Santander debit cards.

JOHNAVISON

When is a debit card not a debit card? Well if Santander is anything to go by it's when you use their debit cards on line. I have just received a letter from Santander telling me that as I haven't used my debit card since it was issued I won't be issued with another one when this one expires in January.....unless I either make a purchase or withdraw cash by 15th November. But I do use my debit card all the time. I make donations to various charities, pay my credit card, buy premium bonds etc. all on line. But that according to Santander doesn't constitute using the card, as I haven't physically gone to the shops, and passed the card through a machine. But of course, the card is essential as when I make transactions I have to give over the 3 digit code on the back. And now of course I have to have a mobile phone to receive the one time code from Santander. Given that I am housebound you can imagine how bloody inconvenient this is to say the least. Santanders solution....give the card to a "friend" and get them to withdraw cash- which I don't need. And this is their idea of security? 

Roger1

Are you saying you don't have a suitable mobile phone?  If so, and as you may have special needs, you need to get in touch with Santander.

If that proves unsatisfactory, then you would need to think about moving to a more sympathetic bank.

bradders1983

You dont need cash? Fair enough, give your card to a family member and use the card to buy a pint of milk from the shops. This would also satisfy their requirement.  Substitute "a pint of milk" for something else you actually need at the time if you dont drink milk.

Yes giving the card to someone else to use is strictly against the terms of having the card but sometimes you have to use common sense in these situations.  It also saves the faff of finding a current account with another provider who does not require the card to be physically used every X months.

JOHNAVISON

bradders1983 said:

You dont need cash? Fair enough, give your card to a family member and use the card to buy a pint of milk from the shops. This would also satisfy their requirement.  Substitute "a pint of milk" for something else you actually need at the time if you dont drink milk.

Yes giving the card to someone else to use is strictly against the terms of having the card but sometimes you have to use common sense in these situations.  It also saves the faff of finding a current account with another provider who does not require the card to be physically used every X months.

Roger1 said:

Are you saying you don't have a suitable mobile phone?  If so, and as you may have special needs, you need to get in touch with Santander.

If that proves unsatisfactory, then you would need to think about moving to a more sympathetic bank.

bradders1983 said:

You dont need cash? Fair enough, give your card to a family member and use the card to buy a pint of milk from the shops. This would also satisfy their requirement.  Substitute "a pint of milk" for something else you actually need at the time if you dont drink milk.

Yes giving the card to someone else to use is strictly against the terms of having the card but sometimes you have to use common sense in these situations.  It also saves the faff of finding a current account with another provider who does not require the card to be physically used every X months.

Roger1 said:

Are you saying you don't have a suitable mobile phone?  If so, and as you may have special needs, you need to get in touch with Santander.

If that proves unsatisfactory, then you would need to think about moving to a more sympathetic bank.

Roger1 said:

Are you saying you don't have a suitable mobile phone?  If so, and as you may have special needs, you need to get in touch with Santander.

If that proves unsatisfactory, then you would need to think about moving to a more sympathetic bank.

Roger1 said:

Are you saying you don't have a suitable mobile phone?  If so, and as you may have special needs, you need to get in touch with Santander.

If that proves unsatisfactory, then you would need to think about moving to a more sympathetic bank.

Roger1 said:

Are you saying you don't have a suitable mobile phone?  If so, and as you may have special needs, you need to get in touch with Santander.

If that proves unsatisfactory, then you would need to think about moving to a more sympathetic bank.

Roger1 said:

Are you saying you don't have a suitable mobile phone?  If so, and as you may have special needs, you need to get in touch with Santander.

If that proves unsatisfactory, then you would need to think about moving to a more sympathetic bank.

bradders1983

John you may want to edit that above post, you have quoted the opening replies eight times and not actually typed anything new.

JOHNAVISON

I think my original comment was perfectly clear. Santander do not consider using a debit card on line constitutes actually using the card, despite it being essential for online purchases. They will then not issue a new on purely for use online. With regard to the mobile phone, I really don't have a use for one, but, in order to operate my account online I have to have one. I have taken this up with Santander in the past, and they have told me they have had hundreds of complaints about this, but so far they have not found a solution.

bradders1983

Yes your opening post was perfectly clear, nobody is arguing otherwise.

What was wrong with my suggestion of asking a family member to go to the shops with it and pay for a small value item? A quick conclusion to the matter.

msallen

I cant remember the last time I used my Santander debit card - either in person or online. Its certainly been well over a year, maybe two or three, yet I consider it my "main" current account. This has never been an issue and only a week or two ago I got a letter concerning the fact that they will be replacing it with a "non-gold" one the next time its renewed (as I no longer qualify for old style Select status) so they are clearly not showing any signs of withdrawing it.
Are you sure there isn't some other reason?

JezR

Santander seem bothered more by some people than others. My dad is not a regular user of debit cards and when he did try to use it found that they had blocked it without telling him even though it had months of validity left on it. They then didn't automatically issue him with a new one when it did expire, again without prior warning of any kind. 

EssexExile

I'd better go and use my debit card before they turn it off!

6TD

Tell them to shove it, CASS to one of the other banks currently giving £100 free.