Bank Anti-Fraud / (anti-consumer)?

pinkshoes

uktim29 wrote: »

Back in the 90's when I worked in retail it had an option to phone up the back for a security code. I continued to work in retail up until last year and for the last few years that option has never came up, it's just declined and thats it. I don't think it can be done now.

In Comet, just before Christmas, someone buying a television had the security thing with their card, and the shop had to phone through to the bank (from the number on the back of the card), then get the customer to confirm name, address etc.... before allowing the purchase to go through.

So I will presume they can still do it!! I've often seen people confused when their card is refused, but perhaps they don't want the hassle of holding up a big queue of people??

Eydon

Transactions can only be "referred" if the cardholder is present (as was the case you mention in Comet). The OP had done an online transaction with Tescos, and as such the transaction can only ever be approved or declined, because the cardholder isn't present to answer any security questions.

It does seem like a bit of overkill though when it was only for £115. Does your bank have your mobile phone number? I've had Egg call me up to query transactions before because I've been placing internet orders during my lunchtime at work at the same time that my wife was buying stuff online from home (5 transactions in the space of an hour). They just asked me to confirm all the transactions and they all went through without any further problems.

Claire_Jones_3

I can understand your frustration OP but a large majority of fraud is committed online and with supermarkets & petrol stations. Especially when there are a few smaller transactions and then a larger one online. This is typical fraudster type activity. Did you know that when you put your card into a pay at pump petrol pump before any fuel is dispenced then a transaction for 1p is put through your card, the money is never claimed by the retailer which is why you never see it on your statement. However if the 1p transaction fails then no petrol will be dispenced, hense why people can have problems using their cards in petrol stations abroad. Its really suspicious to the banks when the petrol station is closed and there are attempts for the 1p transaction! Usually someone checking if the cards are active before spending on them.

pinkpig08

I've just been done by fraudsters. They made a purchase for home delivery of groceries totalling almost £200 (amongst other transactions). They tried to do it again the next day but the supermarket was suspiscious and refused the transaction. I can't thank them enough for being on the ball and saving me from losing any more money. I am getting it refunded but it's still a lot of hassle.

So I don;t mind at all that they make checks. I can understand the frustration but in the end it's only to protect the consumer.

Somerset

My 'decline' was last yesr. I'd paid Viridor ( Big waste management company ) £100 plus VAT to empty my septic tank. Couple of days later got a panicky call from them to say the card had been declined. Spoke to Mbna, their system had automatically shut the card down as 'suspected fraudulent use'. Took a few hours to reset it. Except for that panicky Viridor call I wouldn't have known there was a problem and would have innocently tried to buy my shopping on the way home. Btw, Mbna have both home and mobile numbers and freely admitted they hadn't tried to contact me.

pinkpig08

P.S. - don't know if they're incredibly clever or incredibly thick by having goods delivered to their home address :rolleyes:

trisontana

When travelling abroad it's always best to inform your CC company of the fact , otherwise your card might be declined because of perceived "unusual activity".

I was the victim of attempted fraud, but Nationwide picked it up very quickly. The fraudsters made a £2 transaction first , just to see of the card was "live",then tried to make a purchase of several hundred pounds. It was these two couple purchases that rang alarm bells with Nationwide.

trisontana

pinkpig08 wrote: »

P.S. - don't know if they're incredibly clever or incredibly thick by having goods delivered to their home address :rolleyes:

That's like the probable apocryphal story of a bugler breaking into a house and stealing a cup-tie ticket. All the police had to do was go along to the match and arrest the person sitting in that seat.

rygon

i just bought a kitchen from mfi. Tried paying for it all on my debit card, but was declined (even when she phoned up to enter the security number). I then tried paying it half and half on my debit and credit card, which suprisingly went straight through. I went to the cash machine and was able to draw money out from there, but at night my card was declined at the petrol station. Seems a bit strange that i can get money out but not pay for petrol. Also I assumed that if there was something suspicous about my card transactions i thought they would ring me up to ask

boots_babe

trisontana wrote: »

That's like the probable apocryphal story of a bugler breaking into a house and stealing a cup-tie ticket. All the police had to do was go along to the match and arrest the person sitting in that seat.

I have visions of some guy with a big brass instrument breaking and entering :rotfl:

I always inform my card issuer before going abroad so they don't flag transactions as unusual activity. However I once had my card stopped when shopping in the US; when I called to see why - as they already knew I would be abroad - it was because I had reached their daily limit of 30 transactions in a day.