Buying credits for SP

CathieL · Post by **CathieL** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 3:47 pm

I have been paying for credits on SP with my MasterCard debit card. I have been doing this for over two years. Friday night I tried to buy credits and was denied. Same thing Saturday and Sunday. This morning I called my bank and was told it was because I was buying from overseas where "there was a lot of fraud". I was told there had always been a block on it and no-one know knew why I had been able to do it all this time. They have taken the block of for today to let me buy the credits but with the warning that they will not be responsible for my card during that time. Also I will have to call them everytime I want to do this. This does not sit well with me at all

Anyone else have this problem or can think of another way for me to buy credits?
Cathie (quiet little Cathie who right now is almost spitting nails)

Post by **Tracey** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 3:53 pm

Hello Cathie

I wonder if it has anything to do with the................................

***New Payment Gateway - Advance Notice***

Would all customers please note that we will be introducing a new payment gateway to the site. The gateway will be under a new ScotlandsPeople url at securepayment.scotlandspeople.gov.uk. Initially this will be introduced during our Customer Service Helpdesk working hours so any email queries regarding this can be dealt with swiftly.

.........................Introduced in February

Post by **Ina** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:05 pm

Cathie,

I had problems a few weeks ago.

Got a call from the fraud department of my bank, saying that someone was trying to buy two computers and some expensive perfume via the internet using my Master Card. This was a brand new Master Card that I had only used to purchase credits on SP. They cancelled the card and issued me a new one.

For years I have been using my Visa to purchase credits, without problems. I have gone back to using my Visa again. So far I've had no problems.

Ina
Current AG Chair

Post by **joette** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 5:30 pm

I too had problems with my Visa when I tried to purchase Credits for SP in January.
Called my bank & they said it was unusual activity(not for me!)They unblocked it & all well since.
Sometimes I think they are too cautious.Had my Card blocked when on holiday in USA-"unusual activity abroad" this despite telling them I would be using mine in USA& that I had ordered my Currency & Travellers Cheques from them.

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:31 pm

I've emailed my contact in ScotlandonLine to seek clarification.

David

CathieL · Post by **CathieL** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:38 pm

Thank you Tracey, Ina, Joette and David
I was able to buy some credits after my conversation with the bank but I am still very annoyed about it. I do not like the idea of having to get permission every time I want to buy credits and why now after all this time! I will stew over it for a bit and try to decide if maybe MasterCard should take a hike.
Cathie

Tusker · Post by **Tusker** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:02 pm

I use Mastercard (from Canada) and haven't had any problems purchasing credits from SP at all. I just bought yet another 6 quid's worth last night (26 Feb)

I can remember being in Florida years ago though, and trying to purchase some clothing in a shop. My Visa card was denied and when I protested that there was only a balance of hundred dollars carried forward (so there was LOTS of credit left on it) the store manager allowed me to speak by phone directly to the Visa operator (no cost to me). The operator said it was an unusual spending pattern, so they'd refused the charge. No thought at all of the embarrassment he had caused me, or that the airline tickets had been paid for on that card a few months previously. But he "did me a favour" and authorised the purchases. Needless to say, that card was cut up as soon as I returned to Toronto.

Same thing happened years later though, when I was in Ottawa for a day and then drove back through Peterborough. Mastercard saw charges for gas (petrol) on my card before I left Ottawa, then when I tried to use the card in a restaurant in Peterborough on the drive home, it was refused. I read them the riot act when I did get home. They apologised, and suggested that if I intended to make any "out-of-the-ordinary" purchases in "places I don't normally use a credit card", I might want to give them a call to forewarn them before I left home.

I've since done this four times, before travelling to Las Vegas, and it seems to work just fine. I can understand the bank's efforts to protect itself, but to have a card refused for six pounds, which is about 12-13 dollars Cdn. seems just a little TOO cautious for me. I'd change banks if it was the bank who refused to allow the charges.

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:01 pm

CathieL wrote:Thank you Tracey, Ina, Joette and David
I was able to buy some credits after my conversation with the bank but I am still very annoyed about it. I do not like the idea of having to get permission every time I want to buy credits and why now after all this time! I will stew over it for a bit and try to decide if maybe MasterCard should take a hike.
Cathie

Hi Cathie

Any such situation affecting North American users of ScotlandsPeople in general or particular would be greatly against the interests of GROS/SoL/SP, so let's just hope that your experience is a temporary glitch, possibly, wha kens, allied to a situation in the last few days where the use of a PIN number in conjunction with the use in the UK of a credit card has become compulsory ......................

David

CathieL · Post by **CathieL** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:49 pm

Hi Tusker and David
I used some of the credits I got this morning to look for something in my Farrell search. I have been thinking about it for nearly two weeks and I was ready to try SP when the transaction was denied. Any way I tried today and FOUND what I was looking for so I have simmered down somewhat. Maybe as you say David it was just a glitch, I hope so. I do not have a Doctorate in anything but I am not the village eedgit either and I was so irate about the condensing tone which was used when I talked to the bank. I will wait and see if it happens again and if it does I will switch banks and cards, maybe even countries

Cathie

Post by **Anne H** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 2:58 pm

Hi CathieL,

I've used my Visa through my local bank here in Florida for a few years now and I've never yet had a problem. Just bought credits a few minutes ago to make sure.

Regards,
AnneH