Halifax Clarity payment decline

Highland76 wrote: »

However whats the point of getting a customer to confirm a transaction by SMS and then still declining the transaction? MBNA certainly couldn't answer this...

I understand what you say, but there are two potential issues covered by the text process.

The first one is that a transaction may have cleared without a prior Authorisation attempt and it may have triggered an alert - hence you get a text message. If you say it is genuine, the transaction will be posted to your account - end of. If you say it isn't yours, a process of fraud analysis will be started.

The second is where an Authorisation attempt is made (as here) and that triggers a similar alert. The problem now is that the card issuer only has a few seconds to approve or decline the Authorisation request or they will be 'timed out' and a default response will be given by them or their 'agent' (which will probably be a Decline). If no response is given within the time allowed the retailer's own bank will (probably) issue the Decline to the retailer.

The text on this occasion will be sent in the hope that you will still confirm or deny participation, so that if the retailer tries it again (as many do) your bank will then be able to Approve or Decline according to what you have told them.

Terry_Towelling wrote: »

The second is where an Authorisation attempt is made (as here) and that triggers a similar alert. The problem now is that the card issuer only has a few seconds to approve or decline the Authorisation request or they will be 'timed out' and a default response will be given by them or their 'agent' (which will probably be a Decline). If no response is given within the time allowed the retailer's own bank will (probably) issue the Decline to the retailer.

Thanks, so I guess my MBNA transaction was timed out by the retailer despite replying "YES" quickly (<30 sec) to the SMS from MBNA.