Alliance Leciester - useless

mrs*mosschops

I accidentally used my hubbys card while out shopping, locked the card as entered pin incorrectly 3 times. I went into the local branch to unlock but was unable to. I enquired at the desk, explained that it was my husbands card and what had happened and asked why i couldn’t unblock it at the machine as we have done previously. Her answer was " I dont know"! Could she find out for me "no”. Well what should my husband do now then to unlock it "I dont know" Every question I had was answered with "I dont know".

I know that it was my husbands card and respect all the data protection stuff but if it was the case that shoe could not tell me as it wasn't my card why didn't she just tell me.

It’s not the first time I have gone into my branch and been given a similar explanation from the staff, the only thing that keeps me there is the £5 charge for the overdraft.

rant over feel better now thanks

mrs*mosschops

just had a call from a lady asking what my problem was.

I explained that what had happened and was told that the lady in the branch could not help me as my account was an internet one. I told her the query was not with the account but the card. The lady at branch desk didn't even look at my card so how she would know it was an internet account i dont know. I got the same reply, she could not help because it was an internet based account, we went over this several times before she said ok i will unblock the pin and the card is now available to use.

I dont understand how a customer service team can be so pants.

PopeSock

I think you were genuinely lucky that they didn't take it off you. Why? Because the terms and conditions of the card that your husband would have signed would almost certainly have stated that he had to take reasonable care of the card.

If this has happened before, I'd be a little worried because that means the bank could have proof that your husband has been sharing has card and pin, and they could well dig that up if there's any genuinely fraudulent activity taking place on the card. And, presumably, refuse to refund such claims.

While I worked in retail, we were also advised to check names on cards, as an anti-fraud measure. The bottom line is that Alliance and Leicester were not useless. You were trying to use someone else's card something which, regardless of that person's relationship with you, is a no-no. If you really needed access to those funds, you could create a joint account, and have a card issued to you in your name.

MarkyMarkD

Indeed. I can't understand why you even had your husband's card.

Using someone else's card isn't a normal "mistake" to make. A&L should not have reset the PIN on your say-so under any circumstances - whether in branch or over the phone - unless it was a joint account. In which case, why did you have his card in any case?

mrs*mosschops

it is a joint account and it was a mistake that i had my husbands card. i picked up what i thought was mine after using it to buy something over internet. All cards are identical so in my rush i didn't notice. It was a cash machine that I was using when i blocked the pin not a shop. I did not ask them to unlock it, there is a cash point within branch that allows yout to do this for yourself.

I am sure that I am not the only one who uses their husbands or even wifes card whether its a joint account or not.

mrs*mosschops

oh and regardless of the reason why i was in the branch, if anyone goes in and asks a question should they been given the reply " I dont know" and then be looked at as if I had asked them something completley immpossible to answer? My gripe with the A&L was the attitude of the lady in the counter not with what they would or would not do for me.

melorablack

There was nothing they could do for you, you are not the account holder.

creditboy

But I agree they shouldnt have been rude. All they should have said was your husband needs to contact us. A check would have shown that it was your husbands card on a joint account so they wouldnt have had to take it from you.

MarkyMarkD

mrs*mosschops wrote: »

I am sure that I am not the only one who uses their husbands or even wifes card whether its a joint account or not.

That's as maybe, but it's not allowed and it's not right.

mrs*mosschops

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

That's as maybe, but it's not allowed and it's not right.

so that gives them the right to be rude does it?

PinkLipgloss

LeedsBS wrote: »

No it doesn't, if she was at least polite and didn't know this could be down to poor training on the companies part, but if she came across to you as rude in the way she spoke; regardless of the situation that's not acceptable.

I agree. Whilst I respect the banks position with regards to the Data Protection Act the staff should have had the courtesy to politely explain their position to the OP.