Quick question re:banking

Tute

Tute

Tute

Soldato
Joined
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Posts
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Location
Devon, UK
Hey all. I was hoping for some opinions on a problem a friend of mine has.

He's currently at University, and has decided to spend a lump of his Student Loan on a new TV. After looking around, and pricing some ideas up, we settle on a nice new plasma one.

We nip to the local Currys in Exeter, and find the screen in question. We go to pay for it.

Card is declined. Not a problem, we expected it to happen, what with it being a pretty large amount.

However, when we get on the phone to his bank, they're far from helpful. They refuse to authorise the transaction, but also refuse to give any reason whatsoever, apart from "because we're not going to".

So we end up with the store manager on the phone to them trying to find out the exact problem, but they won't budge at all.

Now fair enough, things happen. But surely it's unfair to not give any reason at all? They offered my friend no excuse, no compromises, nothing. He was just told to give up and go home, and call back tomorrow.

Does anybody have any idea why they would do this? And can they do it without any reprocussions?

Thanks.
 
I'd be at the branch the following day requesting a chat with the branch manager to have them explain the issue. I'd then be writing a letter of complaint to the relevant department expressing my dissatisfaction with the way I was treated. I'd then be moving my banking to another bank.
 
[TW]Fox;12601507 said:
What is he doing buying a Plasma TV from there anyway? Is he not very bright?
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His choice. I don't like them much - heard some bad things about the customer service but in the end it's his decision. :/
 
I have never in my life been told by a bank "because we're not going to" neither have i been told to "give up".

Is this their precise wording or did they go into more depth than that ? if thats all they said then that person needs shooting. No way should they be addressing customers in that manner.
 
MrLOL said:
I have never in my life been told by a bank "because we're not going to" neither have i been told to "give up".

Is this their precise wording or did they go into more depth than that ? if thats all they said then that person needs shooting. No way should they be addressing customers in that manner.
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They refused the payment, despite saying that there was sufficient funds and no problem either at their end or the shop end.

They offered no reason what-so-ever, and just asked him to call back tomorrow.

All while stood at the customer service desk.

I was absolutely astounded - I couldn't believe what I was hearing but they also told the store manager the same thing.
 
Kemik said:
There aren't many left :p
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I lol'd

What bank was it? I've found it is just pot luck with any services now regardless of how great the company reputation is.

I would call back tomorrow as it is unlikely to be the same person or go into a branch.
 
[TW]Fox;12601580 said:
Consider it a lucky escape and buy a better TV for less money elsewhere.
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seconded. Buying in currys is a brilliant way to waste your student loan, if only because you will almost certainly be being ripped off by them. What TV were you buying and how much ?

and next time ask to speak to a manager. The employee on the phone is in the wrong, there is a reason why they wont authorise it, but chances are its not one your mate wanted to hear, so they've fobbed him off in the hope he gets somebody else tomorrow.
 
It'll be because a payment of that size is outwith the normal pattern of use on the account, i.e. withdrawing tenners and getting cashback in Wetherspoon's :D.
Anything that would be deemed suspicious usage would be flagged for further investigation for anti-fraud purposes.

Speak to the card services folk again, and establish the exact reason for the rejection. I would suspect that your friend is being slightly liberal with the truth with his description of what was said.
 
MrLOL said:
seconded. Buying in currys is a brilliant way to waste your student loan, if only because you will almost certainly be being ripped off by them. What TV were you buying and how much ?
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[Edit] I'd better not put that as OcUK sell screens. The price of the screen is £749.99 though.

and next time ask to speak to a manager. The employee on the phone is in the wrong, there is a reason why they wont authorise it, but chances are its not one your mate wanted to hear, so they've fobbed him off in the hope he gets somebody else tomorrow.
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Well obviously - I mean you could argue it's a waste of money but in the end it's his choice to do with what he wants, and it's not like he doesn't have the savings to keep a roof over his head and food in his cupboards comfortably.

Alasdair said:
It'll be because a payment of that size is outwith the normal pattern of use on the account, i.e. withdrawing tenners and getting cashback in Wetherspoon's :D.
Anything that would be deemed suspicious usage would be flagged for further investigation for anti-fraud purposes.
Click to expand...

Would this not simply involve a call to the bank to establish the identity of the person using the card?

Speak to the card services folk again, and establish the exact reason for the rejection. I would suspect that your friend is being slightly liberal with the truth with his description of what was said.
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Well they spoke to the store manager and re-iterated what had been told to my friend, so I know he was telling the truth.
 
Alasdair said:
It'll be because a payment of that size is outwith the normal pattern of use on the account, i.e. withdrawing tenners and getting cashback in Wetherspoon's :D.
Anything that would be deemed suspicious usage would be flagged for further investigation for anti-fraud purposes.

Speak to the card services folk again, and establish the exact reason for the rejection. I would suspect that your friend is being slightly liberal with the truth with his description of what was said.
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this sounds more likely

When i had to pay for my mother in laws funeral, it was a very large 4 figure sum directly onto my credit card. First time id ever spent 4 figures (what a way to do it :( ) but needless to say it didnt get authorised

Had to ring the fraud team and go through all sorts of questions, bills on my account, full address and postcode, average outgoings and ammounts of last transactions etc..

Ive no idea why the person on the end of the phone didint just put him through to the fraud team. Really fraudsters just run at this point because they know they'll get found out, so if a person is willing to go through its usually dead straightforward.

It re assures me that nobody could do anything silly with my credit limit.
 
Tute said:
[Edit] I'd better not put that as OcUK sell screens. The price of the screen is £749.99 though.
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I saw the retailer before you edited, but ive found the same TV £50 cheaper at an on-line retailer that originally started selling books that now does everything including computer games, so i cant mention them.
 
Tute said:
What about if there was a problem?

Wouldn't that mean packing it all back up and getting it shipped back?
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Yes

If thats your concern, your best bet is to go to somebody like John Lewis who pricematch

other alternative is one of the other Cheap On-line retailers that have stores that you can return them back to. Quite a few do.
 
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