[Gllug] security check

[Phil Reynolds]

Quoting gllug at jameslaver.com:

> Sainsburys voided my transaction 3 times because it kept asking me  
> to sign, thus causing Lloyds to apply a fraud block. Not taking my  
> card is bad enough, but messing about and getting it blocked is just  
> unacceptable.

Indeed... as is applying a fraud block that triggers in a place where  
it is complicated to sort out and the staff have no idea how to. I  
once had to argue "you do whatever it takes to take a payment using  
this card - it is being voided by you, not declined due to  
insufficient funds like the other one I got you to try - or you will  
have to take that fuel back. Failing that I will have to go home to  
get another means to pay, and I can't get there from here without the  
car." - this puzzled them as they could not see a way to do anything  
unless they could get that card to produce a transaction slip showing  
"DECLINED" - I had deliberately presented a card on which funds were  
insufficient when they first voided the transaction on the other card,  
so that they could see the difference - it is perhaps a good thing  
that I had one! At least I didn't have to explain to them the reason I  
couldn't get home without the car - I was only a few months down the  
line from my amputations and not that good at walking at that time.  
Eventually we got the bank on the phone and they unblocked my card and  
gave a code which would authorise the transaction - only for the bank  
to both phone me and write to me over the same bunch of transactions  
that I verified in that call later that week. When they phoned I  
expressed my disgust at their action - it was quite normal for me to  
use my card heavily between the last Thursday of a month and the  
following Saturday, with which they agreed, but highly inconvenient  
for them to block my card after the supermarket - my usual one for a  
monthly shop too - so that I then had the bother of explaining it all  
to non-too-intelligent staff at a fuel station. They claimed (and I  
don't dispute it) that it was done "at random" - but claimed to have  
noted my comments, especially when I told them later about being  
checked in three ways when just one would have done.

I had an incident with Amazon a few months ago where it appeared  
(Amazon were saying) that the same thing was happening. The bank were  
saying otherwise - that it would be Amazon's bank checking, not them.  
I explained that to Amazon and they tried to put it through again -  
eventually managing it but not convincing me for some minutes that it  
wouldn't once again be stopped.

> Perhaps a C+S card with a pin would be more appropriate for you?  
> Personally I don't want the liability.

I wouldn't be without at least one C+P card - when travelling in  
France and (especially) Belgium I find them great for getting petrol.

-- 
Phil Reynolds
mail: phil-gllug at tinsleyviaduct.com
Web: http://www.tinsleyviaduct.com/phil/
Waltham 66, Emley Moor 69, Droitwich 79, Windows 95


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