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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:
GooseberryCinnamonYogurt · 04/03/2023 07:48

I don't have a problem with the app. I'm on iOS.

RebeccaCloud9 · 04/03/2023 07:49

I'm with HSBC and whilst it is annoying having to do the app, it always works and I never have any problems with the website I'm using.

brainstories568 · 04/03/2023 07:49

I get really annoyed by the verify by text because I don't have a good enough mobile signal in my house to reliably get the text message through in my house within the allotted time span then end up in a loop where I just can't get past the authentication screen. I also can't get an app as it's a joint credit card in my husband's name which we both use for everything to accumulate points, and Halifax said that I can't do it in the app as it's not "my" card even though I do the bulk of the spending. And I can't change my mobile provider because they're all similarly poor where I live...! (In zone 6 SW London, no less!) I do have other cards but I get the same authentication issues and don't get the points... But I guess my issue is more with the lack of signal than with banking.

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Okbyethen · 04/03/2023 07:55

Omg yes I feel your pain!
Also the other day I made a purchase of over £300 that didn't have any approval notification -however I paid £1 the same day for parking that I had to approve! It's madness!

Im99912 · 04/03/2023 07:58

im with hsbc and they do that as well
but I’ve not had a problem with it

dew141 · 04/03/2023 08:01

I have a Halifax credit card I only use overseas as it doesn't charge foreign exchange fees. It calls my HOME phone number to approve every purchase. Not helpful if you're buying something online on holiday.

We've called them multiple times and they can't change it. Worst still, the same is the case for our new Lloyds credit card even though we didn't ever provide our home number and they apparently have no idea how they got it, but can't change it. Aaagh,

Ketchupwee · 04/03/2023 08:03

I had a similar issue with Santander (the process isn't bank specific, some new rules were bought in)

I deleted and reinstalled the app and it fixed the problem

captncrunch · 04/03/2023 08:06

Same issue with Lloyds. Often after I approve in app the original payment screen has disappeared and I can't get back to it! I also use the text option instead now. It's really stressful because I am never sure whether to try again in case it has already taken the payment!

PaulaPaola · 04/03/2023 08:06

Delete the app; use the desktop site instead?
By the way, I'm a NatWest customer and have never once suffered the issues you describe. I'm pleased to know my fiancés are protected anyway.

prettygreenteacup · 04/03/2023 08:08

Same issue with Starling recently and it drives me crackers!! Hoping update will solve it

Moltenpink · 04/03/2023 08:17

I’m with Rbs and I’ve never downloaded the app, it always sends me text verification which works fine.

TheBelmont · 04/03/2023 08:23

I can’t make any payments to my Barclaycard online without this happening. Very frustrating!

Beachbabe1 · 04/03/2023 08:29

Uninstall and reinstall app? Update app? Mine works fine and use it regularly, takes under a minute to approve it

Whateverhappenedtoslik · 04/03/2023 08:51

I'm with HSBC and have untold problems with this. I get it sorted and then it has another wobble. My DH is also with them, never has an issue. He buys everything over a certain value now.

bigbluebus · 04/03/2023 09:01

I'm with NatWest too. I've 'lost ' a few purchases through having to authorise payment too. My solution has been the same as yours - buy on the laptop with the phone next to me. I've even invested in a new laptop as my old one was too slow.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 04/03/2023 09:01

I'm with NatWest and this has never been an issue for me.

Clioma · 04/03/2023 09:03

I'm with NatWest. It works perfectly. I'm a fairly new customer and I'm hugely impressed by their technology. So much better than my previous bank.

borntobequiet · 04/03/2023 09:03

I like it, it gives me a sense of security, and haven’t had problems with it.

User18695438 · 04/03/2023 09:06

I tend to use the iMac for shopping and booking stuff, it's connected to my phone and iPad so just easy to auto fill the text code, I find using the app to authorise a bit of a pain as have to have my phone at the ready, shopping is a lot more long winded nowadays.

Targetted · 04/03/2023 09:06

I'm NatWest too and it seems to work OK for me. The only time I've had a problem is when I've got the billing address wrong. I.e. put in a different delivery address and forgot to change the billing address.

Glitteratitar · 04/03/2023 09:08

Also with NatWest and never had this issue. Also do a lot of online shopping.

Umbrio · 04/03/2023 09:13

I've just started using my Starling account as my main current account and I absolutely love it. The app functionality is very very important to me as I move money around a lot and have a lot of pots for different things. I was with Halifax for a long time and of all of the high Street banks I found their app to be the best.
HSBC was poor and don't even get me started on Nationwide, it was like going back in time.

I now have my savings with Chip and Starling has my day to day pots. Everyone on this thread who is frustrated by their bank should move. It truly is worth it!

User18695438 · 04/03/2023 09:34

Nationwide are old fashioned but I think they cater towards the older generation, elderly DF had all his money there, the branch in town is often busy as well.

Jowak1 · 04/03/2023 09:46

Yes I've had this issue with the NatWest app. I tried to book a weekend away and it just kept saying there was a Robles. Tried so many times that in the end to make sure I got a cabin I rang the holiday company direct as the NatWest app approval process just didn't work

Jowak1 · 04/03/2023 09:47

Error not Robles 🤦‍♀️

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