To think M & S are on a different planet?

[Fairyliz]

We are in the middle of a pandemic, people are working from home, doing extra hour and homeschooling. I would say no ones life is unchanged.
However in the middle of all of this they have decided to change the way you log into your account. I have not read the 43 page document yet but it appears you are forced to download the app (not possible on all phones) or wait two weeks for a device to use with your card.
Given that we are all having to use cards rather than cash people probably want to check things out more often but obviously can’t now. My bill is due any day so I will probably not be able to pay it and incur charges. After all no one is answering the phone .
Aibu to think this is a really stupid time to implement a big change?

That’s daft and so inconvenient .
In the few days before lockdown when we knew it was coming and shops were insanely busy, our local m and s changed all the basket tills into self service tills instead, and there had been about 8 tills.
New ones not even easy as some had scales for produce , some didn’t , some cash, some card only. I think you can imagine the carnage !

In my experience, (having been a little confused at first) if you are able to download the app, you will find it much easier to check your balance and transactions. I have an iPad and can now check daily on the app in just a few seconds. However, it does sound a pain if you are unable to download the app, as you say.

It seems like every decision made by M and S makes their business worse and worse. I almost suspect that someone is trying to run the business into the ground. Does anyone know if they are asset rich?

@ Nearlyoldenoughtowearpurple mine did the same thing! It was ridiculous.

Is this M and S banking, not regular shopping?
An app for banking is much safer.

Yes I was annoyed by this too. I don't want another app on my phone so opted for the device - waited so long. What a faff!

My DM was annoyed for the same reason until I explained to her the reason you need the app is for two factor authentication, yes it's inconvenient but getting annoyed at a bank trying to protect your money is silly going forward two factor authentication is going to be rolled out for lots of things as fraudsters get more and more savvy

I hate this move forcing people to download Apps. I don’t like losing my storage to them and prefer to access via the website.
I will resist as long as I can. Two step authentication doesn’t require Apps, there are other ways.

Two step authentication doesn’t need an app

This is mad.

I think it’s not so much they are updating security which after all is for my benefit, it’s the fact that they are doing it in the middle of a pandemic when they don’t have staff available to answer questions/send out devices.
I have a oldish phone and my storage is full, don’t want to update whilst it still works I am trying to think about environment.

Is this just to buy online? Or is it their banking system?

I think the timing may be due to the pandemic. Fraud risk is up massively at the moment based on most reports I have read. Appreciate its inconvenient though.