Aqua card - A little too sensitive with blocking cards?

TheEffect

Has anyone with an Aqua card found they block your card a little too often?

I have quite a high limit on my Aqua card, so often use it to make large purchases and then pay off in full.

I made a flight reservation with Virgin online for £500. They blocked the card. I then made a few other transactions over the last month to booking.com (£200) and a few other well known websites, all got blocked.

Maybe it's just me?...

My CapitalOne card has never been blocked, and I've used it all over the world, large purchases online etc.

Hominu

Never had my Aqua card blocked, although they regularly send me a text message asking me if I recognise a transaction and to phone them if I don't, which I find quite a nice feature.

jo-bo

I've had it happen quite a few times with me, even blocking purchases to companies I've used many times before! And the text they send asking if I recognise the transaction has sometimes only come through a couple of days later!!

Wywth

Yes, I had a transaction blocked recently too. Was trying to buy something online from a well known high street retailer.

No text (but they don't have my mobile number) just a call left on my answer phone saying they refused the transaction and, rather confusingly, I didn't need to do anything else.
But this came after I received an email from the retailer advising me the card was not accepted (being a well respected one, they simply invited me to call them within the week to re-arrange payment, else they would then release the item back into stock)

So I called Aqua, and they did confirm the transaction was refused, but said if the retailer tries to put it through again it will now proceed.

I asked how to prevent blocking in future, and was told there wasn't any way really, other than to use the card more - not so easy with the piffling little credit limit they offer in comparison to other cards, a limit that I often nearly reach most months and sometimes even pay off mid month just so I can spend more on the card.

Fortunately the retailer was good about the issue, and willingly tried the card again whilst I was on the phone to them and they confirmed it went through ok the second time ... but I was holding a back up card in my hand at the time should it have failed again.
(but I realise not everyone may be fortunate enough to have a back up card)