Using Metro Bank Account abroad - feedback...

proeleche

Olipro wrote: »

No, the amount is posted to them by mastercard, they don't deal with currency conversion or exchange rate issues.

Every authorisation has a unique number - when a transaction is then posted, it is done so by its auth number and the block for it ceases to exist.

If a merchant has made 2 authorisations then obviously they will only actually post one of them for clearing - the result will be that the posted authorisation is dropped because the funds get taken and one will remain until it "falls off" - an authorisation fall off is down to the bank since all authorisations are generally valid for anywhere between 90 to 180 days (and also a reason why debit cards really aren't well suited to people running their balance on a a shoestring) - anyhow, in the case of Metro Bank, the fall off appears to be a matter of a few working days, but as I've said before, if you're going to do everything on a knife's edge, clearly a few working days is the difference between being able to use your card or not.

E.G.: you owe the hotel £400 - you give them your card and they auth a total of £800.
They post for £400 resulting in that being debited from your account, now an auth for £400 remains which will never be claimed but needs to be allowed to fall off.

Yes, but no merchants were ever claiming double the amount - it was only the single amount, that I actually spent or withdrew. I went through the pending transactions with Metro Bank several times - there was never any double authorisation or 2 of the same authorisation. As I said, the duplication only ever occurred once the funds were removed from the account. So a payment for £50 would have frozen £100;is that what you're saying? Because this never, ever happened. If this had been happening from the outset, I would have known what the problem was and it would have been clear to me that it wasn't a problem with Metro Bank.

And I have to say, that I really don't like the implication that this is my fault. I put money into an account to spend, spent some of it, but double the amount I spent vanished - how is this my fault? It might not be Metro Bank's fault, but it certainly is nothing to do with me and is not 'living on the edge.' The amount of money I put into Metro and then spent is not your concern and I don't appreciate comments on it.

And in the case of Metro Bank, it does not drop off after a few days. I used the card on the way home in Malaysia last Saturday, the transaction has been posted and debited but funds are still frozen today. It is ridiculous to expect customers to have double their required funds 'just in case' systems go a bit funny. How dare people not have unlimited amounts of money ! ! !

chexum

proeleche wrote: »

Yes, but no merchants were ever claiming double the amount - it was only the single amount, that I actually spent or withdrew. I went through the pending transactions with Metro Bank several times - there was never any double authorisation or 2 of the same authorisation.

proeleche wrote: »

And in the case of Metro Bank, it does not drop off after a few days. I used the card on the way home in Malaysia last Saturday, the transaction has been posted and debited but funds are still frozen today. It is ridiculous to expect customers to have double their required funds 'just in case' systems go a bit funny. How dare people not have unlimited amounts of money ! ! !

You're just explaining the same problem twice.

There is (often) an authorisation, but it's not required! Its value can be preliminary in the case of cross-currency transaction. The currency rate will be used only on the day of posting, with whatever implications that may have.

Then there is the actual transaction, *even* if there was no pre-authorisation - in general, this is connected by the merchant to the pre-authorisation. If they do it correctly, the pre-authorisation *must* disappear. On occasions, it can disappear before the final transaction appears - the authorisation hold time is depending on the banks. For most UK banks it's quite short, 2-5 days. From your description, it looks like for Metro bank it's longer.

If you still see any discrepancy after the transaction has been posted, it's held by Metro bank because they've been asked to, and they didn't have a way to reconcile the transactions with the held pre-authorisations. This is almost always the fault of the merchant, they simply don't care. They will get their money either way, they know you won't be able to complain.

But your bank generally should be able to help - if you explain, they can free any pre-authorisation if you ask nicely, on the condition that if you're mistaken, the transaction still will could be posted, and you'll need to cross that bridge when you get there...

There's nothing wrong about this process, it always worked like this. There's nothing sane about it, when used with debit cards. :eek:

Olipro

proeleche wrote: »

And I have to say, that I really don't like the implication that this is my fault. I put money into an account to spend, spent some of it, but double the amount I spent vanished - how is this my fault? It might not be Metro Bank's fault, but it certainly is nothing to do with me and is not 'living on the edge.' The amount of money I put into Metro and then spent is not your concern and I don't appreciate comments on it.

Except for the fact that the amount of money you have in the account is pertinent to your problems, deal with it - I wager the reason you "don't like it" is because it's the core of your issues - your ridiculous exclamation of "how dare people not have unlimited amounts of money" just serves to highlight this. You already gave away to everyone that you were transferring the bare minimum necessary from your HSBC account, then you get offended and upset when you find out that the auth system for debit card transactions doesn't work out how you'd like it to.

I'd also be interested to know how exactly it is that you "know" that no merchant has made a double-auth given that:

a) Metro Bank don't explicitly show all pending auths
b) the Merchant sure as hell won't tell you

From the descriptions you've given, it sure as hell sounds like a double-auth to me.

proeleche

Olipro wrote: »

Except for the fact that the amount of money you have in the account is pertinent to your problems, deal with it - I wager the reason you "don't like it" is because it's the core of your issues - your ridiculous exclamation of "how dare people not have unlimited amounts of money" just serves to highlight this. You already gave away to everyone that you were transferring the bare minimum necessary from your HSBC account, then you get offended and upset when you find out that the auth system for debit card transactions doesn't work out how you'd like it to.

I'd also be interested to know how exactly it is that you "know" that no merchant has made a double-auth given that:

a) Metro Bank don't explicitly show all pending auths
b) the Merchant sure as hell won't tell you

From the descriptions you've given, it sure as hell sounds like a double-auth to me.

I know because I spoke to several Metro Bank advisers who went through all authorised transactions with me - having made a transaction in boots, for example, there was never boots: £20; boots: £20; or boots: £40 - it was just the single transaction.In addition, I called the hotel in Hong Kong at first, and they said it was impossible that I had been charged twice. Plus, you seem to have completely ignored the fact that ATM withdrawals were also being duplicated.

This thread is not about the dos and do nots of budgeting - so please stop changing the subject. It isn't your concern if I decided to transfer money over from HSBC as when I needed it or wanted it. As I have mentioned, having used various pre-paid cards in the past, and the Nationwide current account, I never encountered any problems like these. And your proposition that it's my own fault because I do not have a detailed knowledge of how debit card systems work is flawed (as an average banking customer, why would I? I've explained above how *most* people would believe it works: you spend it once, it's gone once - simples ); and I'd wager that other people will be caught out here also, and it will come as a shock to them too.

I'm not denying for one second that this may be down to the merchants or foreign banks and is not the fault of Metro Bank; I did not start this thread to bank bash. I think my mother and I have a valid complaint and the right to some answers, so I would like to thank all posters who have given me information on how debit cards work abroad; I suspect that when I speak with the manager from the Fulham Broadway branch, he will confirm what has been said.

As advised by others here, I will stick to using a credit card for purchases when abroad in the future.

stilltheone

proeleche wrote: »

I know because.....

Perhaps some of your problems are due to your inaccuracy with regards to exchange rates. In your posts, you quote 2 baht as equal to £1 and 10000 baht as equal to £80.

Your estimates are wildly inaccurate and could be the source of your 'missing funds'.

You write that you expected to have £113 left in the account, but if you underestimated a cash withdrawal by £120, that would explain why your card was declined at dinner.

2 baht is worth around 4 pence and 10000 baht closer to £200.


In addition, I am in SE Asia at the moment and have been since the beginning of this year. Am in Thailand right now and haven't experienced any of the problems you have mentioned.

You need to look at your current balance and available balance and understand the difference between the two.

Your available balance is the relevant figure. Ignore the current balance. That will only change when the transaction is posted to your online account. The available balance is actually how much you have to spend at that moment.

I'm not at this stage insinuating that you don't know how to run your account, but the preponderance of evidence is certainly beginning to point that way.

If the fault is genuinely with Metrobank, I am sure they will do the right thing. But look a little more closely at your actions too.



A call to the UK using the local TRUE Inter SIM in your mobile telephone costs 1 baht per minute(approx. 2 pence per min). It's costs the same to Hong Kong.

As to using your Hotel's Internet, service, that was your choice. There are many places around charging 30 baht(60 pence) for one hour.
In any event, I use the Internet to keep my account topped up and to keep an eye on the transactions. So Internet access is needed anyway.

As for topping up with Faster Payments taking longer than two hours, now you are being ridiculous.
The whole exercise looks poorly planned and executed.

A little research can pay dividends when you are in a foreign country.

Metrobank also offer you an overdraft facility at no further cost when you open an account. Did you accept it? That would have covered your 'pending' transactions.

johnmoney05

I hope people using the Metro Bank just like stilltheone. If many people use Metro Bank like the way OP is using. Soon, very soon, Metro Bank just will end up like Nationwide BS. Imagine a small branch needs to take care "a" customer like VIP OP requested to be. My first language is NOT English. Sorry, if you don't understand my posts. But I am not an idiot. This is to respond OP's comment about my posts. Thanks for reading. Have a nice day.

proeleche

stilltheone wrote: »

Perhaps some of your problems are due to your inaccuracy with regards to exchange rates. In your posts, you quote 2 baht as equal to £1 and 10000 baht as equal to £80.

Your estimates are wildly inaccurate and could be the source of your 'missing funds'.

You write that you expected to have £113 left in the account, but if you underestimated a cash withdrawal by £120, that would explain why your card was declined at dinner.

2 baht is worth around 4 pence and 10000 baht closer to £200.


In addition, I am in SE Asia at the moment and have been since the beginning of this year. Am in Thailand right now and haven't experienced any of the problems you have mentioned.

You need to look at your current balance and available balance and understand the difference between the two.

Your available balance is the relevant figure. Ignore the current balance. That will only change when the transaction is posted to your online account. The available balance is actually how much you have to spend at that moment.

I'm not at this stage insinuating that you don't know how to run your account, but the preponderance of evidence is certainly beginning to point that way.

If the fault is genuinely with Metrobank, I am sure they will do the right thing. But look a little more closely at your actions too.



A call to the UK using the local TRUE Inter SIM in your mobile telephone costs 1 baht per minute(approx. 2 pence per min). It's costs the same to Hong Kong.

As to using your Hotel's Internet, service, that was your choice. There are many places around charging 30 baht(60 pence) for one hour.
In any event, I use the Internet to keep my account topped up and to keep an eye on the transactions. So Internet access is needed anyway.

As for topping up with Faster Payments taking longer than two hours, now you are being ridiculous.
The whole exercise looks poorly planned and executed.

A little research can pay dividends when you are in a foreign country.

Metrobank also offer you an overdraft facility at no further cost when you open an account. Did you accept it? That would have covered your 'pending' transactions.

Sorry, if I mis-typed somewhere - I was taking 50 BHT to be approximately £1. And I knew to ignore the 'balance' and just pay attention to the 'available balance', but yes, I should have perhaps asked for an overdraft. And yes, it was a poor decision to rely on faster payments, I do not deny this for one second.But I truly have never experienced this issue of double authorisations/requests in the past; I didn't think I would need an overdraft.

The other poster who has said I wasted too much time on this issue whilst I was on my trip is correct, and while it made parts of the trip frustrating, I didn't let it spoil it in the end. The girl from Metro Bank who took ownership of my problems and saw them through to the (sort of) resolution, was excellent and very helpful.

I'm what's wrong with society because I do not have a detailed knowledge of banking systems/debit card systems?I encountered a problem and I wanted my bank to provide me with answers and hopefully a soultion - yours is a ridiculous assertion to make. I then post in these forums to inform others who may also have the same knowledge of theses systems as I do, and I hope to get some explanations or feedback (which I have gratefully received).I work in Fulham and live nearby, I'd happily discuss this issue face to face.

And the poster who is claiming that if too many people open a Metro account, this will mean that Metro will go on to withdraw the facility thus depriving him of said facility is just being selfish.

johnmoney05

proeleche wrote: »

And the poster who is claiming that if too many people open a Metro account, this will mean that Metro will go on to withdraw the facility thus depriving him of said facility is just being selfish.

You are wrong again. Where DID I say if too many people open a Metro account which will derprive MY of said facility?

I said "If many people use Metro Bank like the way OP (YOU) is using."

What is wrong with you?

Do you ever listen?

Anyway, this is your problem. You can PM wet26. If you want him/her to tell you to your face what your problem is.

proeleche

johnmoney05 wrote: »

You are wrong again. Where DID I say if too many people open a Metro account which will derprive MY of said facility?

I said "If many people use Metro Bank like the way OP (YOU) is using."

What is wrong with you?

Do you ever listen? To be honest, I started wondering what the percentage of turth in your posts is. So how much you took from the cash machine in Thailand? 10,000 THB is big difference to 50 THB. Just a matter of fact, you only can take at the minimum of 100 THB from the ATM machine in Thailand.

Anyway, this is your problem. You can PM wet26. If you want him/her to tell you to your face what your problem is.

No, you didn't explicitly state it, but it's your implication. If Metro Bank wanted to deter people from opening an account purely for fee free exchanges, all they'd need to do is introduce minimum credits etc to the requirments of holding the account. As it is, they are a new bank looking for customers...

Not that it's any of your business, but I wanted to test them out first, and the only thing that stopped me from moving my account over completely was the lack of faster payments outwards. I've posted in other threads that the FSA have set them a target of accounts before they will be able to implement this, and they informed me on opening the account that they would probably reach this target in the next few months.

Johnny, a previous poster questioned me on figures I had used elsewhere, and I apologised if I had typed in the wrong thing in any other post; when I mentioned 50THB, that was the approximate value I was giving to the £1 - 10,000 THB would be apporximately £200 - so when I wrote £80, yes, that was incorrect.

My problems were not down to getting mixed up between the 'available balance' and the 'balance'; it was the fact that there was 2 requests for every payment. Other posters have informed me that this can be common abroad.

I made the assumption that I would be able to use this account as though I was using my account in the UK; and I had wanted to keep cash withdrawals to a minimum in Thailand as you are charged every time you use the machine regardless of the amount of the withdrawal.

johnmoney05

proeleche wrote: »

No, you didn't explicitly state it, but it's your implication. If Metro Bank wanted to deter people from opening an account purely for fee free exchanges, all they'd need to do is introduce minimum credits etc to the requirments of holding the account. As it is, they are a new bank looking for customers.../QUOTE]

I can't stop your imagination. But please don't say that it is from me. I did say "I hope people using the Metro Bank just like stilltheone."

It is not exactly what you said "And the poster who is claiming that if too many people open a Metro account, this will mean that Metro will go on to withdraw the facility thus depriving him of said facility is just being selfish." Please use your imagination somewhere else.

proeleche wrote: »

Not that it's any of your business,... /QUOTE]

Well, it became my business from the moment you said that you presumed English is not my frist language or I am an idiot. I just want to tell you that people speak other language not an idiot.

proeleche wrote: »

Johnny, a previous ... /QUOTE]

How dare you call me NAME like this?!

proeleche wrote: »

I made the assumption that I would be able to use this account as though I was using my account in the UK; and I had wanted to keep cash withdrawals to a minimum in Thailand as you are charged every time you use the machine regardless of the amount of the withdrawal./QUOTE]

There will be no way Metro bank will reserve your pending balance if you use your card at the ATM to withdraw money.