Blocked from John Lewis Websites

We have been stopped from using any of our credit cards on the John Lewis website. No problem using cards elsewhere. Just blocked by their 'internal security checks'. Are they legally allowed to stop us from making purchases through their website?
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  • ElefantEd
    ElefantEd Posts: 1,221 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    They can choose to sell or not to whomever they like, for any reason except those involving characteristics protected by law (eg they can't refuse to sell you something because you are disabled, but they can decline your business because you live somewhere they don't want to deliver).
  • DCFC79
    DCFC79 Posts: 40,622 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Use a debit card ?
  • Nilrem
    Nilrem Posts: 2,565 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    edited 31 October 2016 at 2:19AM
    We have been stopped from using any of our credit cards on the John Lewis website. No problem using cards elsewhere. Just blocked by their 'internal security checks'. Are they legally allowed to stop us from making purchases through their website?
    No they have to allow cards to be used that flag up ad possibly dodgy.;)

    Slightly more seriously they are allowed to do it, and it's considered extremely good practice for retailers to run an assortment of checks on cards being used (especially for high value items), and different retailers use different checks.

    Common causes of problems are things like your card being flagged by the issuer for unusual use (especially if it's the first time you've used the retailer), a mismatch in the cards registered address and your delivery address (even just a typo can be enough).
    I know of one card issuer whose system could not manage to recognise that people were legitimately using non UK retailers for several years, even when it was a monthly subscription for a game.

    If you're having problems ring them up and they may be able to tell you what is wrong.
  • bris
    bris Posts: 10,548 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Did you return some stuff to them or issue a chargeback? It's common now for retailers to ban problem customers with high return rates.
  • steampowered
    steampowered Posts: 6,176 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Perhaps they do a security check that other websites don't. Or perhaps the details you entered for your account (such as your address) don't match up with your card details?

    They won't be doing it deliberately, perhaps try another card.
  • Try using a proxy browser
  • Maybe it is not the card, but the card user they have blocked. Have you returned lots of stuff?
  • waamo
    waamo Posts: 10,298 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper
    John Lewis have been experiencing problems with credit card payments recently. That may explain it.
  • Hintza
    Hintza Posts: 19,420 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Have you spoken to them?

    Same thing happened to me with Dabs just didn't use them again, Play annoyed over a lost item just didn't use them again. Having said that I might make a bit more effort with John Lewis, I might miss them :)
  • divadee
    divadee Posts: 10,608 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    This happened to us yesterday with our Santander cards when trying to buy a new washing machine. Called up Santander and they said JL are causing them loads of issues this weekend with failed transactions. Call your bank and ask them to try and sort it for you.
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