Given the current 'economic anxiety'. How's this for dodgy?

Question

Yesterday I expected an online grocery shop to be delivered from Sainsburys between 9 and 10. ( I have got one every fortnight for past 6 months)

10.10 got a phone call from Sains to say my card had been declined. I could think of no reason why it should. She said every card being declined in the last fortnight had been a Halifax one ( my bank)

She tried the card again and it went through, the shopping got delivered.

I then rang up Halifax to ask why and the ' customer service representative' was overly profuse in her apologies saying odd things like 'that must have been so awful for you' ' that is so inconvenient and embarrassing'...

She then went on to say they had been having problems with all chip and pin cards for a 'wee while' and suddenly she noticed an important message on her computer screen...

I had been 'given' a credit card and she thought it would be good idea to finalise the application so I didn't get caught out again if ever there was another incident of my card being unexpectedly declined.

Later on I was telling my neighbour and guess what??? The same thing had happened to her 3 weeks ago. She doesn't have a credit card either.

Has anyone else experienced this? are they actually ALLOWED to do this?

Answer 1

happens all the time to them.

Answer 2

If my card had been declined when funds were available I would have told her to shove her c**p bank and take my business elsewhere...

Answer 3

I have not had the same problem as you, if that is what they are up to it's a disgrace.

I have had my card declined though whilst at the supermarket with a huge shop. It was so embarrassing. I knew there was no problem as I had just been paid. I ended up having to leave the place and withdraw it as cash from a dispenser, then return with it.

I later phoned my bank, what if I had been stuck away from home, trying to buy a train ticket for example. I was really angry. A couple of days later I recieved a huge bouquet of flowers from Interflora, they must have cost a fortune they were so big. The flowers were lovely but they should make sure that these things don't happen.

Answer 4

Most strange, and very bad way to conduct business. If you really don't want the card, then cut in half and send it back before "mysterious" charges start appearing.

Answer 5

I'd get this aired on radio.Be nice to hear a Halifax representative explain these shenanigans on air and see how many others got stiffed.

Answer 6

Haz,

It does make you wonder, doesn't it. We bank with the Halifax.  Last time we were in there the person we had the appointment with was practically on her knees to get us to have a credit card from them.  Even when we told her no thanks she still insisted on thoroughly explaining all the 'benefits' to us.

I don't know who was under the most pressure, us or her, to talk us into having one.  And we had already said we are pensioners on a limited income, and the last thing we need is debt!!!

I have done internet shop with Tesco and not had any problems so far. Maybe that's the next step for them though, selling the benefits of having a Tesco store/credit card!!!

I don't think it should be allowed but considering the pasting the banks have had lately I guess they are pretty desperate for us all to become committed to them in any way they can manage to ensnare us..

Answer 7

I have no faith in the Halifax. When I moved house I went into our local branch to change my address. When my card expired I went to find out where my new one was and yes it was at my old address along with a  new pin number. I complained they cancelled that card and promptly sent the new card and number to my old address again. After weeks of shouting they apologised and gave me £50. So nothing the Halifax does suprises me they are terrible.    

Answer 8

I haven't but it's very dodgy. I'm still heartbroken at having to do asda this week, but free delivery is to good to pass up!!

They however, tried to take the payment for that yesterday, when it was being delivered today, and had the cheek to tell me that if the payment wasn't processed yesterday the order would be cancelled. Well my money goes in on a Saturday, it's ordered for Saturday, so why would I pay you now? Grrrr.....I won.

EDIT: Yup they do that, my money was gone at half 8 this morning and the shopping got here at 20 past 11 - 20 minutes late. They used to not take it for like 3 days, that was actually even more irritating.

Answer 9

sounds like a dodgy way of getting people to get credit cards when they don't want one or applied for one be careful!