Santander - need OTP or app capable mobile to online bank

Blake494

Santander have just sent out their security update e-mail. Unlike the other banks who I, and those I know, bank with, Santander is only going to do verification by their app (or the 'one time passcode'). The other banks, so far, all offer app OR landline verification.

I asked on Twitter, if they'd send an OTP to the landline, but they won't. So if like me, you don't have a mobile (am housebound, tried with a mobile for emergencies twice, both times I didn't use it enough so it stopped working and 'ate' the money I'd loaded on it. :mad:) or you live in an area that coverage is spotty, then you can't online bank.



When they said 'can still bank in branch' I said 'mine closed last year, then I was told, that I can still telephone bank with them.... If I wanted to telephone bank, I'd not be using online accounts. :mad:


I'll be moving my money to my other 'main' bank account today.

What's even more annoying was that I noticed yesterday evening that Santander's interest was better now than my other account, so had planned to double check the accounts 'small print' then move most of my meagre savings to Santander today. Positive, at least I didn't move my money / direct debits last night!

eskbanker

Blake494 wrote: »

The other banks, so far, all offer app OR landline verification.

This has come up in a number of threads recently, as the banks prepare for PSD2 implementation - based on your research, which banks specifically have confirmed that they'll support landline verification after September's changes?

Zanderman

Blake494 wrote: »

So if like me, you don't have a mobile (am housebound, tried with a mobile for emergencies twice, both times I didn't use it enough so it stopped working and 'ate' the money I'd loaded on it. :mad:) or you live in an area that coverage is spotty, then you can't online bank.

The answer, like it or not, is to get a mobile. As most, if not all, banks will be using similar systems soon and moving bank may not help. Unless as you say they will send OTP to the landline.

At least with OTP you can get away with a basic mobile - not a smartphone - so that's something to be grateful for, for now at least. You can get a basic mobile handset for less than a tenner. You may well have one already. But if the banks move to app only for authorisation you may find you have to have a smartphone - but not yet...

Understand your point about poor reception - but assuming you can get a signal then a basic pay as you sim go should suffice - put £10 on it, send a text once every 4 months (or whatever the provider says!) to keep it ticking and you'll be fine for years to come.

Unless they change to app only...

Uxb1

Even where the reception is patchy texts will get through even where a voice call is impossible.

The mobile companies need to be told though to fix and implement wi-fi calling on all mobiles and plans to enable those with a landline and broadband on it but with next to no mobile coverage to operate these OTP's/app notifications

EssexExile

Uxb1 wrote: »

Even where the reception is patchy texts will get through even where a voice call is impossible.

Eventually. I texted my friend to say I'd be with him in about an hour. The text arrived two hours after I did.

Zanderman

EssexExile wrote: »

Eventually. I texted my friend to say I'd be with him in about an hour. The text arrived two hours after I did.

in my experience that can happen even when there's perfect reception.

colsten

Some landline providers can receive text messages, for example https://btplc.com/inclusion/ProductsAndServices/ServicesfromBT/Unwantedtexts/index.htm

Blake494 wrote: »

I'll be moving my money to my other 'main' bank account today.

oh, so you don't have a problem, anyway.

Blake494 wrote: »

What's even more annoying was that I noticed yesterday evening that Santander's interest was better now than my other account, so had planned to double check the accounts 'small print' then move most of my meagre savings to Santander today.

Are you serious? Santander hasn't been the best interest payer in a very long time now. Would now be a good time to do a proper review of where you get the best deal, both for your day-to-day banking and for your savings? Having both in the same bank could leave you high and dry if there's a problem with that bank. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/savings-accounts-best-interest/

18cc

Agreed. Unless you have approaching 20k then the rate of return on Samtanderx123 can easily be beaten

colsten

18cc wrote: »

Agreed. Unless you have approaching 20k then the rate of return on Samtanderx123 can easily be beaten

Even for £20K it can be beaten, as you can put the money that doesn't fit into better paying current accounts into a savings account that pays 1.5% AER without charging a fee.

Organist

Cumberland will and are already validating via landline or mobile but obviously you have to live in the area to apply for a current account withn them

rhialwencomp

It's a giant pain in the ----.
I'm like you, and have no need of mobiles. But so many services require them now, it's bonkers, having to keep up not because you want to, but because you need to just for banking.

As far as I can tell it's only Three that offer PAYG wifi signal. They recently discontinued the app that let you do it on any phone and it's really hard to tell which older androids have it. But any iphone 5s or newer will do it. I picked one up from ebay for £30, and it runs ios 12, which will apparently do for the app if it becomes necessary.
After that it's just a chargeable call or a text every couple of months to keep the number and credit. Phone your own landline if you have to- as long as you or the voicemail picks up it'll count. A £5/£10 credit (whichever is the minimum) will last a while with this.