We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
For the love of God, can anyone help? Santander Credit Card

egrek
Posts: 12 Forumite
I'm practically beyond my wits end.
Currently in Tibet where I found out (from my parents) that Santander have now cancelled my creditcard. If my parents hadn't sent me the email they had from the bank, I'd never have been told!
No notification to me (Just checked online) and did I mention I'm on the other side of the world?
It took me over 2 months to get the f**king card (including over 10 in branch visits, many phone calls, may people, complaints, notes to account, none of which seem to exist), getting it three days before I left (even though I was told the application had been cancelled and I couldn'y apply for another one - so no one could help me, then the idea of compensation was raised, by them - obviously another dead end) and now? Cancelled.
From what I can tell (as why would the account holder have any information on his own account) when my parents asked some questions (they have a POA), Santander said they couldn't answer them as didn't have a copy of the POA (something my parents and I believe I have taken in and had copied) and as they sent this email (to my parents, not me) to say they'd now cancelled the card.
It certainly explains why it didn't work the last two times I tried using it.
I'm in Tibet.
Web access is limited to say the least (will also explain the lack of responses at times)
I've now got no credit card.
I'm grasping at straws anyone can give some advice, about anything, my heads not working properly (likely the altitude and I'm typing with frozen hands in -12 degree weather).
Currently in Tibet where I found out (from my parents) that Santander have now cancelled my creditcard. If my parents hadn't sent me the email they had from the bank, I'd never have been told!
No notification to me (Just checked online) and did I mention I'm on the other side of the world?
It took me over 2 months to get the f**king card (including over 10 in branch visits, many phone calls, may people, complaints, notes to account, none of which seem to exist), getting it three days before I left (even though I was told the application had been cancelled and I couldn'y apply for another one - so no one could help me, then the idea of compensation was raised, by them - obviously another dead end) and now? Cancelled.
From what I can tell (as why would the account holder have any information on his own account) when my parents asked some questions (they have a POA), Santander said they couldn't answer them as didn't have a copy of the POA (something my parents and I believe I have taken in and had copied) and as they sent this email (to my parents, not me) to say they'd now cancelled the card.
It certainly explains why it didn't work the last two times I tried using it.
I'm in Tibet.
Web access is limited to say the least (will also explain the lack of responses at times)
I've now got no credit card.
I'm grasping at straws anyone can give some advice, about anything, my heads not working properly (likely the altitude and I'm typing with frozen hands in -12 degree weather).

0
Comments
-
It's -4 in London and -20 in parts of Scotland, so we do have some empathy for you!
I don't have a magic bullet, but here are a few suggestions off the top of my head...
1) Your parents should be able to get a copy of the PoA from the solicitor who arranged it.
2) Try to get hold of a Consulate or Embassy official in Tibet.
3) Ask your parents to take a copy of your post to the branch manager, possibly hinting at media coverage if (s)he goes into 'jobsworth' mode.
4) Write a carefully considered text file (whilst warm and off-line) to paste into your next email to your parents. It should be destined for the branch manager, but carry no implied threats whatsoever. Conversely, it should concentrate on how Santander's actions have devastated your sanity / trip and that at the very least they should reactivate your card without delay. Carbon-copying it to your MP might help too. Your parents could do the actual sending, so you wouldn't have to register etc. If your parents are willing to act as guarantors for you, Santander would indeed be at risk of major adverse publicity if they were to ignore your pleas.
5) Find a *reputable* Western Union office (or similar) and get your parents to transfer some cash to you.
I've no legal training, so all the above should be checked with the more enlightened before proceeding. Every suggestion might be unwise, but they should give you some momentum and hopefully trigger others to offer more useful advice.
Good luck!0 -
PM me if you would like a working email address in Santander Cards Executive Correspondence Team0
-
If it weren't for the atrocities of the Chinese in Tibet it would be a fantastic place. Hope you're enjoying it. I was there in 1984 and once I got over the 2 day headache found it fascinating. Have you seen a sky buriel? If you do, keep your distance though.0
-
From:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/tibet/practical-information/money-costs
International transfers
Getting money sent to you in Lhasa is possible but it can be a drag. One option is by using the Bank of China’s central office in Lhasa. Money should be wired to the Bank of China, Tibet/Lhasa branch, 28 Linkuo Xilu, bank account No 90600668341, SWIFT code BKCHCNBJ900. Double-check wiring instructions with the bank beforehand.
The second option is via Western Union (https://www.westernunion.com), which can wire money via the Express Mail Service (EMS) at Lhasa’s main post office.If it weren't for the [beneficial actions] of the Chinese in Tibet it wouldn't be a fantastic place. Hope you're enjoying it. I was there in 1984 and once I got over the 2 day headache found it fascinating. Have you seen a sky buriel? If you do, keep your distance though.
Nice just what the OP needed an anti C. gov posting on a heavily regulated internet in a tightly controlled part of the regime - corrected above. Be interesting to see if OP ever gets back to this page due to internet outage, site being blocked due to inappropriate material or his 12 year re-education. :rotfl:
My GF used to work for them re-editing the news and scientific papers for general consumption (pleasant working history she has, this was one of her nicer duties). Anyway she assured me that they were there to stop the nasty people rioting, she also pointed out they must be the rulers because it says so on their maps and she finally stated that the DL was a slaver - She announced this all in a very loud and authoritative voice to the whole restaurant, I fell off my chair (and tried to hide) and my friend almost choked to death.Santander are awful - mission in life is to warn people since 17-Sep-10, 18-Sep-10 realised one of thousands.0 -
Thanks to all the replies so far
(Though more seem to be about Tibet! :rotfl:)
Lets go through:
Dave Basil
1) We have many copies of the POA, we had taken then into Santander on numerous occasions, it's just it seems no one there knows what to do with them or where to store them, so the *ahem* important people, don't have access and so obviously blame the customer!
2) For those that don't know (and why would you) you NEED to be on a tour to do Tibet, so prefering not to miss the tour and just about to leave Lhasa, that wasn't an option.
3) This is pretty much what my parents have just done (reading the email they sent 5 days ago as just got internet access).
It turns out they sent me the card and then sent me (at my parents address) a letter stating it had all been cancelled. Apparently my dad didn't know I'd had my card and thus had called up to ask what was going on about it knowing I'd had lots of trouble.
4) Copying and pasting to parents
5) Currently my direct debit with Nationwide is working (I'm not stupid enough to just have one means of money). So it's more the fact I've now got no creditcard. Certainly handy when we need some flights!
cing0
Thanks, I'll bear that in mind. But currently if I've got through to the one person who understands and can help, I'll keep going through them. Not holding my breath however, as I want to live.
G_M
The tibetans are very nice, friendly, smiley people. But maybe not the brightest (eg having a menu in English - for us, great. For them, they can't read it, so bring the wrong things anyway). Still better than the #Deleted as irrelevent#
No sky burials, heard of them, but I think it's considered rude to burst in on someone funeral if you're not invited, even there. Though we saw lot of birds flying around a mountain top, so maybe we were just a touch too late.
As for Tibet? Well as you have to go on a tour, having an illegal driver and a guide without the proper permits meant we spent half a day in the police station. That wasn't on the itinerary! Let alone the varius costs of the numerous lies the Chinese told.
AnonymousForObviousReason
I escaped them! Tibet was my way out. The joy of people leaving China seems to be something only shared by those in the same boat!
Have ways of getting money, but now no creditcard. Did I mention it took over 2 months to get? I can survive but only as I'm with friends and had already prepared for a bank to have a fit (it was HSBC last time)
I'm sure Annoymous you'll like my above self censoring above (yours made me laugh). Though this is about the same people who see SCAMMING FOREIGNERS AS LEGAL (well with their police anyway) It's common knowledge in China and so I assume, not a problem for everyone else to know in the world. If you go there, there is a high percentage chance you'll fnd out yourself.
PS. In Nepal now. So much easier with the internet, as long as you avoid the powercuts!
PPS. Which I didn't, so lost a load of this email and had to wait all day to get back online! Now had to re-write it!
Update: Currently been 6 days since my last email to the lady (asking what happened, what is going on about replacing the card as they are apparently the only bank who can't re-activate cards and the various compensations) and five since my parents (using most of Davids suggestions themselves), so I've certainly noticed the first email had a 24 hour response time and now, we're not getting anywhere? Not the best for communication with it's customers, but then I'd never have known my card was stopped except for my parents.
PPPS: Assuming I can post on this thread anymore? Security tokens?0 -
Glad you made it and are having what sounds to be a fantastic time (card issue aside). I think so much about Tibet because many of us felt you are not going to have much joy with Santander but good luck.
I've been avoiding China for over 5 years in case all 1.3bn are like my GF. Also her dad is a lawyer that doesn't like westerners (in general and especially me), more importantly his job is stopping re-offending ... permanently ... through the medium of high velocity lead poisoning. :eek:
Oh dear God she's just tried to get me to eat a thick steak that has been cooked for 13 mins, the grill was off when she started the timer... She must be reading thisSantander are awful - mission in life is to warn people since 17-Sep-10, 18-Sep-10 realised one of thousands.0 -
Well so far no reply to mine or my parents emails. They've just headed home and my dad is going to be right on their case. Ignoring things does NOT make them better when I'm stranded in asia without a working f**king credit card.
We'll see.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 352K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.2K Spending & Discounts
- 245.1K Work, Benefits & Business
- 600.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.4K Life & Family
- 258.8K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards