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Debit Card stopped and current account closed
scotyattus
Posts: 1 Newbie
Hi All
I would welcome any advice that you may be able to offer me. I'm asking on behalf of my mam, who is a pensioner. She has just received a letter from her Building Society regarding her current account. The letter (bizarrely delivered at 5.30pm tonight) states that her debit card has been stopped as of 23rd December and that her account will be closed by 22nd February.
She always has a float of about £1,000 in the current account which she uses as her buffer (she doesn't believe in overdrafts and therefore always keep at least £1k for emergencies) and has used this building society for over twenty years. She has no debt or mortgage.
They state that she has let her grandson know her debit card details and pin and therefore is in breach of terms and conditions. The reality is that one evening he order pizza online from Dominos and she paid using her card. She can't use a computer but was there when he typed in the details. She thinks she may have told the phone operator that he had ordered pizza for them one night when she was checking her account. She has never told anyone her PIN.
Not sure of their terms and conditions but can they do that? And especially since nothing fraudulent has happened? Its so close to christmas too and she is now worried that she can't get her money to buy presents or food for over the weekend. She has been on the phone for the last hour in floods of tears not knowing what to do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
M
I would welcome any advice that you may be able to offer me. I'm asking on behalf of my mam, who is a pensioner. She has just received a letter from her Building Society regarding her current account. The letter (bizarrely delivered at 5.30pm tonight) states that her debit card has been stopped as of 23rd December and that her account will be closed by 22nd February.
She always has a float of about £1,000 in the current account which she uses as her buffer (she doesn't believe in overdrafts and therefore always keep at least £1k for emergencies) and has used this building society for over twenty years. She has no debt or mortgage.
They state that she has let her grandson know her debit card details and pin and therefore is in breach of terms and conditions. The reality is that one evening he order pizza online from Dominos and she paid using her card. She can't use a computer but was there when he typed in the details. She thinks she may have told the phone operator that he had ordered pizza for them one night when she was checking her account. She has never told anyone her PIN.
Not sure of their terms and conditions but can they do that? And especially since nothing fraudulent has happened? Its so close to christmas too and she is now worried that she can't get her money to buy presents or food for over the weekend. She has been on the phone for the last hour in floods of tears not knowing what to do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
M
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Comments
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Go to the building society tomorrow, clear the balance off, go shopping....have a happy Christmas!0
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scotyattus wrote: »She can't use a computer but was there when he typed in the detailsShe has never told anyone her PIN.
These two statements do not go together."Never underestimate the mindless force of a government bureaucracyseeking to expand its power, dominion and budget"Jay Stanley, American Civil Liberties Union.0 -
WhiteHorse wrote: »These two statements do not go together.
Since when has a PIN been needed for an online order!If you want to test the depth of the water .........don't use both feet !0 -
WhiteHorse wrote: »These two statements do not go together.
I don't see why not ...She wouldn't have needed to provide her pin for an online pizza order - just the card number and the three digit CVV number on the back.0 -
scotyattus wrote: »
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
M
Escort her into the Building Society and explain the true position. Reading her Debit Card details to someone is no crime ..... one does it every time one makes an online purchase with a Debit CardIf you want to test the depth of the water .........don't use both feet !0 -
WhiteHorse wrote: »These two statements do not go together.
They do. Her grandson typed in the card details online to order the pizza, and doesn't know her PIN as far as this post is concerned, as you don't need to type in your PIN when you buy things online.Target Save £1k
So far £625/£1000 :j0 -
I am aware of your point regarding the PIN. They would however have had to disclose the security number on the back.They do. Her grandson typed in the card details online to order the pizza, and doesn't know her PIN as far as this post is concerned, as you don't need to type in your PIN when you buy things online.
Furthermore the OP has admitted to the card issuer that they effectively allowed another to use their card.
They therefore have a valid point."Never underestimate the mindless force of a government bureaucracyseeking to expand its power, dominion and budget"Jay Stanley, American Civil Liberties Union.0 -
The security number on the back is not secret. You have to reveal it every time you make an online or telephone transaction.0
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On the face of it, it does seem like there is a somewhat overzealous employee or organisation at work here. I don't see how getting someone else to type in the card details is in anyway incorrect - what if someone has chronic arthritus or poor sight?
The PIN is a major no no but as others have said it isn't needed to make purchases online.
If they told the bank that someone for example setup the account for online banking (and therefore knew the passwords for that) then I could kinda see where they were coming from.
What have the BS said as the reason?
If its a mis-understanding, and they don't back down, a complaint may be in order. Sounds more like a mis-understanding to me.Mixed Martial Arts is the greatest sport known to mankind and anyone who says it is 'a bar room brawl' has never trained in it and has no idea what they are talking about.0 -
Name and shame the jobsworth BS and call the co-op and open a new account she can then operate her account over the phone with friendly operators and she can use the local post office for any deposits or withdrawals she needs0
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