discobay

OK go it. I don't think I want to go through the process of applying for a card reader.
Well I logged in to check the address and their system asked secret questions. I remember last time I did this and got the answer wrong it locked me out. I'm not about to fall for that one again.

I think I've decided to pay myself by personal cheque and keep the flex account open. Thanks for all your help everyone.

Les Avalook

That could be the safest thing to do for now, when you have time you could write to them and ask them how you can reset your details if you feel it would be useful for you.

discobay

Reply received today - yet another reason for closing my account:

Dear discobay
Thank you for your message.

Unfortunately we are unable to transfer funds to another bank in the UK. However we will send out a cheque with the closing balance of the accounts you wish to close to you.

If you wish to continue to close your accounts than please respond to this message authorizing Nationwide to close them.

Regards,

Rufsana Begum
Customer Consultant
Online Team

spottydog

THis doesn't seem unreasonable to me, you aren't willing to apply for a card reader to use their online functionality which they have implemented to protect their customers from theft & fraud.

It seems to me that this would be the only way to prevent themselves being a fraud target. By sending a cheque in the account holders name to the last verified address they are minimising the change of someone fraudulently withdrawing the money. You can guarantee if they allow people to send money to any account without proper verification a thief will use this and Nationwide will be front page in The Sun before they know it

discobay

I thought the Bacs transfer did just that - for free.

ozhappy981

Yes. But to do the BACS transfer, you have to either log into your account online (with your passwords and the card reader) or rock up to a branch in person with some ID (so they know it's you).

discobay

OK back to plan B then.