Santander Fraud Checking

Hoof_Hearted

Very impressed with them. Had a fraudulent amount on my credit card detected by them before I even knew. I guess they knew I couldn't use the card in the UK and America at the same time. Only a small amount but apparently fraudsters make small purchases first to check whether the card is a "goer".

A few weeks back I had another check but it was for a purchase I had made.

boo_star

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Very impressed with them. Had a fraudulent amount on my credit card detected by them before I even knew. I guess they knew I couldn't use the card in the UK and America at the same time. Only a small amount but apparently fraudsters make small purchases first to check whether the card is a "goer".

A few weeks back I had another check but it was for a purchase I had made.

I would hope the fraud checks reduce the more you use the account.

Fraud checks are fine but bear in mind you're not responsible for fraud unless they can either prove negligence or that you were a party to it.

I've had my cards blocked in the past because of (potential) fraud. They just blocked them, no phone call and only found out when my card was refused in a cash machine.

CKhalvashi

boo_star wrote: »

I would hope the fraud checks reduce the more you use the account.

It tends to depend on what/where you use it.

I've had calls from HSBC whenever I've tried to use it somewhere it hasn't been used before, but after this it's been fine unless the amounts are hugely varied.

I don't use the current account for that much (mainly direct debits, cash withdrawls and the occasional tank of diesel when I don't have a CC with me), so anything out of the ordinary is usually easy to spot.

jrtfan

HSBC is inconsistent in this respect. For example, in the past they've blocked my card because it was used (legitimately, by me) in 3 different retailers in the same day (all in the same area, all small amounts each time) but they didn't call to tell me, I found out when the card was refused at the next transaction I tried to make with it. Yet another time they happily allowed a fraudulent CPA to be set up for a monthly amount which totalled more than my monthly income.

I too have regular and limited activity on my account, so it puzzles me how they determine whether a particular transaction is "unusual" or not. Although in their defence, they did work hard to cancel this CPA and to reclaim the money which had been taken from my account.

I keep reading about Santandar and how they seem to be very much on the ball when it comes to questioning anything they regard as suspicious. Not a bad thing in this day and age, imo.