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What is the point of the new text message security code system.....

Ok, this is probably more of a rant.....


If they are still going to block transactions for security

Three days ago I tried to buy an iPad - did the usual on check out and entered the received code.  Declined.

Managed to buy it with a different card.

Apparently, the credit card that declined it tried to call me but as I was in a low signal area it never went through.

Roll on this morning and attempting to use Apple Pay in Argos and then book a hotel room also saw it declined.... phoned them..  They'd blocked my card because of the iPad purchase.

So, despite going through the usual process and successfully entering the six digit two factor code.... they still block a transaction.  What's the points?

Its getting to the point where you'll have to write to a credit card to ask their permission to spend money before any transaction.

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Comments

  • jbrassy
    jbrassy Posts: 1,018 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    Question: What is the point of the new text message security code system.....

    Answer: to help prevent people from stealing money from you. 

    If you're having a rant now, would dread to think what you'd be like if someone actually stole money from you. If you don't like the service you're getting from your credit card company, use a different credit card. If you have poor phone signal, switch to a different network.
  • WillPS
    WillPS Posts: 5,085 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Newshound! Name Dropper
    Look up 'two factor authentication'.
  • Ok, this is probably more of a rant.....


    If they are still going to block transactions for security

    Three days ago I tried to buy an iPad - did the usual on check out and entered the received code.  Declined.

    Managed to buy it with a different card.

    Apparently, the credit card that declined it tried to call me but as I was in a low signal area it never went through.

    Roll on this morning and attempting to use Apple Pay in Argos and then book a hotel room also saw it declined.... phoned them..  They'd blocked my card because of the iPad purchase.

    So, despite going through the usual process and successfully entering the six digit two factor code.... they still block a transaction.  What's the points?

    Its getting to the point where you'll have to write to a credit card to ask their permission to spend money before any transaction.

    To be fair, until you pay the bill, it is their money anyway.

    Every time you swipe your card, put in your PIN on a card reader or use it online, you are asking them for permission to spend money.

    Did you really just only wake up to this fact?
  • guli
    guli Posts: 207 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Ok, this is probably more of a rant.....


    If they are still going to block transactions for security

    Three days ago I tried to buy an iPad - did the usual on check out and entered the received code.  Declined.

    Managed to buy it with a different card.

    Apparently, the credit card that declined it tried to call me but as I was in a low signal area it never went through.

    Roll on this morning and attempting to use Apple Pay in Argos and then book a hotel room also saw it declined.... phoned them..  They'd blocked my card because of the iPad purchase.

    So, despite going through the usual process and successfully entering the six digit two factor code.... they still block a transaction.  What's the points?

    Its getting to the point where you'll have to write to a credit card to ask their permission to spend money before any transaction.

    To be fair, until you pay the bill, it is their money anyway.

    Every time you swipe your card, put in your PIN on a card reader or use it online, you are asking them for permission to spend money.

    Did you really just only wake up to this fact?
    I agree with you, and yes I am aware this is a Credit card sub-forum. 

    Said security measures are also applied on debit card transactions. As they are cleared funds, ain't it asking permission to spend 'my' own money then?


  • The only time I have an issue is when the mobile phone number registered is not available/in my posession at the time. No alternative to logging in offered other than a code to that mobile (e.g. Santander using a p.c.).
  • binao
    binao Posts: 666 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 26 August 2022 at 6:32PM
    It would appear from your post op that your 2 cards was not sufficient.

    In my own case I have now moved to three cards.

    This was after a card was declined because I had made too many small transactions in a short space of time.  This logged up as that my card had been stolen. I managed to muddle the pin,  result, card blocked.


    Also hopefully things will improve as mobile phone coverage improves 

    Fraud is almost increasing 100% year on year so security and checks are going to increase  until we all accept the responsibility not to be scammed. 

    Good luck op
  • guli said:
    Ok, this is probably more of a rant.....


    If they are still going to block transactions for security

    Three days ago I tried to buy an iPad - did the usual on check out and entered the received code.  Declined.

    Managed to buy it with a different card.

    Apparently, the credit card that declined it tried to call me but as I was in a low signal area it never went through.

    Roll on this morning and attempting to use Apple Pay in Argos and then book a hotel room also saw it declined.... phoned them..  They'd blocked my card because of the iPad purchase.

    So, despite going through the usual process and successfully entering the six digit two factor code.... they still block a transaction.  What's the points?

    Its getting to the point where you'll have to write to a credit card to ask their permission to spend money before any transaction.

    To be fair, until you pay the bill, it is their money anyway.

    Every time you swipe your card, put in your PIN on a card reader or use it online, you are asking them for permission to spend money.

    Did you really just only wake up to this fact?
    I agree with you, and yes I am aware this is a Credit card sub-forum. 

    Said security measures are also applied on debit card transactions. As they are cleared funds, ain't it asking permission to spend 'my' own money then?


    You were not using a debit card though.

    If you don't want permission to use your own funds, withdraw it as cash and pay with that.
  • km1500
    km1500 Posts: 2,788 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    I think the OP wasn't complaining about security codes as such, but about the fact that they had received a code and entered it correctly and the transaction was still declined - which makes one think why bother sending the code in the first place !
  • eskbanker
    eskbanker Posts: 36,928 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Two-factor authentication simply confirms that it's the cardholder submitting the transaction, but that doesn't circumvent the standard security algorithms that determine which transactions are deemed worthy of additional checking, which is a process unrelated to validating who submitted them....
  • eskbanker said:
    Two-factor authentication simply confirms that it's the cardholder submitting the transaction, but that doesn't circumvent the standard security algorithms that determine which transactions are deemed worthy of additional checking, which is a process unrelated to validating who submitted them....
    So if they know its the card holder submitting the transaction, why the hell block it at all......... that's the issue not the codes themselves.

    What is the point of blocking the transaction if they know its me doing it - clearly I'm buying something/spending something I want so its no business of theirs
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