Problems with HSBC fraud protection

Booge

Hi All

Am wondering if anyone knows of a good bank that won’t give me the current problems I am having with HSBC. Roughly every 9 months HSBC blocks my debit card without notice and tells me the card has been copied by fraudsters and needs to be replaced. This is usually associated with me using the card on a reputable website like amazon or hotels.com

On no occasion has there been any evidence that the card has actually been used by fraudsters and no money ever leaves my account

I am not convinced that the card is actually being copied as it seems too frequent and it seems to me that there is something wrong with HSBC’s system

The last straw was I was on holiday in USA a week ago and I used my card there and they blocked the card. They then insisted that for every transaction I had to phone the anti fraud department and that they must be present on the phone whilst the transaction took place so that they could temporarily unblock the card and then immediately replace the block. This meant that I incurred £95 in international call charges to HSBC

I am so fed up of this happening that I want to change banks but I don’t want to change to another bank with equally problematic processes

Does anyone know what Barclays is like for example in this respect? If you go on holiday is there a process for you to notify them you are going in advance so that they do not block the card?

Jonathan

gt94sss2

It's likely not to be your card or HSBC's systems but a security breach at a retailer somewhere.

Many issuers replace cards for this reason but will never tell you which retailer caused the issue.

You could try asking HSBC to reimburse you the £95 but the moral of the story is always go overseas with at least two cards.

All the big banks have systems in place for to to notify them you are going overseas but none of them guarantee they won't block your card anyway..

Westie983

This service is available for all banks, always recommended to let the bank know what your travel plans is.

This includes HSBC, I think you will need to narrow down what else you require from a bank, as the issue with international transactions could and may well happen with any bank.

I am quite surprised as HSBC is an international bank, but again you need to work out another benefit you require so we can help you and narrow down your choices.

Westie983

18cc

If you travel regularly then you might want to consider a starling bank account

I have had problems using debit cards and credit cards abroad with most of the Major Banks but have never had any problem using nationwide not sure if that is just luck or if they are different

in any case you should log onto the bank account before you go and fill in the travel plans section to let them know where you are going