General Chat

Elizabeth2469049 .................

we went through this late last year.

New card, seemed to be same number except for the 3 digit security number on the back. Told that we could phone in to activate it, but best to just use it. The first use would activate the new card and deactivate the old one.

I was really unsure about it, and decided to try it with a merchant who knew me well and who I usually paid in cash, thinking she would know that I could pay if the card was refused.

It all worked perfectly.

The new card activated at once, and any payments made earlier on the old number but not yet invoiced came through OK.

It did look strange to see 4 different cards shown on the next invoice though ........ it's a joint card, so had OH's new and old card numbers and the same for me.

We then used both those new cards and my own new card during our holiday over the next 3 or 4 weeks. Everything came through fine.

Caroline ................ indeed the golden rule.

I did just that back in the late 80s.

I'd been with CIBC for about 20 years, been very happy with them. One manager had agreed with me around 1978 that a married woman did indeed deserve a credit card in her own name and without her husband's signature ....... he was a man in his mid-50s, so that rather surprised me in that day and age. I went in expecting to do battle!

Then they got a new manage a few years later. I found there was a new fee charged to one of my accounts with no explanation. I went in to try to sort it out, he took me into his office and, brash young man that he was, told me in no uncertain terms that if I didn't like it, then I could take my money away.

So I did.

Walked up the street to the Bank of Montreal, told the teller what had just happened and asked what they could offer me. Much better deal.

Walked the block back to the CIBC, went to one of the tellers and closed one of my accounts immediately, took the money in cash. I had to leave some money in the other account because there was a payment to be made but I took out as much as I could, in cash. Went back to the BoM, and opened 2 new accounts.

All over and done with in less than 30 minutes.

The teller at CIBC did ask why I was doing it, I told her what had happened, and she pleaded with me to complain to Head Office about the manager. She said any teller would have reversed the new fee because it shouldn't have been applied. Apparently they'd had trouble with the new guy.

I never heard back, though.

if my new card has the same number will my first debuts go ahead safely?

Florence thanks and don't worry he had a list of things to say from me to make sure everything gets sorted. After work today he'll be talking to them again, hopefully it's sorted by then.

Sylvia, I too don't tap my card but insert them...not the best right now as you then have to punch in your numbers but I have to wash my hands and not touch my face anyway so not much difference.

Son knows the golden rule if you're not happy move your money to another bank.

My grandchild and great nieces are all here in Canada and have all had bank accounts since very soon after they were born.

That's because we decided to follow an idea from when my daughter was born ........ a close friend set up a bank account in trust for her with a starting sum of money, then gave us the bank book, and we just went to the bank and changed his name to ours. When it came time, we just took our names off and gave her the account.

It was soooooooooooo easy and simple

Turned out it was not so simple 35 or so years later

I was told I could not set up an account "in trust" and then turn it over to the parents. So we sent a cheque as each baby was born, and it then took parents weeks and weeks to set up the account.

They had to apply to the Federal Government for a Social Insurance Number for the baby (needed to work), with several documents needed as proof. When that arrived, they had to get the bank to set up the account.

I think the first parent to do it said it took 6 months for everything to work out ....... but then she passed on the information to the others. There were 5 babies born within 3 years!



Banks don't make it easy.


I still refuse to use Debit cards, and insist on my credit card being inserted not swiped or tapped in a reader. I hate those readers with a vengeance, too many scams.

I had the same problem when the Banks introduced the "card reader" to validate identity. I have trouble reading the numbers on the card reader sometimes,and in the early stages "locked" my card several times,the only way to "unlock" it was at an ATM,ended up having to give my son the card and pin number to do it for me.

Yes thankfully both my children had savings accounts when they were young.So when they turned 15 they opened a basic current account with little hassle as they had already got an account.

Whats an 18 year old who is still living at home gonna have as id for opening an account?As you said no driving licence, no utility bills etc...they don't make it easy do they!

Florene in the hebrides

On a slightly different theme, if you have a teenager living with you open an account for them before they reach 18. As a dependent child it is comparitively easy, but as an adult without any of the required security/proof of identity documents, it can be very difficult.

My friend's son needed an account to pay his wages into - he doesn't pay council tax - he hasn't a driving licence - he doesn't pay the household bills etc.etc. In other words, he couldn't prove that he lived anywhere!!!

I can't remember how it got sorted, but it took ages!

Aw Caroline sorry to hear that as its the last thing he needs. Hope it gets sorted asap and a refund of the charges too.

Florence in the hebrides

Glad to hear it's sorted for you now, it can be more than frustrating at any time for the banking not to work as you need it to but right now with all you're going through it's so much worse. My son is an essential worker and working all the hours right now and he's been very frustrated with his bank as they've messed up a simple procedure causing him problems including bank charges, banks can be hopeless at times!

I do make payments by phone but this morning was told wouldn't be able to do that until I had activated the card which I now know to be wrong.

I make several payments a month by debit card rather than direct debit because I have control on what day I pay it.One account I have the payment is due every 28 days, so the date changes every month and a couple of times it was due before I got paid..

Thanks again

Florence in the hebrides

Glad you have sorted it out now

X

Florence
It may be worth looking into being to make payments by phone. You need the other parties bank details first and then each time it would be easier.

Well peeps, I decided to phone again on another customer services number. Imagine my surprise to be told you do not have to activate the card at an ATM to use it online or over the phone to pay bills but only if you want to make it contactless.
All you need to do is update your card details on say Amazon or paypal!

I explained I had tel earlier and was so upset at what I had been told. The lady apologized profusely that I had been misinformed.
have to say I burst into tears with relief.

I know none of us are perfect and sometimes we things wrong, but this information has to be correct all the time.

I am obviously relieved now to have sorted the situation but not without making me upset and very anxious.

Thankyou to all for your help, really appreciated

Florence in the hebrides j

RTR
"It works if you have registered a smart phone with them and can get a connection"

So it may not work then - and only if, I presume, you have PREVIOUSLY registered a smartphone with them.
I mean, I could be a car mechanic, if I'd taken the apprenticeship!

Also, I'm not sure there's a Santander bank on the Hebrides! :-S

I do feel for you and the frustration banks cause with their security systems.

A couple of decades ago my daughter was in the middle of a multiple sclerosis episode and needed cash from an ATM. This was the first time she needed cash during a crisis.

She spoke wth the bank after a friend dialled the help line number and she explained she had lost her eyesight again.

Barclays suggestion was she wait at the ATM for someone to use it and ask them to withdraw some cash using her card and PIN.

Barclays had a rocket from me when she mentioned it and she got an apology and some cash credited as way of them negating their stupidity.

I do have fingerprint recognition on 3 bank accounts but the Co-op one is run by Luddites!

You can have a note put onto your file explaining any disability and customer care can make exceptions to allow you to update your card details and a temporary PIN.

The alternative is setting up a second step when buying online, you register another password with your bank and the merchant checkout will redirect you to that and you enter your password and that reassures the bank it is you using the card.

I'd complain to the bank again.

Good luck

Sue x

I have just registered for online banking only to find.....grrrr its only credit cards you can activate online not debit cards!!

Florence I have sent you a number to ring. Let me know if it helps.

florence
i am in the same position as you and would be really lost without online banking, i can transfer money to my friends who do my shopping whether its pennies or pounds,
i really hope you get your card sorted
maddie

Thanyou for all your suggestions.
Rollo, I cannot travel in a car post op! Also at £40 for a round trip in a taxi(if there are any left working here) that's is def a nono.

The customer services which is this country said you can only activate the card by using it first in an ATM. I asked if they could do it over the phone by asking security questions but she said no to that too. I don't have online banking but I still need to get to the ATM.

Maddie I don't really want to sign up to online banking but I will investigate the things you have suggested, thankyou.

Florence in the hebrides