Temperamental tesco mastercard - help

mimi1234

If this is in the wrong section, apologies in advance.

About 3 months ago, I decided to take out a TESCO CREDIT CARD. I was under the impression that it would work until I maxed out and then it would decline if I went over.

It's very on and off. So far, I have paid all 3 bills in full and have not had any amounts left over (the only reason I got the card was to accrue Tesco points on my spending, I'm not skint or anything!). I have found that it works one day and then the next day it always declines. Is there a particular reason why this happens? I'm getting p****ed off with it. I have only spent £10 on it this month. Today it got declined twice in 2 different stores. I looked like a complete pleb and I did not have any other cards or cash on me. Annoying!

Also, if I close/cancel the card will it affect my credit rating? And does anyone know of any credit cards that are not temperamental? Thanks in advance.

Evilm

We've got a Tesco Mastercard and have not been having problems with it. Have you actually spoken to them to see what shows up as the reasons for decline?

The only thing like this I have heard lately is about another poster who could not do more than 10 transactions in a single day without phoning them to let them know (the 11th onwards otherwise declined).

mimi1234

No, not as many transactions as that at all. I asked and they said it just declined it. Will have to phone Tesco but it's so annoying. I have like £990 left on my card to spend this month, so why did it decline? It's not like I am not paying up at the end of the month. Errr.

chivers2000

I've had a Tesco Mastercard for a couple of years and have also been annoyed by seemingly random declined transactions, particularly when buying things online.

Somebody from their security team generally phone up shortly afterwards to confirm it was me using the card - apparently their system flags anything that it thinks is an unusual transaction for the customer.

It's the only card I've ever used where anything ever gets declined. Planning to ditch mine and get an Egg Money cashback card instead.

- Matt.

chalkysoil

I've had one for years with no problem except one month it went in to decline mode. I phoned them up and they reset it or something and I had to go to a cash point to use the reactivate button on it. Any cash point would do, and it might work without phoning up.

More worrying is I've just read the 2nd card holder isn't covered on credit cards the way the primary holder is. Anyone seen anything on here?

chattychappy

I've never had a problem with mine after about a year. Used it online too. It is a "platinum" one, if that makes a difference.

mimi1234 wrote: »

I was under the impression that it would work until I maxed out and then it would decline if I went over.

In principle, but CC companies often allow people to go above their limits and technology sometimes means it's difficult to prevent.

Michael_Nottingham

Chivers - I suggest you think carefully about Egg as from my experience they are the worst at random declines and then blocking your card :mad:

hillcats

We also have a Tesco Finest Platinum MasterCard account that I have held for many years now with SWMBO as a second card holder. We very rarely have any problems at all with the running of our account as we run it VERY REGIMENTAL and 99% of our spends go on this account, but it is ALWAYS paid in FULL at the due date so we never accrue any interest but get maximum clubcard points.

Our rule is if we don't have the money to pay for an item in full at the due date then we cant afford it this month, and this simple rule works as we simply spend in store / on line and then when back at home the money is moved from the current account into a specific savings account for the credit card bill and that way we can see what is left in the current account that is ours to spend or for bills etc, and when the credit card bill arrives the money is waiting (and still off-setting our mortgage for longer...!!) to just be transferred to the credit card account and then we start the cycle all over.

Only once recently was I declined during an online transaction whilst spending a large and unusual amount of nearly £900 in one transaction, on calling the credit card they advised that they were just concerned as it didnt seem normal, but now we have spoken if I do it again the transaction will now be authorised, I did and it worked straight away.

I can not really say a bad word against the Tesco credit card at all.

oldagetraveller

Well I can beat that, I have a Tesco Best of The Finest Diamond Encrusted Platinum Gold Card and that keeps getting stolen!
AND, I can wee higher up the wall than anyone - so there.

Shimrod

I've been using a standard tesco clubcard mastercard for about three years with no problems - I've never had any declines. The number of transactions over a month is probably between 30 and 40. Tesco have (or are about to) take over the running of the credit card from RBS, so possibly they are having issues with their systems and newly issued cards? Just a thought as everyone else who has posted 'no problems' seems to have had their cards for a while...


edit: Ignore that last bit. I've just found an article from 2008 when Tesco took over from RBS - I must be getting old when the years start to merge!
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/markets/article.html?in_article_id=448364&in_page_id=3

chalkysoil

I phoned Tesco CC the other day -I thought I'd spotted a dodgy transaction on my statement, they were helpful but couldn't clarify it. Minutes later my eyes fell upon my new internet radio - doh - Tesco phoned me just then to further my query, when I explained it was ok the lady on the phone was so nice and sweet about my time wasting and didn't think I was senile at all...:rotfl: