Why can't I do my banking online via PC?

friolento

YBR said:

molerat said:

I am trying to figure out what about a CC transaction you would want to query that is not shown in the desktop on line banking.  I have just checked my LBG account and each transaction shows business name, amount, transaction method, date of purchase, date cleared, card last 4, business type from MCC, and location.  There is little that CS could tell you outside of that.

People need to get with the times, do you still have a man with a flag walking in front of your car ? And yes, I am well past state pension age and started using computers around 1975, not as a nerd but an ordinary technician - spanner in one hand and magnetic card in the other !

I don't get all that information on the transaction from my online banking, and I can't challenge it/flag it as incorrect online. 

I'm no Luddite, I don't need to "get with the times" in a general sense (that reads a tad rude, I wasn't asking about cars) [I do use computers and smartphone, I have an electric car on a smart tariff ... if that helps paint a picture] but I like to make my own choices.

In a wider sense, I don't find it helpful to spend all day and evening 'switched on' to everything and constantly available because I have (at times need) a phone in my pocket. It's hard to enforce boundaries when culture is always on, and one way is to not install the apps that are detrimental to mental health. I don't have social media on my phone, and I don't want to use it for banking either. I think banks are going this way because they don't think physical security, and avoiding shoulder-surfing is part of digital security, whereas to me it's relevant. 

P.S. it's not an age thing necessarily - I'm probably 2 decades before retirement. Banking apps are not ideal for my mother owing to age-related issues of memory, sight issues, dexterity and general difficulty navigating/understanding processes. My reasons are different.

You do have a choice, lots of choice, actually. If you don't want to use banking apps, don't choose providers which are app-only. If you don't want to be disturbed in the evenings, or at any other time, just turn your phone off. If any app affects your mental health, don't use the app. Even if you use banking apps, you don't have to use them when you are out of the house. If shoulder-surfing is an issue for you, you can install a privacy screen protector.  And so on, it's all your choice.

clairec666

UKX69 said:

YBR said:

I have current. savings and credit card accounts with a few different banks etc. which I manage online via my computer. Recently I'm finding a range of niggly things I can't do any more, I have to use a mobile app.

Today Halifax has really annoyed me with "can't do it online?" and I have to phone them - I could do it online if I were given the option but for "online" they actually mean by app only. 

(The other day it was another bank making it default to authenticate via the app and difficult to use a passcode and recently issues with changing address or title). I don't want to phone and face long waits and multiple layers of press this number and having to say things several times because their AI can't understand unusual words/names. Because I DO bank online but they are withdrawing services from that platform.

I feel my PC is physically more secure than the phone I carry around, it's equally well password protected. Also that it's better for my mental health to only access my finances when I'm in the right place, and better for combating fraud to not have the option to be hassled into transactions ASAP wherever and whenever. Plus I don't like to do everything on a tiny screen.

That's the sum of my whinge!

The questions are why are the banks making this difficult? and am I the only one?

Yes, I agree that banks are making it - not necessarily difficult, but awkward - in their  method of banking. I have come across a number of banks who invite you to open a current account with them, only to be guided to their app to continue the process. At least with Lloyds & Halifax it can be done online on a desktop. As YBR, I much prefer to do my banking online my desktop and avoid any institution that has app only access if at all possible - hence I will not be taking advantage of Zopa 7.1% savings.

I understand why banks are trying to steer customers towards apps, but I do get rather irritated with HSBC - the number of times I've ticked the "don't show me this message again" box when they tell me about the app, and it keeps on popping up. And when I was getting help on the (useless) online chat box, and they informed me that to continue the conversation I would need to switch to the app. Surely it's the same AI technology that's behind both the online chat and the app chat?

gt94sss2

YBR said:

The questions are why are the banks making this difficult? and am I the only one?

I don't think there is a single bank which offers exactly the same range of functionality via online banking and their app.

Some things will be possible in one and not the other. 

Given recent trends in banking, I would expect new functionality to be added to apps before online banking.

friolento

clairec666 said:

UKX69 said:

YBR said:

I have current. savings and credit card accounts with a few different banks etc. which I manage online via my computer. Recently I'm finding a range of niggly things I can't do any more, I have to use a mobile app.

Today Halifax has really annoyed me with "can't do it online?" and I have to phone them - I could do it online if I were given the option but for "online" they actually mean by app only. 

(The other day it was another bank making it default to authenticate via the app and difficult to use a passcode and recently issues with changing address or title). I don't want to phone and face long waits and multiple layers of press this number and having to say things several times because their AI can't understand unusual words/names. Because I DO bank online but they are withdrawing services from that platform.

I feel my PC is physically more secure than the phone I carry around, it's equally well password protected. Also that it's better for my mental health to only access my finances when I'm in the right place, and better for combating fraud to not have the option to be hassled into transactions ASAP wherever and whenever. Plus I don't like to do everything on a tiny screen.

That's the sum of my whinge!

The questions are why are the banks making this difficult? and am I the only one?

Yes, I agree that banks are making it - not necessarily difficult, but awkward - in their  method of banking. I have come across a number of banks who invite you to open a current account with them, only to be guided to their app to continue the process. At least with Lloyds & Halifax it can be done online on a desktop. As YBR, I much prefer to do my banking online my desktop and avoid any institution that has app only access if at all possible - hence I will not be taking advantage of Zopa 7.1% savings.

I understand why banks are trying to steer customers towards apps, but I do get rather irritated with HSBC - the number of times I've ticked the "don't show me this message again" box when they tell me about the app, and it keeps on popping up. And when I was getting help on the (useless) online chat box, and they informed me that to continue the conversation I would need to switch to the app. Surely it's the same AI technology that's behind both the online chat and the app chat?

The technology might be the same but the functionality available to you can differ, based on your authentication. If you have logged into the app with biometrics, they know for virtually certain it is you who they are talking to. If you login online, even with 2FA, it might not be you who is operating the bot, and they might not offer you all the functionality which require biometric authentication.

clairec666

friolento said:

clairec666 said:

UKX69 said:

YBR said:

I have current. savings and credit card accounts with a few different banks etc. which I manage online via my computer. Recently I'm finding a range of niggly things I can't do any more, I have to use a mobile app.

Today Halifax has really annoyed me with "can't do it online?" and I have to phone them - I could do it online if I were given the option but for "online" they actually mean by app only. 

(The other day it was another bank making it default to authenticate via the app and difficult to use a passcode and recently issues with changing address or title). I don't want to phone and face long waits and multiple layers of press this number and having to say things several times because their AI can't understand unusual words/names. Because I DO bank online but they are withdrawing services from that platform.

I feel my PC is physically more secure than the phone I carry around, it's equally well password protected. Also that it's better for my mental health to only access my finances when I'm in the right place, and better for combating fraud to not have the option to be hassled into transactions ASAP wherever and whenever. Plus I don't like to do everything on a tiny screen.

That's the sum of my whinge!

The questions are why are the banks making this difficult? and am I the only one?

Yes, I agree that banks are making it - not necessarily difficult, but awkward - in their  method of banking. I have come across a number of banks who invite you to open a current account with them, only to be guided to their app to continue the process. At least with Lloyds & Halifax it can be done online on a desktop. As YBR, I much prefer to do my banking online my desktop and avoid any institution that has app only access if at all possible - hence I will not be taking advantage of Zopa 7.1% savings.

I understand why banks are trying to steer customers towards apps, but I do get rather irritated with HSBC - the number of times I've ticked the "don't show me this message again" box when they tell me about the app, and it keeps on popping up. And when I was getting help on the (useless) online chat box, and they informed me that to continue the conversation I would need to switch to the app. Surely it's the same AI technology that's behind both the online chat and the app chat?

The technology might be the same but the functionality available to you can differ, based on your authentication. If you have logged into the app with biometrics, they know for virtually certain it is you who they are talking to. If you login online, even with 2FA, it might not be you who is operating the bot, and they might not offer you all the functionality which require biometric authentication.

Fair point, I hadn't thought of that. I ended up phoning them, talked to a very nice and helpful guy, although one of his questions was "do you have our app?"

UKX69

clairec666 said:

UKX69 said:

YBR said:

I have current. savings and credit card accounts with a few different banks etc. which I manage online via my computer. Recently I'm finding a range of niggly things I can't do any more, I have to use a mobile app.

Today Halifax has really annoyed me with "can't do it online?" and I have to phone them - I could do it online if I were given the option but for "online" they actually mean by app only. 

(The other day it was another bank making it default to authenticate via the app and difficult to use a passcode and recently issues with changing address or title). I don't want to phone and face long waits and multiple layers of press this number and having to say things several times because their AI can't understand unusual words/names. Because I DO bank online but they are withdrawing services from that platform.

I feel my PC is physically more secure than the phone I carry around, it's equally well password protected. Also that it's better for my mental health to only access my finances when I'm in the right place, and better for combating fraud to not have the option to be hassled into transactions ASAP wherever and whenever. Plus I don't like to do everything on a tiny screen.

That's the sum of my whinge!

The questions are why are the banks making this difficult? and am I the only one?

Yes, I agree that banks are making it - not necessarily difficult, but awkward - in their  method of banking. I have come across a number of banks who invite you to open a current account with them, only to be guided to their app to continue the process. At least with Lloyds & Halifax it can be done online on a desktop. As YBR, I much prefer to do my banking online my desktop and avoid any institution that has app only access if at all possible - hence I will not be taking advantage of Zopa 7.1% savings.

I understand why banks are trying to steer customers towards apps, but I do get rather irritated with HSBC - the number of times I've ticked the "don't show me this message again" box when they tell me about the app, and it keeps on popping up. And when I was getting help on the (useless) online chat box, and they informed me that to continue the conversation I would need to switch to the app. Surely it's the same AI technology that's behind both the online chat and the app chat?

I think that the ever present tinkering with the technology behind online banking and other institutions cause frustration and resentment. Why, when everything is working pretty well as much as you would like or even got used to, do the gremlins have to fiddle with it? My rant anyway. 😡

born_again

UKX69 said:

I think that the ever present tinkering with the technology behind online banking and other institutions cause frustration and resentment. Why, when everything is working pretty well as much as you would like or even got used to, do the gremlins have to fiddle with it? My rant anyway. 😡

Might surprise you to know that most changes are customer driven. People asking why can I not do this....

Chief_of_Staffy

born_again said:

UKX69 said:

I think that the ever present tinkering with the technology behind online banking and other institutions cause frustration and resentment. Why, when everything is working pretty well as much as you would like or even got used to, do the gremlins have to fiddle with it? My rant anyway. 😡

Might surprise you to know that most changes are customer driven.

'Surprise' isn't sufficient to describe the emotion I'd experience if presented with that evidence.

Non-legislative changes are driven by financial benefit to the bank, and nothing other. These changes may be contingent upon improvement of service, or they may benefit the customer as a secondary consideration, although many do neither, but they are never driven by customer demand as a primary consideration.

GeoffTF

Chief_of_Staffy said:

born_again said:

UKX69 said:

I think that the ever present tinkering with the technology behind online banking and other institutions cause frustration and resentment. Why, when everything is working pretty well as much as you would like or even got used to, do the gremlins have to fiddle with it? My rant anyway. 😡

Might surprise you to know that most changes are customer driven.

'Surprise' isn't sufficient to describe the emotion I'd experience if presented with that evidence.

Non-legislative changes are driven by financial benefit to the bank, and nothing other. These changes may be contingent upon improvement of service, or they may benefit the customer as a secondary consideration, although many do neither, but they are never driven by customer demand as a primary consideration.

"It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest."

Adam Smith

spenderdave

As an aside to this. On my HSBC personal account I gave up the dongle after the second one eventually went flat battery. Installed the app and use that to generate the login code but I tend not to use the app itself except for paying in the occasional cheque. I continue to use the desktop website for everything else as I far prefer downloading statements and paying bills via that, it continues to work.
I also have a HSBC business account and have the app installed for that (totally different app),. The things you can do via that app though are quite limited and I cannot authorise payments or other things there, it tells me to login via the desktop version. 
Both these show that HSBC have no intention of withdrawing website access.