What to do if the bank blocked the card

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

An instruction that will help you not to be left without money at the most inopportune moment.

What is card blocking

Blocking a debit card is a prohibition on making any transactions on it. You cannot pay her anywhere: neither in a supermarket, nor in a cafe, nor in an online store. The card stops working and becomes a piece of useless plastic.

It can be blocked by the owner, bank or payment system.

Why can they block the card

Due to non-standard card transactions

The bank can block your card if it suspects that they are trying to steal money from it.

For example, they want to pay a bill in a foreign cafe with a card, make an expensive purchase (in a regular or online store) or withdraw cash abroad. The algorithm for tracking all transactions sees non-standard transactions and thinks that they are scammers.

In this case, the bank contacts the cardholder and asks to confirm the suspicious transaction. If you are not reached, the card is blocked, and you receive an SMS notification.

Due to copying of the card by fraudsters (compromise)

The card can be blocked, even if non-standard transactions were not performed on it. For this, it is enough to suspect that fraudsters copied it (using skimming devices at ATMs, shops, cafes, gas stations).

This is monitored by the payment systems Visa and Mastercard. If there is a suspicion that the card has been copied, they ask the bank to block it. Most often, card compromises occur in beach holiday countries, although they can also happen in Russia.

You entered the wrong PIN code three times in a row

This is also a reason for blocking the card. The bank thinks that fraudsters are trying to find a PIN code and restricts card transactions. It will work automatically after 24 hours.

Card expired

The month has expired, the card has expired, and you forgot. A new card is waiting for you at the bank branch. The old one no longer works.

If the bank assumes that they use your card to cash out money

Regular transfers of large amounts to the card with the subsequent cashing of this money is a reason to believe that you or with your help are cashing out money and engaging in illegal activities. The bank monitors such transactions and can block the card (yes, it is legal).

By the tribunal's decision

The card and bank account can be blocked by a court order if you have debts. This is how the bailiffs seek the return of funds.

What to do if the card is blocked

Call the bank. The phone number is indicated on the back of the card, on the website or in the application. The employee will ask for the passport data and the code word (each bank identifies the client in its own way) and find out the reason for the blocking.

Some banks have an emergency button for blocking / unblocking the card in the tone dialing. So you will be immediately connected to the operator, bypassing the telephone queue. If you are in international roaming, you will save a lot of money.

If the bank has blocked the card, you confirm your purchases, the card will be unblocked. If the card was blocked at the initiative of the payment system, it will not be possible to unblock it - only to reissue it.

If the bank has blocked the card due to suspicion of cashing money, you will be asked for documents confirming the legality of the funds received. After the submission and verification of documents, the blocking will be removed.

How to get money from a blocked card

If after calling the bank the card is not unblocked, you still have access to the money.

1. Transfer money to another card (yours, friend, relative). This can be done via a mobile application or online banking. This will be a normal translation, no new skills and knowledge are needed.
2. Withdraw money from your account. This can be done at the bank branch.
3. Agree with the bank. If you need money urgently, and you don't have any other cards, ask a bank employee to temporarily unblock the card. To do this, explain the situation to the operator by phone. The employee removes the ban for a few minutes, and you withdraw the required amount. After that, the card is blocked again so that fraudsters do not have time to steal money.

If the bank assumes that they use your card to cash out money, you still have access to it: you can withdraw it from the account at the bank branch.

If the bank has blocked the card and account by a court decision or Rosfinmonitoring, you do not have access to money. You can get them only if the court overturns the decision.

How to avoid card blocking

Most often, cards are blocked due to non-standard operations (payments abroad) and compromise of the card by fraudsters. Anyone can find themselves in such a situation, but the likelihood of blocking can be reduced.

Report your trip

If you are going abroad, notify the bank of this: write to the chat in the mobile application, to the Internet bank or call. If you are in several countries, specify the cities and times so as not to be left without a map at the most inopportune moment.

Apply for an additional card

To the main one, order an additional one at the bank: this way you will have two cards for one account. If one card is blocked, the second will remain. They have different numbers, so in case of compromise, only the one used at the suspicious ATM will be blocked.

Pay with cash

If you are not sure about the honesty of the seller or the waiter, pay with money. If there is no cash, do not let your card be carried away and do not lose sight of it - all transactions must be performed before your very eyes.

Withdraw cash from the bank

Fraudsters equip ATMs with skimming devices and copy cards. To avoid this, withdraw cash at bank branches. Avoid ATMs on the street, do not withdraw money in poorly lit areas. Cover the keyboard with your hand when entering the PIN.

Leave a valid phone number

The bank can call and clarify whether you pay by card. They did not pick up the phone or are not available - the card is blocked so that money is not stolen from it. If you pick up the phone, then immediately solve the problem, the card will remain functional.