New'ish Vanquis card declined - well within limit

Tammy2

I spend, or rather attempted to spend, just over £100 today on my Vanquis card and it was declined.

Immediately checked on line and it is say £177 left to spend. (A payment to them having clearing this morning).

Could it be that '£100' triggered something? To date I've only spent up to £70 in a day, generally less. (I've only had it just over a month).

I tried phoning them - incredibly they are now closed until Monday!

Paully232000

Have you bought something recently from a shop that does pre-authorising amounts that have not come off your account yet. I am thinking something like petrol as there they sometimes pre-authorise a high amount (£99 in some instances).

Tammy2

No, nothing. The amount they show as available to spend tallies to the penny with my records.

All I can think is that the amount might have been viewed as out of character. (Although I've only had it a month!)

Or else, there is some muddle / inconsistency between systems with the cleared payment. Although I checked this morning and the payment was cleared and funds were available to spend. Very glad I took a screen shot of this.

chanz4

call them and ask only way

Tammy2

I shall, when they are open, on Monday.

Tammy2

I rang them - mystery solved. Apparently, you are only allowed 7 transactions within 24 hours. They declined it on shopping trip no. 8.

I guess that is quite a good idea. Plus you can ring up to increase the number for a particular day.

solentsusie

Is that just for new customers or as a general rule?


It would be pretty rubbish if you were out doing your Christmas shopping for example and you were declined in a shop because you had already made seven other purchases. This would be quite easy to do.


Perhaps it is something they put in the small print somewhere?

Tammy2

solentsusie wrote: »

Is that just for new customers or as a general rule?


It would be pretty rubbish if you were out doing your Christmas shopping for example and you were declined in a shop because you had already made seven other purchases. This would be quite easy to do.


Perhaps it is something they put in the small print somewhere?

The person I spoke to didn't say it was just for new customers.

She said if you think you are likely to go over you can ring up and a supervisor will authorize it for the day. Not ideal, is it.

solentsusie

Tammy2 wrote: »

The person I spoke to didn't say it was just for new customers.

She said if you think you are likely to go over you can ring up and a supervisor will authorize it for the day. Not ideal, is it.

No not really. Especially if you don't know that you need to do this!

I know some credit card companies and banks ask you to inform them when you go abroad but I wouldn't expect it if I was in this country.

I am surprised that you didn't get put through on the telephone for authorisation. I have had that before when making a purchase that was out of my usual pattern of spending.

Tammy2

She seemed to suggest you had to get pre-authorization. It was a flat decline - no ringing up.

Tammy2

OK, this is ridiculous. I went to use it this evening and it is still being declined! Yet online all looks well (exactly the same to spend as when it first declined).

Can't wait to hear what they say tomorrow :sigh:

Edit: just phoned them. They have no idea why (it is still showing as more than 7 transactions in a day). S they now say it is probably a card error. The only solution is a new card. :sigh: So, I await a new card in 7 - 10 days and see what happens next. Can't say Vanquis have filled me with confidence so far. But, at least they offered me one and hopefully it will be worth it in the end (I got it our for credit building purposes).