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Original poster

NatWest "approve purchase in the app" is driving me bananas!

95 replies

Pheefifofuckthisshit · 03/03/2023 22:12

Anytime I try to pay for something on my phone using my NatWest bank card it asks me to approve the payment in the banking app. It never ever works. Every time I approve it, and then the purchase page on whatever website I'm trying to buy from has an error screen when I return to it. It doesn't matter how I navigate in and out of the app. However I do it it just ends in frustration. 😡

Tonight I've ended up powering up my years old laptop to buy some shoes from one site and a kids bed from another because I've been trying all week to buy these on my phone and every time I try it doesn't work.

Has anyone else had this issue?
Is there a magic way to solve it?
I am autistic and my eldest is too, we tend to avoid shopping in an actual shop whenever possible and so this is evoking a very frustrating and frequent problem.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pheefifofuckthisshit · 03/03/2023 22:14

"Becoming" that should say. Not sure where "evoking" appeared from.

OP posts:
Meredusoleil · 03/03/2023 22:17

I had this problem with the Lloyd's app a few weeks ago when I was trying to put through a big pizza delivery online. They even put a temporary hold on my account 🤬

Loveacardigan · 03/03/2023 22:18

I found it absolutely hopeless. It never recognised my face. I switched to a different bank.

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Muuuuuuuum · 03/03/2023 22:21

I have this with all the receive a text code / open an app to confirm things - when I return to the purchase screen it's timed out or needs to resubmitted and I have to start again. It does work sometimes but I don't know why... Like you, I try to use a separate device if I can now.

Muuuuuuuum · 03/03/2023 22:22

(Am not with Barclays btw, but it happens with my credit card and paypal)

Clevs · 03/03/2023 22:24

I'm with NatWest and it works fine for me. No idea why it doesn't for you though sorry.

Caneloalvarez · 03/03/2023 22:27

Arghhhh this drives me crazy too!! I ended up using my PayPal as a way to pay to avoid the whole NatWest approval thing. Soooo annoying!

Hercisback · 03/03/2023 22:28

I have this wirh Halifax. I now click the text option as I can pull it down from the notification bar without leaving the webpage. It drives me crackers!

User18695438 · 03/03/2023 22:29

I never shop on the phone because of this, I use my iPad or iMac then I can use my phone separately for the app if needed. Shopping is getting increasingly more fiddling to do.

Meredusoleil · 03/03/2023 22:30

Hercisback · 03/03/2023 22:28

I have this wirh Halifax. I now click the text option as I can pull it down from the notification bar without leaving the webpage. It drives me crackers!

Yes that's what I usually do too.

Meredusoleil · 03/03/2023 22:30

Hercisback · 03/03/2023 22:28

I have this wirh Halifax. I now click the text option as I can pull it down from the notification bar without leaving the webpage. It drives me crackers!

Yes that's what I usually do too.

Peterbear · 03/03/2023 22:32

Modern life is just shit and complicated! Bring back cash I say.

Original poster
Pheefifofuckthisshit · 03/03/2023 22:36

Even if I pull the notification down from the top of the screen it ends the same. It's so annoying.

I have tried paying via PayPal but as my PayPal payment method is the same bank card it's doing it on that too! It never used to, it used to send me a text code from PayPal but now it wants app approval.

I don't want to have to faff about on two devices, my laptop is ancient you can practically hear the cogs turning in it, I don't have a tablet, I don't have another payment card, etc.

Someone has mentioned Barclays so I'm wondering if it's not just a NatWest specific problem. 🙄 In which case moving banks wouldn't help. 😔

I just want to pay for things quickly and easily. Its like mission impossible.

OP posts:
ichundich · 03/03/2023 22:39

It's pretty standard now and supposed to prevent unauthorised use of your card. Use the text message option?

Nibletmum · 03/03/2023 22:43

I'm with nationwide - never had a problem thankfully

User18695438 · 03/03/2023 22:46

Nationwide seems to use a text or card reader, I haven't got a Nationwide App as I mainly use it for savings so haven't bothered but on the odd occasion I have used it for a purchase I always get a text

Toffeeappler · 03/03/2023 22:49

That’s weird, it works fine for me (though still annoying!)

What phone are you using?
Have you checked all your settings in the Natwest app in case anything odd has been switched on?

DeadbeatYoda · 03/03/2023 22:53

Starling has this but it works excellently. Starling is great.

Kissedbyfire1 · 03/03/2023 23:06

Same here, I’m with NatWest too, drives me nuts. Also, can’t use tap and pay in Waitrose, my card is ALWAYS rejected and asks for the PIN. It’s got to the point where I just put it into the slot without even trying to tap because I know it won’t work.

Diddlediddlehey · 03/03/2023 23:21

I had this problem but found a solution (I use android) I open up the natwest app, then open up chrome and do my shopping. I use the three dashes on the left hand side of my phone ( contextual menu?) To switch between the app and the Web page so I'm not closing down or minimising the Web page. It did work beautifully until now....i have an issue with face recognition it never works😢

Eightiesgirl · 03/03/2023 23:33

I've got exactly the same problem with Nat West. It drives me mad, I've ended up having to use two devices to successfully complete a purchase. It is the most stupid thing ever and I wish there was some way you could opt out of having to approve transactions.

snowtrees · 03/03/2023 23:37

I generally order on my pc and approve on NatWest ap. it does drive me a bit nuts but there is so much cyber crime I'm happy overall. I use PayPal where I can. I know people who have been scammed / ID theft etc

Floralnomad · 03/03/2023 23:46

I’m with NatWest and I’ve never had an issue with it , perhaps it’s your phone that’s the issue rather than the NatWest app .

Meredusoleil · 04/03/2023 01:37

Kissedbyfire1 · 03/03/2023 23:06

Same here, I’m with NatWest too, drives me nuts. Also, can’t use tap and pay in Waitrose, my card is ALWAYS rejected and asks for the PIN. It’s got to the point where I just put it into the slot without even trying to tap because I know it won’t work.

I have the same problem in Asda whereby anything over around £50, the contact less doesn't work and I have to insert the card. It's so worrying and embarrassing when it happens, I prefer to just go straight to using the pin like you.

Nomechanged · 04/03/2023 01:59

Same with natwest but now I either do purchases on iPad instead or toggling the windows seems to work now

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