How dare they?

Well I think that apart from the unfortunate verbal response the bank deserves a pat on the back. Many years ago I had a card "cloned" but my bank spotted the unusual spending immediately. They stopped payment first and then contacted me to check!  I thought that that efficiency had gone today but perhaps not!  Well done that bank!

I suspect that the original poster might have been more upset if the account had been cleared without anyone asking why!

TF

I can't help wondering if the same would happen to my grandson when attempting to buy me a mobility scooter...........

I am not sure about that Tigerfish - cloning must be a horrible thing - and hopefully the bank shoulder the responsibility - as they do if you inform them your card is lost.  It isn't as though a PC is a huge expenditure these days but the embarrassment and annoyance at the explanation would touch my BIL I am sure - I had one refused many years ago and the shop owner was asked to destroy the card - bless him he didn't destroy it because he had known me since I was 7 years old!  It was very embarrassing to find out that way that my ex husband had not honoured the agreement for me to use the card to buy things for the children as part of the maintenance thing! 

Pippah, Given those circumstances I can understand your concern, but the OP and my experience was about the bank trying to ensure that unusual transactions were not as the result of a criminal act. So under those circumstances I would prefer that to happen than someone get away with fraudulently using my stolen card!

TF

I'm with the bank, I don't care if they question me a dozen times whilst using my card. Eventually they will get some scam stopped in its tracks & I won't be scammed. The more security the better. Ageist it ain't, tight security it is

I'm with the bank, I don't care if they question me a dozen times whilst using my card. Eventually they will get some scam stopped in its tracks & I won't be scammed. The more security the better. Ageist it ain't, tight security it is

 

Agree, although a friend of mine wasn't so tolerant. She went to her bank to draw out £5k. The young man behind the counter asked her what the money was for (this is policy). At the front of a long queue, she said in a loud voice 'I want new breasts and they want cash, would you like me to show you?' . If it is your account and you have ID, why on earth do banks have the right to ask you what you want YOUR money for? She got her cash instantly.

I'm with the bank, I don't care if they question me a dozen times whilst using my card. Eventually they will get some scam stopped in its tracks & I won't be scammed. The more security the better. Ageist it ain't, tight security it is

 

Agree, although a friend of mine wasn't so tolerant. She went to her bank to draw out £5k. The young man behind the counter asked her what the money was for (this is policy). At the front of a long queue, she said in a loud voice 'I want new breasts and they want cash, would you like me to show you?' . If it is your account and you have ID, why on earth do banks have the right to ask you what you want YOUR money for? She got her cash instantly.

I had the same when paying in a substantial sum in cash.

The cashier said "May I ask what this relates to?"

"Of course you may" I replied.

After a pause he said "What is the source of this deposit?"

"None of your business" I replied. He smiled, accepted it and credited my account.

Whenever I make a withdrawal abroad I get a text from Lloyds which asks me to contact them if I was unaware of the transaction and I'm very happy with that.

Have to say that I always advise my Banks, Building societies when I go abroad. Saves a lot of aggro.

As regards paying in to the account, I usually say that I have just sold a car - did they want to buy it?

Overall, in todays crooked society, I am pleased that the banks do query unusual items.

For those who asked me to name and shame the bank - I am glad to say it wasn't Lloyds that my sister and I both bank with but one that has close connections to a palace and a parliament.  Humiliating customers just won't do in my book - but I do appreciate the need to keep tabs on things.  I had my account frozen because I tried to call them from France earlier this year - extremely inconvenient since I needed to transfer the cash for a property purchase - I understand why they closed my account - and am thankful for it - but they didn't humiliate me in the process.  I hadn't let them know I was in France because it was a family emergency and I hadn't got round to that detail in my rush to get out there - but this seems to be good practice. 

Have to say that I always advise my Banks, Building societies when I go abroad. Saves a lot of aggro.

 

Yes, I do all my banking online (except paying in, obviously) and advise absences through the provided website facility yet Llloyds still contact me but Nationwide don't.

In spite of the flack which banks receive about customer service I have found dealing with those two extremely easy and entirely satisfactory.