Banks decide who you may pay

[Geffers]

I've used credit and debit cards all my adult life with no major issues.

Yesterday I had an issue that has made me wonder now.

I have a debit card with an issuer named WISE (Part of VISA system), great for travel and for two years no issues, yesterday I wanted to pay £10 to top up my mobile phone system. Used this card before, no issues but yesterday it failed authorisation. Checked my details, tried again and it failed. Eventually paid with my Mastercard but I've contacted WISE to ask the reason. Was told that the merchant (mobile company) does not fall within their risk appetite, whatever the hell that means, and they suggested I used another card. I pointed out I'd used the same card for the same amount to same merchant only weeks ago but they said they were unable to give details as it was a security issue.

Now I can understand a security issue to confirm it was an intended recipient but refusing to transfer my money to a payee of my choice seems a bit disconcerting.

I shall take this further as presently I can see no logic here, mobile company takes VISA, Mastercard and Paypal so obviously no issues there.

Geffers

 

[Retro]

Sounds like that merchant is now considered a security risk of some sort by WISE, which of course, they can't tell you why, unfortunately. Would be interesting to try the same card again when you next need to top up and if that still doesn't work, another Visa card if you have one.

 

[Geffers]

Sounds like that merchant is now considered a security risk of some sort by WISE, which of course, they can't tell you why, unfortunately. Would be interesting to try the same card again when you next need to top up and if that still doesn't work, another Visa card if you have one.

Yes, agree, not sure why paying someone that was an intended payment would be deemed a security risk but I have contacted the mobile company expressing that I feel it is a slur against them. The odd thing is I used same card for same amount to same company in January 2025.

Shall delve deeper as we are warned of the perils of digital financial controls and this sounds like some kind of policy decision, shall see but will use same card next time to check.

 

[Astro What]

Generally when a vendor has a higher rate of fraud reports/charge backs, they will be placed on a list by card processors and payments not allowed through them or certain checks performed.
I get similar frequently with using my debit card and certain payments. For the entire time I was with Hetzner VPS the debit card processor detected them as possible fraud and I had to go through certain processes to get the payment allowed. And that was after making the same payments for over a year. Now that I moved to OVH, I do not have that issue. So it was something specific to Hetzner as a vendor.
The only solution the bank could give was to use another card if I wanted automated payments processed.
It's not that abnormal and is a method that they use to reduce their exposure to fraudulent activity that ultimately costs them.