Abbey Debit Card, Where Is It?

Bibaboo

I'm in the same position as you Stacey21, one card arrived on Friday & an identical one arrived yesterday. I decided I would try out the one that arrived yesterday, I went to an ATM & I was able to withdraw money, hurray!

I would try again with the internet banking, it was a bit funny this afternoon, I could see my balance but couldn't view any statements, but I tried it again a few minutes ago & I could see my statements again (including the cash withdrawal I made this afternoon). It looks like I'll just have to destroy the duplicate card!

Something must have gone wrong with their systems to send out duplicate cards, I don't think the initial issueing of the card at the end of July was recorded by their system (because of the unconfirmed address thing), and so they think that they have sent out this issue of the card for the first time

stacey21_2

Thanks Bibaloo,

I just don't get what their argument is at the moment, they told me it was because of the floods, however my new cards say valid from 06-07. And my old one expired 07-07. So surely they should have been sent out beginning of July? When there wasn't any floods?

Bibaboo

stacey21 wrote: »

Thanks Bibaloo,

I just don't get what their argument is at the moment, they told me it was because of the floods, however my new cards say valid from 06-07. And my old one expired 07-07. So surely they should have been sent out beginning of July? When there wasn't any floods?

It's bizarre isn't it? The cards I received are also valid from June. So far they've come up with a variety of reasons for the problems:

1) New cards weren't issued until late in the month because some people try to use the new cards too early

2) The place that makes the cards was flooded

3) postal strikes

4) administrative problems & unconfirmed addresses

None of which explains the early start date of the cards!

Have you tried to use one of the cards that you received yesterday to see if it's active? It'll be interesting to see what card services say about the duplicates (it's not great from a security point of view, what if one of the cards had been stolen on it's way to you).

I know what you mean about talking to them on the phone, I come out in a cold sweat! I much prefer talking to someone face to face in a branch. You could always write down a list of things that you need to say to them & information that you need from them.

saxmund

molley wrote: »

Send it Recorded Delivery .!!!

That's probably a waste of money; they acknowledged the last complaint I sent them, regarding the e-banking outage in May, within about a week and I was put into the complaints handling procedure.

However, I have just re-read their last letter regarding that complaint and I realised it doesn't give me a reason for not being able to answer it yet, or a target date for completion. Abbey's own complaints procedure says they will answer in eight weeks, or if they can't, they'll tell you why they can't and when they will complete it.

As it is now well over eight weeks from the complaint, after writing the late debit card complaint last night I downloaded the ombudsman's complaint form and that will go off this weekend as well. I didn't want to do it, I wanted to see Abbey's snivelling little excuses first, and in any case I think the ombudsman should really be for people who have lost money or really had their lives messed around.

However, reading between the lines of the last letter it almost reads "we haven't answered it yet and might not bother", presumably betting most people won't bother to take it further. So I felt I had to.

As it happens the debit card didn't cause me any problems as I have been a good little consumer and taken my business elsewhere. So, although my salary went into my Abbey account I was able to withdraw cash and make payments from my Bank of Scotland account, taking advantage of the introductory free overdraft. However, if I had given Abbey the benefit of the doubt over the e-banking outage, it would have left me unable to withdraw cash and make a couple of imoportant payments.

WyrdSis

Bibaboo wrote: »

Just out of interest what number did you call to get to speak to someone sensible?

Hi there,
it was 0845 765 4321...no guarantee you will get anyone to tell the truth though...my card arrived on Saturday but cannot use it and now I cannot access my online banking either - my situation has just got worse.

WyrdSis

Bibaboo wrote: »

The mystery deepens.... After being told on Tuesday that no card had been issued at the end of July, one landed on my doorstep this morning! Now is this the card 'that was never issued', or is it the card that was requested on Tuesday this week (probably too quick for that though). I'm just getting more confused, I just want a card that I know I can use!

That is exactly what has happened to me....I am amazed we are all still hanging onto our sanity

molley

saxmund wrote: »

That's probably a waste of money; they acknowledged the last complaint I sent them, regarding the e-banking outage in May, within about a week and I was put into the complaints handling procedure.
<<<<<snipped

quote]
Why is it a waste of money to send it Recorded Delivery .It's only about 80p .In your case your letter was acknowledged .What if they had said it didn't arrive but RD showed that it did . ?

saxmund

molley wrote: »

Why is it a waste of money to send it Recorded Delivery .It's only about 80p .In your case your letter was acknowledged .What if they had said it didn't arrive but RD showed that it did . ?

Well, because it's money spent unnecessarily, not to mention my time spent queuing at a post office.

Ed_Zep

Still haven't got my card. Have opened an a/c with Smile and hopefully in the next few weeks all the direct debits will be moved across. Not sure how I feel about having an online current a/c but Abbey have been atrocious and I like the idea of the money being invested ethically. Not a single apology or credible explanation.

molley

I got my card this morning ( valid from 08/07) and my on-line banking Registration Code but still no online banking Passcode and still no Pin Number so I still can only use it to buy things on-line or get cash in a branch .