Whilst we are on the subject of banks, do you check your bank statements carefully? Well if, like me, you don't, I suggest you start now===at once.
This is a very shortened version of my experience over the last five/six days.
Many text messages and phone calls, all automated,all telling me by a computerised voice naming me, correctly, to press keys on my phone to continue.
I didn't fancy this, Ive heard too much about hugh phone bills incurred by pressing keys, so I didn't respond.
Next morning a letter from the bank fraud dept. Listing five attempted withdrawals starting with #10 to O2 pay as u go, two for #1800 odd each, one in USA one in Hong Kong, all five totalled around five thousand pounds,all within 5 seconds of each other. No payees of course.
As instructed I phoned the banks number, 15 minutes at least on the phone, no I didnt know anything about any of them. The original #10 to 02 had gone through but all the others had been stopped.
So I went to a local branch today and said I have never, ever had anything to do with 02. How do I get my #10 back.? Given another phone number and told to ring that.
Now I'm not very happy. 2 lengthy phone calls at my expense and #10 gone.
So I look at my bank statement online and I see, immediately before these five fraud entries, two withdrawals of #20 each to Vodaphone, same day.
So I go to Vodaphone, whats this about? They said without a reference numbrs they couldnt help. Fair enough.
So back to the Bank. Whats these two entries about? Now passed on to a customer advisor so slowly getting somewhere.
And to add insult to injury now Ive been charged #22 for going into my reserve.
Around half an hour later I came out having been told that all seven entries were a fraud and I would be refunded the #50 plus the #22 today.
No idea how this has arisen and as far as I can tell at the moment no one is inclined to tell me what its all about or how they nearly got away with it.
?