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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be sick of Lloyd’s blocking our cards?

18 replies

HavingALittleBabyToolshed · 08/09/2018 21:01

Recently our joint account card was blocked for suspected fraud, which we were glad happened and understand why - even though nothing suspicious had happened with our account. We and went through the process to get it unblocked and since then it has happened 2-3 time a week and I’m sick to the back teeth of it. Each time we have to go through the process of phoning the bank and getting the card unblocked.

There is also the embarrassment of having the card declined in the shop.
Just now we took our tiny newborn to the supermarket to buy some smaller clothes for our card to be declined at the checkout and the cash point to be out of order. So we left the clothes and small amount of food and drove around trying to find a cashpoint.

I’ve read online that this happens often, has anyone had this happen to them?

OP posts:

heavymetalheatherhead · 08/09/2018 21:15

I'm curious to see the replies here. I had to get mine unlocked today for the second time since June. Both times they stated it was because of a fraud risk, despite me trying to make a purchase on reputable websites.
I absolutely understand the bank needs to be cautious, but at the same time it's infuriating. I don't know what the answer is

DramaAlpaca · 08/09/2018 21:20

Yes it's happened to me a couple of times with that bank, most annoyingly twice last December when I was shopping online & using the card a lot more than I usually do. It's the only bank it's happened to me with. I know I'd rather be safe than sorry but it is a pain, especially when you phone them & have trouble remembering your security details.

Original poster

HavingALittleBabyToolshed · 08/09/2018 21:21

I absolutely understand the bank needs to be cautious, but at the same time it's infuriating.

Same here. I do understand why they need to do it but our spending habits are in no way different to normal, we have sufficient funds, we haven’t changed any spending routines.
They talk to us like we are an annoyance when we phone to sort it out. We seem to be caught in a loop.

I think it looks like we’ll have to move banks which is easier said than done in a newborn fog.

OP posts:

margaurette · 08/09/2018 21:25

I say this a lot - but move bank.

If any other service was going this wrong, you'd change. Swapping banks really isn't difficult!

This doesn't mean that Lloyds are doing anything wrong, but clearly their system doesn't love you.

Neverender · 08/09/2018 21:27

Yeah, sorry but surely they know whether your card details have been compromised or not?! Their systems are utter shit and if you've had enough, move banks.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 08/09/2018 21:27

Yes. Three times trying to buy tickets from ticketmaster. The bank had obviously highlighted the risk of fraud because of the recent data breach issues at ticketmaster. The back denied that was the reason and insisted it was a random fraud check. Great, said I if it’s random then no reason why my joint ac card will be blocked, no said they, no reason at all. I’d already had to call to unlock my sole ac debit card twice and confirm the transaction was legit. The third I tried my joint ac card it blocked again. As you get the countdown on ticket purchase I lost the tickets, I really wanted them as they were DDs birthday present. Som8 had to try again with a friends credit card. Only by this time the only tickets left were GBP200 more. I was livid and called for a fourth time to complain that even though I’d spoken to them and confirmed the transaction was genuine I was now GBP200 out of pocket. They tried to say they were only protecting me, they weren’t, they were protecting themselves because if it was genuine fraud I’d have got my money back. They actually gave me the GBP200 difference as a ‘gesture of good will’!

Neverender · 08/09/2018 21:28

They have decades of shitty old systems which don't talk to each other. Bin them!

GreenTulips · 08/09/2018 21:29

Move to First Direct

Been blocked twice - once for 3 igaget purchase and once in a different city BOTH time I had a call from them in minutes and the card unblocked

Really quick and easy - and understandable in both instances

Easy to change £100 cashback free overdraft -

I don't work with them but have banked there for over 20 years

makingmiracles · 08/09/2018 21:32

Yes, only once though. With Llyods. In a short amount of time I signed up to numerous subscription services(free trials/free gifts etc) for a limited time and because that was not something they’d seen on my account before they froze it.
I was lucky in that I didn’t have my card declined, the first I knew of it was when the bank rang to ask me about it all and they then unblocked the account once they’d heard my explanation and were happy I’d done all the transactions.
Not too heinous nowadays to change banks if you wish, make an appt with another bank, set up the acc at the appt and they deal with transferring Direct debits etc

MrsMozart · 08/09/2018 21:44

Went through a phase of it a few years ago.

Ended up having to carry silly amounts of cash around.

groundcontroltomontydon · 08/09/2018 22:00

I'm with a different bank and it's a regular thing. I once informed them (as you can do) that I was going abroad on holiday only to have my card blocked at the airport.

ivykaty44 · 08/09/2018 22:03

For various reasons I have more than one bank account, that way if one is blocked, crashes etc I have another option, I transfer a small amount of money over each month

safariboot · 08/09/2018 22:30

I believe my bank blocks a percentage of transactions at random so they can say they're "doing something" about fraud. Because why else would they one day block my mobile phone topup, a transaction I have done regularly for the same number on the same network for years?

Babymamamama · 08/09/2018 22:33

Move bank. Only time my card was blocked someone had actually tried to clear out my account. Shouldnt be happening for any other reason. Means their monitoring isn't very good.

Byebyebye · 08/09/2018 22:35

Lloyd’s blocked my card after in their words ‘three large unusual transactions’.

My rent (large HA not a random LL account), utilities and water.

Idiots 🙄

lostlemon · 08/09/2018 22:48

This has also happened to me twice recently. I do understand them doing it to protect us/them however there's no warning until your card is rejected at checkout. M&S recently stopped my card because an item of mail was returned to them, it had been delivered to the wrong addressed and 'returned to sender'. I had to point out to them that I had requested nothing be sent by mail to me! I have decided to get rid of that card.

Original poster

HavingALittleBabyToolshed · 08/09/2018 23:16

For various reasons I have more than one bank account

We do have other accounts should there be a long term issue but usually we each just take out our own card for the joint account and our phones. We don’t feel the need to carry the other cards with us. I think we will be changing that going forward.

Thanks for the advice about moving banks, we will look to do that soon. Our DD was only born yesterday, so I think we need another day or two before our brains can handle moving banks.

Thanks!

OP posts:

Lana1234 · 08/09/2018 23:20

Yep had the same happened with Lloyds trying to pay my rent, which I do the same time and same amount every month 🙄 it is a pain having to ring them and go through it all

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