I'm not complaining.

Rgds.

Paul_Herring

I've never had a problem with Egg personally, and my spending patterns on it tend to be somewhat erratic at times. Usually only about 70 quid on petrol from two petrol stations a week, 50 quid groceries from the same shop a week, but occasionally hundreds spent on it in various other countries; work tend to send me abroad occasionally. Never had it questioned. Yet...

chuckles1066

ejones999 wrote:

Egg are known to be quite keen on the 'security checks'.

Yep, so "keen" that I ended up closing my account because I was enduring the same experience as the original poster.

I'm the first to admit that there is a balance that needs to be struck between card security and the convenience of being able to purchase goods instantly - however, Egg have gone w-a-y-y-y too far with their policy.

The whole point of having to quote the CV2 number on the signature strip for "not present" transactions was supposed to demonstrate that you had the card in your hands at the time of purchase but several of my transactions were still referred back to Egg.

CopperPlate_2

It's surprised me that there are other people experiencing the same thing - thought it must've been my card or account somehow! Have decided to ditch the card - waiting a year for the cashback is too long as well

CP