Problem with banks while shielding?

[Cough-Mixture]

Wonder if anyone has had problem of this type. Not shopped on-line for groceries before but started with shielding. Have to pay by debit card, Santander won't let one do this unless they have mobile number for you to verify a debit card transaction. I don't have a mobile. Other banks will allow you to shop as long as they have your landline number.

[sassy59]

Santander, and all banks I should imagine, have become very security conscious. I don’t know how you can explain that you only have a landline. I do wish Santander wouldn’t assume everyone has a mobile.

Good luck to you. Xxxx

[Cough-Mixture in reply to sassy59]

Exactly. I have looked at the statistics. 30% of those aged 65+ do not have smartphone, for example

[CDPO16]

I would try contacting Santander customer services to explain your problem. I hope that they will be helpful if you do.

[Cough-Mixture in reply to CDPO16]

I have, they weren't! It is fortunate for me that I am among the small number of people with a second bank account and the other bank would accept a landline. But there must be other Santander customers for whom it is their only bank account and who are shielding and I'm wondering how on earth they have coped with buying groceries. Relying on family ( I have none) or friends to pay for them?

[CDPO16 in reply to Cough-Mixture]

Sorry to hear that. If it were me I'd seriously consider closing my account and moving to a more user friendly one.

[Cough-Mixture in reply to CDPO16]

It may come to that, but as we are shielding at the moment can't go to a bank branch. And have you tried to switch recently? As our health now will not allow us to travel abroad our passports have lapsed. So last year when all I wanted to do was add my wife's name to an existing account you would not believe the effort that took in the absence of current passports. And that was changing an existing account, not opening a new one!

[CDPO16 in reply to Cough-Mixture]

As far as I know you can change bank on line. I believe the government changed the system a couple of years ago to make switching easier. Try doing a search on changing a current account from one bank to another, but I think that you can choose a bank, contact them and they can automatically transfer everything for you.

It's a wonder Santander have any customers.

Good luck and best wishes.

[Grandmatojack in reply to Cough-Mixture]

I have this problem with most things when having to prove identity as I have never had either a passport or driving license which are the 2 forms that they usually require. I ended up getting a pass (can’t think of the name) which has your photo on and is accepted in lots of places as identity. Cost me £8.00. Will let you know what pass it is when I go downstairs.

[hypercat54]

Santander is the only bank I've found where I can't use my debit card in their hole in the wall. I can with all other banks. This was years ago and before the current crisis.

[CDPO16 in reply to hypercat54]

Unbelievable, Bev. How do they keep customers in this day and age?!

[hypercat54 in reply to CDPO16]

Well they obviously don't want plebs, only well heeled folk and there are plenty of those. X

[Bkin]

I don't have any trouble. (When the card/s are in date that is)

Pays to have 2 cards at different banks or building societies as one can be back up for when the other expires and new replacement card is delayed.

[Cough-Mixture in reply to Bkin]

It is nothing to do with expiry dates on cards. It's that Santander insists one must have a mobile number to pay on-line by debit card so that if necessary they can phone to verify a transaction is genuine. If one does not have a mobile one cannot use a Santander debit card for on-line purchases

[Bkin in reply to Cough-Mixture]

yes I can understand that, bank, building societies and even paypal all have that security option.

[hypercat54 in reply to Bkin]

My Nat West bank doesn't demand a mobile phone.

[teenieleek]

This extra security layer is a complete pain. My phone went for a swim recently (don’t ask but you can guess) so was out of action. I couldn’t even look at my RBS account online because they text a one-time passcode to your phone before you can get in. So couldn’t pay bills, transfer money or even see how much I had in the account. Moral of the story is don’t keep your phone in the back pocket of your jeans!

[vambo]

I've had a problem with First Direct, where they want to send a code to the mobile phone I don't own. There's no mobile coverage where I live. I have to ring them, and they bypass the code thing for me. Bloody nuisance.

[Izb1]

I use a credit card for all payments and find this much safer, it also doesnt need access to a mobile phone.