Bank of Scotland/Halifax woes!

ryan92

So at the moment, I currently have 3 Lloyds Banking Group accounts ; 1 with the Club Lloyds, 1 on the Bank of Scotland and the Halifax Reward!

The Club Lloyds is a relatively new account and as it was opened after my wages were paid, I was transferring money into that account from my Bank of Scotland account which I consider to be my main account for Direct Debits and then back to my BOS account in a few instalments. This was last evening. This obviously triggered something on their system as the Bank of Scotland suspended my internet banking account ; my Halifax and Lloyds Bank were all affected too.

I phoned the Fraud line and confirmed everything and access was regained.

So, issue number 2 comes this morning and to the fact I had to deposit £750 into my Halifax Reward account and then back into my Bank of Scotland to ensure I met the funding criteria for my Reward (2 of my direct Debits come from this account). This was done as an internal transfer as the two accounts appear on the same internet banking log in. This once again flagged up and my access was suspended. Phoned the Fraud Team again and went through all the necessary checks and again access was restored.

I'm also saving up to go over to Australia next year so I deposit some money every month into my FlexDirect account with Nationwide to save up for the big holiday. It was for £100 and an hour or so later after requesting the transfer, I've found myself with my internet banking suspended yet again for the third time in 24 hours. If I'm honest, I'll be totally embarrassed to have to go back onto the phone and go through this process again for the third time. I feel more embarrassed than angry to be honest.

I do appreciate it probably looks a bit suspicious to an automated system but the accounts are all in my name so maybe the system's being a bit too cautious?

Has anyone else ever experienced anything like this before?

dr_adidas01

I'm not sure this exclusive to you, but its happened to me for the first time ever.

They must have recently done something to their fraud prevention system that's made it very sensitive.

Joe_Bloggs

I am sure there was an overnight Lloyds/HBOS computer maintenance warning overnight sometime this weekend. I can't find out if there is a list or a record of this.

Time will tell if there has been a fowl up than prevents customers from transferring money between their own accounts. I would not want to try it first. I do have funds with non Lloyds/HBOS banks to survive a 'maintenance' failure.

@ryan92 to make the most of your Club Lloyds account you need to be above £4K to get the 4%. If you can't manage this then your money is better in the FlexDirect @ 5% providing it is less than £2.5K maximum.

Your signature says:-

(26.4%) Capital One CC: £437.67 (19.9%) Nationwide CC : £1936.72 (17.9%) TSB CC : £1577.40 (0%)

So it would make a lot of sense to pay off the Capital One card, then the Nationwide card before attempting to save at 5% or even 4%.
J_B.

thebritishbloke

Joe_Bloggs wrote: »

So it would make a lot of sense to pay off the Capital One card, then the Nationwide card before attempting to save at 5% or even 4%.
J_B.

As much as people hate to hear this, OP please listen to this advice. When you have debts that are gaining interest to pay off, and you're saving for a holiday, you're doing the wrong thing. Get your debts paid off and then save up for a holiday.

zerog

This happens to me all the time, whenever something changes. I.e. new account, new payee, paying existing payee more frequently / higher amounts than before, new phone number, new address, etc. etc.

Don't be embarrassed, you won't speak to the same person more than once.

All the Lloyds group banks have excessive fraud protection. Not only do you need to enter 3 sets of numbers (one through a stupid drop down menu), you then need to spend 1 minute listening to an automated message and typing in more numbers to set up a new payee, and then you still need to call and speak to someone on the phone.

If you want an account with these peopple then just accept it. Otherwise use a bank which has a card reader or SMS security.

Archi_Bald

zerog wrote: »

All the Lloyds group banks have excessive fraud protection. Not only do you need to enter 3 sets of numbers (one through a stupid drop down menu), you then need to spend 1 minute listening to an automated message and typing in more numbers to set up a new payee, and then you still need to call and speak to someone on the phone.

I have had several accounts which each of Lloyds, BOS and Halifax for several years. I send a lot of money to other LBG accounts and also to payees outside LBG. When setting up a new payee or SO, they automatically call with a security code and I have to enter a password for external payments, but that's the end of it for me. I don't have to enter any code through a dropdown, and I never had to call them when setting up new payments. My accounts have never been blocked. I don't consider having to enter the code and password as excessive fraud protection - quite the contrary, I am quite happy that it is virtually impossible for a fraudster to set up a new payment even if they had managed to log into my accounts.

I know at least one other person who has made the same experience as I have. So there's is no reason to believe that there is anything excessive. If every time you want to make a payment you need to call them, there could be something peculiar about the receiving account number, or your own account is specially monitored.

I agree, if you find it unbearable, there are many other banks you can try.

SuperHan

zerog wrote: »

This happens to me all the time, whenever something changes. I.e. new account, new payee, paying existing payee more frequently / higher amounts than before, new phone number, new address, etc. etc.

Don't be embarrassed, you won't speak to the same person more than once.

All the Lloyds group banks have excessive fraud protection. Not only do you need to enter 3 sets of numbers (one through a stupid drop down menu), you then need to spend 1 minute listening to an automated message and typing in more numbers to set up a new payee, and then you still need to call and speak to someone on the phone.

If you want an account with these peopple then just accept it. Otherwise use a bank which has a card reader or SMS security.

Odd you should say this, as I moved to Halifax because their security was so easy. I don't need to have my card reader or even card with me to set up a new payee, and the drop down menu is to add safety against key loggers.

I found almost every other banking groups security measures too onerous!

ryan92

Thanks for the advice guys!
I've not updated the signature for a little while so the balances are a bit smaller now

Anyway I phoned the fraud team again today and they are not willing to unblock the account over the phone ; I have to visit a branch to get this issue sorted. No idea why this is as I managed to complete the verification!

starM

ryan92, My access to BOS/Halifax Internet banking was blocked when I attempted to transfer £500 to my Nationwide account. This was afew months ago. I also have Lloyds account but that was unaffected.

The only strange thing I find here that all of your Lloyds group accounts (internet access) were blocked. And now they are not willing to unblock it until you visit a branch.

From my previous experience it never triggered fraud alarms if internal transfers are made between your own accounts. Possible after the update they have updated the system. If that's the case many people who have afew Reward accounts for sometime may find online access blocked if they use it for just transfer in and out.

Please do provide update after branch visit.

ryan92

When it was blocked after the 2nd instance, I tried to move money from the reward a/c to the BOS account all in one chunk however it wouldnt allow that. I then tried to do it in smaller £100 chunks which it allowed. Shortly after I decided to just set up a standing order to move £100 out of the account so I could gradually get everything out there as the experience has put me off slightly. It was this standing order that blocked the accounts for the third time.

I've to take my proof of ID so I will keep you posted.

System

Your BOS / Halifax internal transfers can be done via the menu at the top of the screen. Are you saying that they restricted that?

ryan92 wrote: »

When it was blocked after the 2nd instance, I tried to move money from the reward a/c to the BOS account all in one chunk however it wouldnt allow that. I then tried to do it in smaller £100 chunks which it allowed. Shortly after I decided to just set up a standing order to move £100 out of the account so I could gradually get everything out there as the experience has put me off slightly. It was this standing order that blocked the accounts for the third time.

I've to take my proof of ID so I will keep you posted.