Rant: Tesco Bank

codger

Sick and tired of Tesco Bank. Any other financial institution I use in regard to my online accounts -- bank, building soc, saver account, other credit cards -- and log in is never a problem. Tesco Bank? Not a chance.

Though it never says so in plain English, Tesco Bank requires you to keep a Tesco Bank cookie on your computer for as long as you're a Tesco bank customer. Doesn't matter whether you like the idea of storing this stuff on your computer or not: Tesco is the boss of your account, not you. And the boss of what you do with your computer, too.

Not a single other financial institution I deal with demands that you retain one of their cookies on your computer. Not one. I hadn't realised that Tesco's demands it -- the company is s-oo coy -- and so a few months ago was locked out of my credit card account because "we don't recognise the computer you're using". Result: a lonnnnnng rigmarole of ringing them up, going through a procedure of being sent new 'security codes' via my mobile and messing about until finally, finally, I'm in.

I thought I'd saved the darned cookie. Apparently not. So tonight I've logged in and, here we go again, log in terminated because "we don't recognise the computer you're using". And that's that. No argument. Tough. Now I have to ring the arrogant idiots again and go through all the time-wasting nonsense again.

Ah well. Goodbye Tesco credit card tomorrow after I've managed to finally get back into my account. It wouldn't be so bad if its security was top-of-the-class and something for it to rightly preen over, but the fact is, its IT is so useless at security that it still can't be bothered to provide even a simple on-screen floating keyboard. Key loggers? Nah. Tesco IT has never heard of 'em.

And as for its other on-sale cookies, as distinct from its dare-not-speak-its-name-compulsory-computer-cookies, they're rubbish, too. Grrrr.

System

It regularly doesn't recognise my computer but its not that big a deal to go through the short process to log in .

giraffe69

Why do you need to ring them? When that happens to me they send a text to a mobile I have registered with them and I enter a one time code. Slightly aggravating but not a major problem.

Bobcrowther

The OP kinda has a point though. Using cookies as a security measure is pretty amateur, any 12 year old hacker could circumvent that in seconds.
I wonder if they had a windows "app", would that resolve this issue? The Halifax app does something similar with " recognised" devices, but as its app-contained it's not a hassle as I change my handsets fairly infrequently.

Raine_E_Day

I have always had a problem with my desk top and Tesco bank and had to phone to get a text as it never worked automatically and I get 'blocked' every time. This entails having to go through the whole security questions after being kept waiting for ages, and then wait for a text - which may or may not work. It's a real hassle. However, I sorted it in end by only using my tablet and Tesco Bank app which justs needs a 5 digit access number and no cache/cookie problems. So long as I only use tablet, and not even attempt to use desk top, it all works ok. I guess Tesco assume everyone has mobile access and the banking is set up accordingly with that in mind.

takman

Why are people having to ring up and answer security questions?. I get a text sent to my phone and I just have to input the access code online.
I actually like this method of security and I opt for two factor authentication on all of my online accounts which works in a similar way.