Santander Standard Debit Card Transaction Issues

TheFreegleQueen

Hi All

I am really perplexed as to what has been happening with my Santander account.
A couple months ago I noticed that payments (standing orders, direct payments) were showing up in my account and available the day BEFORE they were due.
Secondly and this has now happened twice over 3 weeks - I go to town check my available balance - nothing due to come out. Go shopping (keeping a mental note) check balance again - back to shopping check a THIRD time (still fine) THEN my payment is declined in a shop. I go home check my online banking and yep overdrawn! The debits are so slow it is not registering so I believe I have more than I do (and the available balance agrees!) I do not have an overdraft and yet they allow me to go overdrawn when this happens so now I owe charges!

I just want to know is this common practice or is my account not right? I am fed up I know that much!

Shakin_Steve

I'm sorry that santanders system doesn't work for you, but not having a clue as to how much money is in your account is very lax of you. Surely, if you have even an inkling that payments may be due, you'd hold off on the spending. Standing orders usually go out at the same time each month, how can you not know that they are due?

TheFreegleQueen

Did I not say nothing was due out? Did I mention standing orders no! This is why I never post - arrogant pompous !!!!!!!s!
No wonder these forums have such a nasty reputation!

meer53

The only way to make sure you have enough money in your account is to keep your own record and not rely on electronic checks. Keep a note of what you spend each day, make a note of what standing orders and direct debits you have and when they debit, then keep a running total. You will never get caught out if you use this system. It's normal for card transactions to take a few days to debit, you should deduct them from your balance as soon as you make them.

When you make card payments and you have available funds the transaction is authorised so when the retailer processes the transaction (usually after the actual day) they are guaranteed to get the money. This is why you end up with an unauthorised overdraft. It's not the banks fault, it's yours.

People on this forum are asked to be nice to new posters, that works both ways, if you don't like a response it's best to ignore it rather than post things like "arrogant pompous !!!!!s"

Shakin_Steve

Sorry if I appeared pompous. Second line, in brackets "standing orders".
I guess that's mentioning them.

djpailo

I wonder if its worth arranging a small overdraft so you won't have to worry about these things? It may also help to have a separate current account solely for spending. This can be a "basic" current account with debit card facilities and all main stream banks should offer this.

mwarby

If your credit score is poor enough you might be able to get a basic account. I have the nationwide one and HBOS ones, and generally the debit transactions show in available balance near instantly.

The exceptions to this ive found are
Pay at pump
PayPal
Amazon

PeacefulWaters

TheFreegleQueen wrote: »

Did I not say nothing was due out? Did I mention standing orders no! This is why I never post - arrogant pompous !!!!!!!s!
No wonder these forums have such a nasty reputation!

You did mention standing orders.

It shouldn't be too difficult for you to track and anticipate your balance.

Try using online banking each morning along with pen and paper to identify what you know is going to come out in the coming days. You should soonest the hang of things.