MBNA - has anyone else had this happen?

kristeenL27

Yes Glenn, I will. Thank you.

Clariman

I agree that you should check that it was a genuine call. Hopefully it was (albeit an annoying call !) - but better that than it being someone after your security details. I never give out any security details on an incoming call. It could be from anyone. I agree that the letters make it appear to be more genuine, but it would be easy enough to forge one.

Check it out - better safe than sorry.

Clariman

M_Thomson

MBNA will only ask you to answer partial security so maybe letter 4 and 7 of your password etc. Although not idea as the password could still perhaps be guessed by a fraudster it is slightly better than other banks who insist you answer everything.

moonhead_2

Yes but remember give a fraudster letters 4 & 7 this week, chances are they will be on next week for letters 1 & 2 and the following week racking up your bill after you have disclosed the entire password. If it's an incoming call tell then nothing - ever.

thefirs

kristeenL27 wrote:

....[ we have three credit cards with them, all up to date with payments, and well within their credit limits

This sounds a very distressing episode; at the very least MBNA have been heavy-handed, and have caused you distress and embarrassment.

You describe these events in the plural - are all the cards in your husband's name? If some of them are in your name then they have no business to be talking to him about your financial affairs.

Should MBNA have breached DPA provisions they may be liable for a penalty from the Information Commissioner. Quote section 15a back at them for disclosure of the recording of the conversation, then submit it with your complaint.

Revenge is a dish best eaten cold.

kristeenL27

Just to let all of the kind people who replied to my post recently have an update - the upshot of it all is that apparently MBNA can make a review on a customer's account, and even though, as in our case, they have kept within their credit limits, and paid regularly each month without fail, MBNA can decide that they have too much credit in total, as they can see how much you owe them and others, and decide, as in this instance, that the customer owes too much in relation to their income, and withdraw their credit card facility.

I personally feel that, although MBNA will probably say they are being prudent, that this is totally unfair and unjust when customers are up to date with payments and not in breach of the credit limits MBNA themselves have granted. In addition, to be telephoned at work, asked to divulge security details and then told you are not allowed to use your cards anymore, as my husband was, was accutely embarrassing and unprofessional.

Needless to say, my husband and I intend to clear our cards with MBNA immediately, and NEVER use or recommend MBNA again. The strangest, yet most annoying thing on top of all of this, is that in the past two weeks we have received two telephone calls, three letters and an email from MBNA offering us a Platinum Loan as preferred customers!

thor

Quite right too! If this is how they are treating you when you have done no wrong, just tell them to shove it. There are plenty more cards out there.

mrsw

Thanks for the update -I was just thinking about your original post. Shame on MBNA for treating their customers like that.

Robert_Sterling_3

kristeenL27 wrote:

My husband received a telephone call at work from MBNA yesterday and was asked several security questions, even though MBNA instigated the call

This bit, at least, seems perfectly reasonable and necessary.
MBNA knew who they wanted to speak to but they did not know who they were actually speaking to.

Suffol

I had a similar experience to the OP's husband, although with a different outcome. I'd just paid off all balances on my three MBNA cards (over £12k in total) via transfers to other low-rate cards, after years of exemplary behaviour, and got a phonecall, also at work. Similar security questions then 'they were reviewing my accounts'. Was I in financial difficulties? How had I repaid my balances? Did I know they could see my other borrowings elsewhere? All this delivered in slightly patronising tones with an edge of threat. Then they needed to 'update their records'. He wanted to know my current salary. I work in an open-plan office, so we had a farcical converstion with him running up through various multiples of thousands and me saying 'yes' when he got to my salary. I obviously passed his test at that point, because he turned nice, said everything was fine, and even suggested I contact their loyalty section to negotiate a low-rate balance transfer back to them - even gave me the 'special number'. I was later offered 1.9% for 6 months. So, good result for me, but I have absolutely no confidence that MBNA wouldn't s***t me without a second thought if I ever got into diffiulties - as they clearly have with so many others.