Santander Zero credit card problems

benjus

I've been using my Santander Zero card to get free cash withdrawals abroad.

After two successful cash withdrawals (total €350) the card is being refused at ATMs.

I just spoke to Santander customer service who told me that "the cash withdrawals are limited to up to half of the total credit limit over the lifetime of the card". Apparently "up to" can mean as little as €350, and my cash withdrawal facility will now be blocked for "up to 6 months" after which I can look forward to being able to withdraw a little more before it blocks again.

This strikes me as utterly stupid - why even bother advertising a cash withdrawal facility that can only be used for up to half the credit limit - once - and then never again (and that might get randomly blocked before that anyway)?

I've withdrawn cash on credit cards in the past and not had to deal with such stupidity. Has anyone else experienced this?

benjus

Just called them again after looking at the T&Cs and not finding anything to corroborate what the guy said. This time I was told that maybe there's been an error where a previous cash withdrawal is blocking the system so that it thinks I'm over the daily limit.

Is it just me or are they just guessing?

glenderg

They are just guessing, i guess!

yt8019

My card gets blocked randomly when making purchases abroad -- not sure if it's related to your problem. One day it doesn't go through, the next day it does. Perhaps try again a few days later?

FYI Cash withdrawal attracts interest starting from the day the cash is taken out. This is true even for the 'Zero' card (Thought I'd point out, I was misled by their adverts.)

NFH

Also using a Santander Zero card, I had problems using a Soc Gen cash machine machine in Tangiers. I resorted to using my Nationwide credit card in the end, for which I was charged. I later the same day used my Santander card in a local Moroccan bank's cash machine without a problem. It seems that Santander has a problem with particular banks' cash machines when other banks don't have a problem. When I complained, Santander reimbursed the charges that Nationwide made, as well as my roaming calls to call Santander customer services from Tangiers.

Lee_Rees_2

My Santander card didn't work in Marbella in Spain in a VISA machine. I phoned up the support line and they told me that it had been suspended for fraud. I'd previously told them I was going to Spain in preperation of any fraud prevention.

It was the second time I'd used it. After spending hours on hold they unsuspended it. The next time I was in Spain the same thing happened. They then admitted that there was nothing they could do. So a Spanish bank are not capable of allowing their credit cards to work in Spain. That figures.

I hardly used the card for 4 months, although I did buy a TV once from Curries which cost around £1500. After around 5 days of buying the TV I then got a letter saying that they'd increased the APR from 12% to 26%. I phoned the support line and they said they cannot tell me why. Seems rather co-incidental though!

I phoned experien who informed me that my credit score has actually increased considerably over the last 6 months and if anything they should have decreased my APR.

It was at this point that I realised what I was dealing with and closed all my accounts with Santander. They are a bunch of scammers, although you would think credit profiliing is automatic, the cynical side of me saw some pre-puebescant little operative whack up my APR rate thinking I wasn't going to clear the balance by the end of the month.

To be honest my whole experience with Santander has been a disaster, their telephone service barely speaks English and always used to mess up my standing orders and direct debits.

I used to live in Luton and the staff that worked there were rude, arrogant and totally incompetent, even basic tasks like paying money in was a total fiasco. You also had to que up for 1 hour+ while their lazy bunch of team leaders and "managers" all sat there playing on facebook (in FULL VIEW of the irate queing customers!). Everytime I've been in there someone would be shouting their head off because one of the casheirs has made a mistake. Also, the place absolutely STANK to high heavan! You'd think the army off team leaders would at least try and get a cleaner or (gasp) pick some of the rubbish of the floor themselfs if they can't be bothered to help out on the cashiers.

I also have a current account with Lloyds which I now use a lot more since dumping Santander, I've been with them for years and they are fine, good telephone banking and good service in the branch. Only downside is you do get charged in Spain.

If anyone finds a non charging credit or debit card that works in Spain please let me know, I know it's only a few Euro's but it really does irritate me paying transaction charges. Thanks

stilltheone

Lee_Rees wrote: »

My Santander card didn't work in Marbella in Spain in a VISA machine. I phoned up the support line and they told me that it had been suspended for fraud. I'd previously told them I was going to Spain in preperation of any fraud prevention.

It was the second time I'd used it. After spending hours on hold they unsuspended it. The next time I was in Spain the same thing happened. They then admitted that there was nothing they could do. So a Spanish bank are not capable of allowing their credit cards to work in Spain. That figures.

I hardly used the card for 4 months, although I did buy a TV once from Curries which cost around £1500. After around 5 days of buying the TV I then got a letter saying that they'd increased the APR from 12% to 26%. I phoned the support line and they said they cannot tell me why. Seems rather co-incidental though!

I phoned experien who informed me that my credit score has actually increased considerably over the last 6 months and if anything they should have decreased my APR.

It was at this point that I realised what I was dealing with and closed all my accounts with Santander. They are a bunch of scammers, although you would think credit profiliing is automatic, the cynical side of me saw some pre-puebescant little operative whack up my APR rate thinking I wasn't going to clear the balance by the end of the month.

To be honest my whole experience with Santander has been a disaster, their telephone service barely speaks English and always used to mess up my standing orders and direct debits.

I used to live in Luton and the staff that worked there were rude, arrogant and totally incompetent, even basic tasks like paying money in was a total fiasco. You also had to que up for 1 hour+ while their lazy bunch of team leaders and "managers" all sat there playing on facebook (in FULL VIEW of the irate queing customers!). Everytime I've been in there someone would be shouting their head off because one of the casheirs has made a mistake. Also, the place absolutely STANK to high heavan! You'd think the army off team leaders would at least try and get a cleaner or (gasp) pick some of the rubbish of the floor themselfs if they can't be bothered to help out on the cashiers.

I also have a current account with Lloyds which I now use a lot more since dumping Santander, I've been with them for years and they are fine, good telephone banking and good service in the branch. Only downside is you do get charged in Spain.

If anyone finds a non charging credit or debit card that works in Spain please let me know, I know it's only a few Euro's but it really does irritate me paying transaction charges. Thanks

Metro Bank