MBNA want to do an account reviewHi

beanys01

Hi all
MBNA have phoned saying they want to chat to me for 5 - 10 minutes to do an account review. Should I be worried about this? any advise would be welcome. Many thanks
S

izools

Are you sure it was MBNA? Don't give out ANY persona details to whoever is calling.

Ask them for a number to call them back on.

Then call MBNA using the number on the back of your card, and ask someone if they know what this dept. is all about and quote the telephone number you were given asking if it's authentic.

Sounds like a scam to me. Credit card companies don't really do personal reviews any more, you'll just get a computer generated letter saying either "You've got a bigger credit limit", "You've got a smaller credit limit", or "You've not got any credit limit any more so cut up your card".

Computer sais yes or no, people just read & repeat

brotherjackson

I done an 'account review' with them yesterday. they asked some very personal questions including 'why did you buy your shopping on visa last month,why did you pay your electric bill on visa' etc etc- To quickly summarise-they kept reducing my credit level as we spoke! My advice is DONT SPEAK TO THEM, because if you happen to say the wrong thing,as I did, due to the pressure they put you under-then they wil cut your credit even while on the phone!

izools

That's if they are MBNA or whoever.

Chances are it's all a bluff to get hold of your account details and sell your details on the black market.

NEVER EVERY GIVE OUT ANY PERSONAL DETAILS TO A CALLER. ASK WHERE THEY ARE CALLING FROM AND CALL THAT COMPANY BACK USING THE NUMBER ON THEIR WEBSITE.

beanys01

Many thanks everyone for your comments. I think I will try to ignore this. they also sent me a text with a freephone number to call and knew the last 4 digits of my card!

izools

Well there's always a hefty chance that it is MBNA and they are doing a review sweep of customers, but to be honest they should write to you about stuff like this.

I don't like the idea one bit of speaking to someone, probably in another continent, about my personal details, credit card details, and spending habits. It just isn't right IMHO!

BigDave81

Why don't you ring them on the number you hold from your card or statement and ask if this was in fact them and not a scam and the reasons for it. Make sure to advise them that you don't have time on this call to go through the review if it is real.

Least this may give you some anwers

amacfx

Just to add to the idea that this might be a scam, I read the following article yesterday that thought it might be relevant......................................



"Here's how a clever phone scam works.
This method of finding out your credit card 'security code' has been imported from the US, and tricks many, even the most cautious of us, so it's well worth a read.
The caller says he is calling from the fraud department at Visa or MasterCard, or even more convincingly, quotes the name of your credit card, because he already has your card number, and from that, the first four digits (called the 'BIN') he can determine which card company issued the card. He gives you his name, and a return telephone number, which is usually the actual 0800 number of your card company's fraud department.
He tells you that a recent transaction on your card ending (he tells you the last four digits of your card) has been flagged as one that doesn't fit your normal spending pattern, perhaps elaborating that it relates to several high value internet purchases somewhere else abroad. This news immediately raises your concern that you may have been the victim of identity fraud. He says the reason for calling to verify that it was not you who used the card.
He gives details of one of the transactions as an example. "Did you make a purchase of jewellery at At-ham Karbal Jewellers, in Dubai for 2,750 UAE Dirhams yesterday?"
After you naturally say 'No', the caller says, 'We thought not, so we will be issuing an immediate credit to your card account. We've seen several other fraudulent purchases at At-ham Karbal in Dubai and the charges are all below the £500 international purchase limit that flags most transactions and needs an international authorisation code. I need to send you a form to sign to confirm it was nothing to do with you, can I send this to you at (he gives you your address), is that correct?'
You say 'yes'.
The caller continues - 'If you have any other concerns, please let me know, as your card details have been compromised. I'll arrange for your existing card to be stopped and a new card issued, that'll take 2-3 weeks. Please don't use your old card until you get your new one, as it may be declined. If you have any problem at all, you should call the 0800 number listed on the back of your credit card statement and ask for Fraud, quoting the reference SE9077 (or other number).'
'You must remember to use this reference number. Would you like me to give it to you again?'
Then comes the sting. The caller says casually, 'I just need to verify you are in possession of your card'. He asks you to 'turn your card over and look for some numbers'. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 is the security code that verify that you are the possessor of the card. The caller will ask you to read these 3 numbers to him.
If you fail to spot the scam and give him the security code, he will say, 'That's correct, I just needed to check that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?' After you say 'No', the caller politely thanks you and hangs up.
You actually say very little - just a half a dozen words or so. You are never asked for your credit card number as the fraudster already has it, and your address, perhaps from the interception of a statement, or from a list purchased illegally. But to use your card, the fraudster needs the security code, and this is a clever way to get it.
If you get the call, or one just like it, just say you'll call your credit card company direct for verification of their conversation and ask for his extension number. Chances are he'll hang up right away.
And then ring your card company for real and tell them your card has been compromised, explain what has happened, and they really will stop your card and reissue a new one, very quickly."

MJS996

In defence of MBNA and phone calls, they called me a couple of months back while I was on my way home from work saying someone had used my card etc. and they were from the fraud department etc.

I was sceptical and asked how I could be sure they were really who they claimed to be and they were very understanding, call back on the number on the back of the card when you get home etc.

Called them back and sure enough it was all true, they'd picked up a couple of odd transactions, canceled the card there and then and refunded them straightaway....

Sometimes things are as they seem....