YOU HAVE YOUR SAY
WHY YOUR BANK CARD COULD BE CANCELLED IF YOU SPLASH OUT ON THE KIDS Money Mail, September 14
EVERY week Money Mail receives hundreds of your letters and emails about our stories. Here’s what you had to say about the banks who block your debit or credit card if you shop in a rough part of town or buy an expensive gadget out of the blue. I me AM if happyit spots fora suspiciousmy bank to looking contact transaction,without calling but me stoppingfirst is a a cardbit heavy handed. You could be miles away from home with a tank full of fuel to pay for. A. L., Gloucester. I’VE had my card blocked four times. On two occasions, I was trying to pay for groceries. I’ve been told it was because I’d used my card online and didn’t often do that. I asked the bank to call me instead of blocking the card, but it wouldn’t. I no longer bank there. H. Y., via email. I BOUGHT petrol and then went to get four new tyres for my car, but my card wouldn’t work. My bank said Kwik Fit was outside my normal spending pattern. Of course it was: how many times a year do you buy tyres? S. Z., Manchester. IF IT helps prevent fraud, then what’s the problem? I’ve been contacted by my card company when I’ve used it in a way it deemed suspicious. A quick phone call and it was sorted. I’d rather that than be a victim of fraud. T. R., Stockton. BANKS are making our accounts less secure with innovations such as contactless technology. Are they tracking us for the reasons they say or because the data they gather is worth a fortune when sold to anyone with a commercial interest in how we spend? M. G., Lincs. WHEN my card was declined, I rang the bank and had to go through more security questions than usual. I was then told my account had been closed because I’d recently died.
The bank had written to me at an old address and the occupant had written ‘Dead: Return to sender’ on the envelope. Based on this unreliable information, the bank killed my account. T. B., via email. BANKS make out it’s easy to give them a call and get your card unblocked. But when you’re on holiday — and you’ve informed your bank you’re going away — it’s difficult to get in touch. C. H., Fleet, Hants.