Vanquis blocked my card because I paid my bill

Bunyip_2

I have a Vanquis credit card with an untarnished record - always pay it off in full each month. Last month I spent alot, but well within the limit - paid of the full amount on Monday (three weeks early) and for 85p more than the statement - today they blocked my card, which I only found out about at the supermarket checkout. Luckily a combination of Nectar points and a small amount of cash meant that I could pay - but I rely on the credit card working. :mad:

To unblock the card they wanted proof (bank statement) of where the money was paid from. The payment was less than £2000 and paid via internet banking.

They claimed that it was a security measure, but hadn't bothered to contact me. They did say something about the account being overpaid (only talking about 85p here). They said it was a random check and would be unlikely to occur again on this account.

It is difficult to understand any logic that applies to this, why block a card because of a payment to clear the account - any ideas of what is going on here. It has been a lot of messing about to get this sorted (not sure it is yet).

BigCraigJohn

Probably just looks inconsistent with your normal spending patern. Its a pain in the rear but at the end of the day is better than getting scammed.

mancini601

Bunyip wrote: »

I have a Vanquis credit card with an untarnished record - always pay it off in full each month. Last month I spent alot, but well within the limit - paid of the full amount on Monday (three weeks early) and for 85p more than the statement - today they blocked my card, which I only found out about at the supermarket checkout. Luckily a combination of Nectar points and a small amount of cash meant that I could pay - but I rely on the credit card working. :mad:

To unblock the card they wanted proof (bank statement) of where the money was paid from. The payment was less than £2000 and paid via internet banking.

They claimed that it was a security measure, but hadn't bothered to contact me. They did say something about the account being overpaid (only talking about 85p here). They said it was a random check and would be unlikely to occur again on this account.

It is difficult to understand any logic that applies to this, why block a card because of a payment to clear the account - any ideas of what is going on here. It has been a lot of messing about to get this sorted (not sure it is yet).

Just to let you know, I had exactly the same issue a while ago. I cleared my card balance of £750 (admittedly only 1 week after I had spent the money on it) and then when I went to use it some days later that, it had been blocked completely. I called the automated CS number and tried to get a balance. As soon as I put in my number it transferred me to a real person. This person insisted (rather stroppily) that the card would remain blocked until proof of address even was sent to them along with proof of where the £750 had come from and where I got the money from to pay my card. They insisted that unless this was forthcoming, my card would be cancelled. They said I had to talk to the Security team, but that, that dept was closed until the next day.

So, next day I called up. Finally got through to the security team and spoke to a helpful young man who listened to what I had to say in that I used my card, paid it off etc and that now it was blocked. He explained that the card was blocked for concerns over money laundering and what had actually happened is that I paid off my bill too quickly before all shop debits had been completely taken from my account. The result was that my account was now £750 in credit which is against the Terms and Conditions of my account and this triggered the laundering concerns they had. I did not need to send in anything. He unblocked my card after taking advice from someone else in his team and all was well again.

Should mention that they never told me or contacted me to say my card was blocked. I only found out after trying to use it in a shop. V embarrassing. Two weeks after the issues were all resolved and my card was functional again and being used, a letter arrived telling me my card was blocked. The date on the letter was the same as the date they blocked it...it just took a long time to send out the warning.