Warning: Don't take out a Thomas Cook Credit Card!!

FABCAT_2

Why? Because you'll probably never be able to use it when you want to... Three times in the last six weeks I've been unable to use my card because they've decided the transaction I've made "could be fraudulent".

Those transactions?

1. Buying my weekly train pass. Which I've been doing for the last three months, since I started a new job in central London.

2. Topping up my PAYG mobile phone. Which I've had and been doing approximately once a month for the last two years.

Yesterday I was trying to buy a round in a busy pub (£12) and they blocked the transaction. The landlord had to phone for authorisation (everyone loved me, as you can imagine, busy Saturday night, two staff behind the bar, one of whom is on the phone to my credit card company on hold...... for ages........) I finally paid on my debit card, instead, inconvenient as it's two days before pay day.

So today I called up (third time in six weeks) to ask why I wasn't able to use my card. Which I pay off in full every month etc.

Apparently they called me at 1.55pm yesterday afternoon to check I was not using the account fraudulently (to buy a £3.50 train ticket). I did not answer so they blocked my card. Why didn't I answer?

Because they phoned me on an old work number where I haven't worked for three years. The insolent call centre bloke, Matthew, ext: 882763 he wouldn't give his surname, told me it was my fault that I hadn't updated my details. Well, a) they had my mobile number but inexplicably chose to call me on the number listed for work, on a Saturday instead of the correct mobile number, b) they didn't mention they'd be calling me to check up on me and then blocking the account afterwards because I hadn't answered.

So, if you'd rather have a credit card you can actually use, and not be accused of being stupid by a call centre security person because you've not updated your details (oh, my fault then!!) don't take out a Thomas Cook Credit Card - EVER!!!!!!!!

jackieb

I think someone agrees with you there.

jonesMUFCforever

Substitute Thomas Cook for any number of other cards (Egg seem to be mentioned on here often). It does seem to be a hit and miss affair especially when card lenders won't let you inform them if for instance you are going abroad.
The lesson I've learnt is to have more than one credit card in my pocket.

djm1972

Chip & Pin doesn't seem to have worked very well. :mad:

FABCAT_2

I know! You'd think that would have cleared things up. I don't understand why they do security checks on really small amounts either? This latest irritation was flagged up for the £3.50 train fare that I bought yesterday. If someone was fraudulently using my card and racking up huge bills, I might be more grateful....!

chattychappy

I spend more time overseas than I do in the UK. In general I've found the Nationwide Gold Visa least hassle. Never had a transaction blocked. Never needed to call them. I've also found their online system the best, too. Their debit card seems to be accepted in the widest range of ATMs. Don't believe all those neat logos (visa debit, maestro etc), sometimes networks just don't talk to each other, resulting in rejection.

Comments about other cards I've tried:

Abbey Zero: No problems - but the call centre was very keen to know my exact movements. Not an expense via Skype. They wouldn't accept a "blanket" instruction of the nature "I'll be moving between these three countries during the next month". They told me my card would "probably be rejected" if I didn't keep updating them. No fee on foreign transactions.

Halifax: A couple of declines overseas, but never in the UK. Never told them where I was going. Didn't use much overseas because of 2.75% loading. Website often seems down nighttime in the UK, mornings in the far east.

Barclaycard: Had random calls from them to my home landline to check transactions causing family members to worry. They never call my mobile. When I called them back they asked me a ridiculous security question which I failed and had my card blocked. Website often slow.

MBNA: Never had a problem in the UK or elsewhere. Never call them. Don't use it much overseas because of 2.75% loading. Website fast.

Natwest: Never had a problem in the UK or elsewhere. 2.75% loading puts me off overseas. Website slow.

djm1972

I had quite an amusing call with Egg the last time my card was blocked, when I complained about the frequency with which this was now happening; the lady in security said;

"But if your card was being used fraudulently, you'd rather we stopped it wouldn't you?"

To which I replied;

"It's a credit card! If it's used fraudulently, it's YOUR problem, not mine!"

As jonesMUFCforever mentioned above; this seems to have become an issue across the board; so between the networks (MasterCard / Visa etc.) and the issuing banks (the brand on your credit card) they will have to work out where the line gets drawn between customer inconvenience and revenue.

Geenie

FABCAT wrote: »

I know! You'd think that would have cleared things up. I don't understand why they do security checks on really small amounts either? This latest irritation was flagged up for the £3.50 train fare that I bought yesterday. If someone was fraudulently using my card and racking up huge bills, I might be more grateful....!

Because small amounts appears to be what fraudsters do when trying out the details of a persons card. It would be too obvious to go in with the big money straight away. They try a few transactions at just a few quid, and once they know it has gone through OK they then go on to the large amounts.

Nat West blocked OH's card a few weeks ago after they spotted this being done 3 times over an hour, and thank goodness, as he had no idea, and whoever had got hold of his details could have then gone on to spend thousands. You can't blame the CC companies for being over cautious now, as the fraud being carried out is getting frightening!

ILW

FABCAT wrote: »

Yesterday I was trying to buy a round in a busy pub (£12) and they blocked the transaction. The landlord had to phone for authorisation (everyone loved me, as you can imagine, busy Saturday night, two staff behind the bar, one of whom is on the phone to my credit card company on hold...... for ages........) I finally paid on my debit card, instead, inconvenient as it's two days before pay day.

Maybe I am a little old fashioned but, what sort of idiot uses a credit card to but a £12.00 round of drinks in a busy pub on a saturday night?

Dabooka

ILW wrote: »

Maybe I am a little old fashioned but, what sort of idiot uses a credit card to but a £12.00 round of drinks in a busy pub on a saturday night?

You also often see them in newsagents buying a pack of chewing gum and a copy of More on their debit card too. :rotfl:

davetrousers

djm1972 wrote: »

To which I replied;

"It's a credit card! If it's used fraudulently, it's YOUR problem, not mine!"

Which is possibly why they block them sooner rather than later.