HSBC Blocked My Credit Card

Hello Readers and thanks for piling round at short notice!

As my title suggests the HSBC blocked my credit card as part of their fraud prevention. I had not used my card for an entire week or more. I used it to buy a new bike, and yes it did finally arrive. So I decided to do my Christmas shopping on-line and also buy a new computer because mine is 6 years old, sounds like a tractor and is held together with chewing gum and gaffer tape. My monitor descends into a world of it's own that consists of only blackness seperated by a long central white line. I hate shopping, even on the internet. It just seems wrong to be careful with money all year and then suddenly buy 10 tonnes of absolute junk. The HSBC appear to share my point of view and they soon sprang into action.

The first item on my list was a laptop computer for the missus/girlfriend/partner (whatever you would like to call her). This is a birthday and christmas present all rolled into one, I'm not usually this extravagant! She had found the make and model of her choice and navigated to DABS website. I liked DABS and have been a customer for as long as I can remember. Sadly, I was unable to get into the website on this occasion. I was quite annoyed, but didn't have time to mess about and just bought the laptop from another website for the exact same price. Next stop Amazon, where I have also been a long term customer. Both of these websites keep your card details on record. I needed a lot of equipment for the new laptop including a decent wireless modem (£70.00) and some software (£58.00), a USB flash memory drive and a load of other stuff costing in fair amount in total. Placed the order and moved on to another website.

Later when checking my email discovered that my transaction for Amazon had failed. This was a first so I checked that my details were correct and tried again. Same thing happened. My card was refused on other websites later in the day. This was a real pain in the bottom on a day that I had decided to finally knuckle down and buy some stuff. Luckily I had another card that did work and I re-ordered all the Amazon items from another retailer. (Overclockers)

Later I sent a message to my bank on-line and they said that they had blocked my card. I was livid. I had to ring their fraud investigation team. The interesting point to note is that the HSBC knew that I had been trying to log into DABS website (even though I never logged in). The HSBC put a block on my card and this prevented me even logging in. Did you know that they can do this? That is the last time I use DABS website.

I am also annoyed that my card has been flagged when being used on sites that I am registered with, using the correct card details and verification protocols set out by Visa. In the end I managed to make my purchases but both Dabs and Amazon have lost out here. Particularly Dabs because they will never see the colour of my money again. Amazon...might, they didn't lock me out of the website.

The HSBC say you can now use your card. I don't want to. When I make a transaction I want it to go through without any fuss, bother or trouble. I have no confidence in their credit card and will never use it again.

Paid the balance and chopped up the card.

There is a moral to this story I think, although nobody is likely to read it!

Keith Doughnut
Struggling along...