I have power of attorney for my mum, and do her banking for her. This entails going into the bank every few weeks, at her request to draw cash from her savings account, which I take to her, and transfer some to her current, to keep it afloat. A while ago when I was doing this, the assistant suggested I had my own card for the current account, rather than using mums. This was duly sent, followed by pin number.
Yesterday morning I did the usual banking for mum, then after lunch took her to buy a new washing machine. To her embarrassment her card didnt work. It was the right card, correct pin, the card was in date, and she knew she had sufficient funds. Mum found it quite worrying. I tried my card to her account, which worked, so we paid for the washing machine and left. The salesman surmised that for some reason mums card was cancelled when mine was issued. This certainly shouldn't have been the case, as mine was just a second card. However I felt he must be right. I told mum not to worry, it wouldn't effect direct debits, and that I would go back to the bank next week and sort the matter out. Mum mostly deals in cash, she she wouldn't be needing to use her card within the the next few days.
However, this morning I had mum on the phone in a panic. She had a letter from Direct Line saying her payment for house insurance had been declined, and she must make alternative payment within 7 days ( but not to send cash, a cheque or postal order!)
I had to change my plans for this morning and go into the bank, which is The Halifax, and nowhere near where I live. The man there was very helpful. It seems that whoever set up my card, didn't alter mums account to allow a 2nd card! Therefore when my card was issued, mums was invalid. We had no idea.
A new card and pin number are being sent to mum, and her account has now been changed to allow 2 cards.
The Direct Line payment was an annual payment from mums card, which is why it was refused. I then had to go to mums, explain to her, reassure her, and get the insurance policy number from her so I can now put it on my card for mums account. A lot of faffing around and inconvenience for me, a lot of needless worry for an elderly lady.
I know we all make mistakes, but I really think this is not good enough.
Yesterday morning I did the usual banking for mum, then after lunch took her to buy a new washing machine. To her embarrassment her card didnt work. It was the right card, correct pin, the card was in date, and she knew she had sufficient funds. Mum found it quite worrying. I tried my card to her account, which worked, so we paid for the washing machine and left. The salesman surmised that for some reason mums card was cancelled when mine was issued. This certainly shouldn't have been the case, as mine was just a second card. However I felt he must be right. I told mum not to worry, it wouldn't effect direct debits, and that I would go back to the bank next week and sort the matter out. Mum mostly deals in cash, she she wouldn't be needing to use her card within the the next few days.
However, this morning I had mum on the phone in a panic. She had a letter from Direct Line saying her payment for house insurance had been declined, and she must make alternative payment within 7 days ( but not to send cash, a cheque or postal order!)
I had to change my plans for this morning and go into the bank, which is The Halifax, and nowhere near where I live. The man there was very helpful. It seems that whoever set up my card, didn't alter mums account to allow a 2nd card! Therefore when my card was issued, mums was invalid. We had no idea.
A new card and pin number are being sent to mum, and her account has now been changed to allow 2 cards.
The Direct Line payment was an annual payment from mums card, which is why it was refused. I then had to go to mums, explain to her, reassure her, and get the insurance policy number from her so I can now put it on my card for mums account. A lot of faffing around and inconvenience for me, a lot of needless worry for an elderly lady.
I know we all make mistakes, but I really think this is not good enough.
)
(don't tell anyone) Job done!
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