Credit card problems - are these specific to HSBC or does every bank do it?

Question

I have a MasterCard with HSBC. I know they take fraud prevention seriously, but most of the time they just go too far.

I am usually unable to purchase items online, as my card will decline, and now it has started declining in shops too, simply because the purchase is "unauthorised".

They frequently call me to verify that I have made particular purchases, which even though it only takes a few minutes, is odd because they want to verify that I spent £10 in the supermarket?! I could understand it if it was a couple of hundred pounds.

Every few months they decide to cancel my card and issue me a new one as they say that someone has obtained my card details. I then have the inconvenience of being without a card for two weeks, as well as having to go to the bank in person to collect my new card.

I have excellent credit and pay my card off in full every month. I am wondering if I should switch to another bank, or if other banks put their customers through this trouble as well.

Answer 1

Change to MBNA which are very good and their help lines are based in the UK. They also answer pretty quick and they are freephone. If you do not want to change then threaten to by letter if the service does not improve.

Answer 2

I've been a member of HSBC for years and years. However they do seem to be getting worse. I have just had my MasterCard renewed and had terrible trouble trying to get it activated. As you said, I can understand them taking security seriously, but they made me feel as if I was trying to defraud myself! I tried to use the card today and it was declined which is very embarrassing when you know you have done nothing wrong. I will now have to get in touch with HSBC again and probably have to go through the rigmarole of interrogation once more before getting to the root of the problem. I too have always paid my credit card bills in full and am now wondering if it's time to change banks. My friend doesn't seem to have all this trouble with NatWest.
I shall read the other answers to your question with interest.
Good luck.
x

Answer 3

If you call HSBC, you will find that they are only acting on information provided by mastercard. I had my mastercard card cancelled last year (morgansatnley) just 7 days before my honeymoon.

I know there was a big problem last year with credit card fraud in the far East.

Answer 4

Oh my word. HSBC are a right pain in the ****! Switch banks...I did!
I was with HSBC for a couple of yrs and they caused me no end of problems. They would call me up all the time about the silliest things and the crunch came after the phoned me on my birthday to inform me that a large amount of money had been taken from my account from one of the branches that day! Yes, I replied, I withdrew my money so I could have a fantastic 25th Birthday wk end! I have since moved my account to Lloyds TSB who write to me twice a week instead of phoning me, which is nicer but I have been told that the best type of banks are the money tin ones!!!!

Answer 5

hi ,ive got a couple of credit cards and never had that much bother .ive had the odd call to verify but thats quiet rare and usually if ive bought a few things in one shopping trip .
i have never had a purchase declined over the phone and have spend 100's of pounds in one shop and had no problems .maybe you should try changing to another bank .ive always found egg very good and good rates ,only problem is its on line mostly or over the phone .try typing in credit cards into google and take a look around .good luck

Answer 6

I understand your point, but its your responsibility to keep track of your many accounts. You CANNOT rely on the mail. Why don't you sign up for electronic statements, and see your accounts online? That way you know whats going on asap. You are right 100 percent, but how you are going to prove the credit card company they did not send it? And even if they did, they can say they did and that you misplaced it. Still they can ruin your credit and you will pay the charges. Oddly enough, when you sign up for a new credit card and set up your online account, some companies such as citi, delay the update of your page.They dont post the due date and you think its all right because since you dont see a minimum you dont have to pay... but they dont. THey give you the late fee surprise and then update it after wards. Of course, you can dispute that, provided you have proof.

Answer 7

I have HSBC visa and have never had any probs with it.

Tesco do a great Mastercard where you get club card points on everything you spend. The only time you get purchases queried is sometimes online whereby you input a special pre-agreed password to continue. Worth a swap!

Answer 8

Credit card companies are predatory lenders. The best way to do a credit card is to open a savings account at your local bank. Get a debit card with a visa logo. This way you don't pay interest as you are using your money.

But at the same time you have the benefits of using the card so you don't have to carry cash.

Answer 9

Sounds a bit excessive to me. Just before Christmas '05 I bought an engagement ring and a watch on the same day from 2 different jewellers, together I spent over £5,000. Barclays, quite rightly, put an alert on my card, so everytime I tried to use it they wanted to speak to me. This went on until I called their fraud department and cleared it up.
Barclays were right, large purchases etc..but HSBC sounds a bit ridiculous, I'd go somewhere else.

Answer 10

if you pay your balance in full each month (like myself) i strongly recommend you get the nectar card from amex. I accumulate on average 2500 points a month - about 12 quid to spend in argos , Sainsburys etc. You will be suprised how quickly the points creep up !

Good luck