Pain in the backside MBNA!!

gingeralan

I decided recently that I wanted to treat myself to a new TV. I could have bought it outright but thought I would see if I could get a 0% Virgin mastercard. I was approved and given a 4100 credit limit. Great, I can buy my TV and earn interest on the money I would have used.
My main problem is that they do not seem very willing for me to use the card, each transaction I have tried so far has resulted in a verbal authority required! Meaning a significant wait on the phone trying to get hold of someone, rather embarrassing when at the front of a very busy queue in ikea. I could understand the TV as this was rather expensive, but the ikea purchase was only around 300 quid. I guess that because it's 0% they just wanna make life difficult. It is not practical to ring in advance either as on the two occasions I tried so far the first, while successful took over 40 minutes to get through and on the second I gave up hope after 15 minutes.

I have the money available, luckily otherwise waiting at the front of the ikea queue on the phone would have been awful.

I was just annoyed and wondering if this treatment is normal? Not really had credit cards much before and just thought I would try it to see if I could follow some of the tips on this site, but I really don't think it's worth it if this is typical behavior.

sistafromanothermista

I've always found them to be really helpful tbh. At least the security is good
I can understand it would be a little frustrating but i'd be happy that they're doing the checks.

chattychappy

gingeralan wrote: »

each transaction I have tried so far has resulted in a verbal authority required!

You described the Ikea experience, but how many others and were they in shops? I can imagine that stuff like TVs are often bought by people on cards fraudulently obtained, so they are extra careful in a case where it's only just been issued.

gingeralan wrote: »

I guess that because it's 0% they just wanna make life difficult.

Nah... in that case they wouldn't have offered it to you. They want you to use the 0% deal in the hope that when it comes to an end you'll still have a balance so will pay full-whack interest.

reclusive46

Was it your first transaction or one of the first few? If you have no buying history with Virgin/Bank of America (MBNA) then they don't really know what is suspicious for you or not and it is also unusual for cards to ever get declined unless the card is not valid or has reached credit limit etc. Most if not all get referred now, its just a lot of merchants cannot be bothered to call authorisations.

gingeralan

Very strange. My experience on my first two attempts to use the card have seriously put me off the idea of using cards. If this is the case they should have a sufficiently staffed call centre purely so you can pre authorise transactions.

The embarassment whenin a shop and the payment didn't go through is a awful. The security is nice in theory, but if out affects your free use of something then the level of security is excessive. I shan't use it again, and will just make use of this 0% promotional deal. I would ring them to complain but life is too short.

fozmcfc

My Natwest card was like that, every purchase questioned, but generally my other cards go through fine. I did stop using the Natwest card because of it, but it wasn't on 0% anyway.

The only other instance was my M&S card with 0% on purchases, was stopped on my first purchase, a laptop, bought online. They rung me though, as my phone went the minute I tried to purchase it.

I wouldn't give up on the card, particularly as it's 0%, prehaps if you haven't already give them a mobile number as the main contact number and they may ring that so you could sort it at the till itself.

Try a few smaller purchases as well, £300 is what I would call a medium purchase, try some £50 - £100 ones. If it is still getting flagged up, then I must admit I would be tempted to stop using it.

chattychappy

gingeralan wrote: »

each transaction I have tried so far has resulted in a verbal authority required!

gingeralan wrote: »

Very strange. My experience on my first two attempts to use the card have seriously put me off the idea of using cards

So was it just two transactions?

gingeralan wrote: »

The embarassment whenin a shop and the payment didn't go through is a awful.

Well... I don't want to sound harsh, but here the problem is your reaction, not what happened. Why be embarrassed? It's not an insult. Most CC users have had a decline from time to time and shop assistants will be used to it. Annoying for people behind you in the queue - but that is an issue for the shop on how they manage their checkout procedures.

I've only been declined once in the last few years in the UK - I think they really are very rare for established accounts.

gingeralan

They did ring my mobile first, but they always state that they will never ring and ask for password or other sensitive data, so I refused to answer their questions and hadto ring back to an obviously understaffed call centre.

Not a very good system.

cos_2

How would they know what you're buying, I wonder? I mean, they might classify the merchant as transport, retail, gambling or somesuch, but I can't get my head round how they'd identify the item(s) you're buying!

Other than that, I've never had an issue with a new card, once I've called to authorise it upon receipt.

gingeralan

fozmcfc wrote: »

My Natwest card was like that, every purchase questioned, but generally my other cards go through fine. I did stop using the Natwest card because of it, but it wasn't on 0% anyway.

The only other instance was my M&S card with 0% on purchases, was stopped on my first purchase, a laptop, bought online. They rung me though, as my phone went the minute I tried to purchase it.

I wouldn't give up on the card, particularly as it's 0%, prehaps if you haven't already give them a mobile number as the main contact number and they may ring that so you could sort it at the till itself.

Try a few smaller purchases as well, £300 is what I would call a medium purchase, try some £50 - £100 ones. If it is still getting flagged up, then I must admit I would be tempted to stop using it.

Tbh I think I'll just leave it. I will make use of this 0% deal for the duration then clear it and close it. shame really, but if I want to contact them it just takes ages! Can't be bothered with the hassle for the small amount I could make after things like balance transfer fees are taken into account.

chanz4

Think it will be identified by the shop type and amount, not the actual itme