Has anyone had any recent or similar issues with MBNA credit card - specifically the app and/or service issues/contacting them.
I’ve had a card with them for 3-4 years. Everything fine. Hadn’t used it for a few months, tried signing in and it had some error message. So I had to reset the password. It then said “We’ve sent you a code in the post” (POST!!)
Code arrives a week later, input code. Doesn’t recognise it! Go through same process, code doesn’t arrive.
Can’t access the account to then use the online chat (unless I’m missing something?)
I use a VPN at all times, so I wonder if it was that.
Just seems like an archaic process of sending a code in the post. Months later, I’m still none the wiser. They write to me frequently (in the post!!) saying they’re increasing my credit limit. Fine. But I can’t log in!
Hmm, that might explain it then. I had similar errors using their web login too. I guess that answers that one then. Will have to leave them to it and just keep increasing my limit and zero usage . Probably not a bad thing.
I’ve not had an issue thus far and I’ve been using a permanent VPN for a number of years - it appears MBNA have this issue, likely from what @Carlo1460 was saying. Maybe they’re just getting ahead of the ultimate Nanny State takeover within the next year or so and not accepting connections via VPN any longer?
Indeed! And that’s the trap I won’t be falling into!
Actually, I’ll give Mullvad a go and see if that makes any difference. The irony of their UK adverts and censorship tickled me so I did some research around them and very viable with some future proof features (although I think some some shared servers so might not get around the MBNA issue).
I don’t have MBNA but I have logged into Lloyds app and website while on VPN, made several payments and approved many while on VPN set to different server locations with no issues.
I have only had a issues with Tesco bank when they blocked my card and account for apparently being in Ireland (VPN)
Yeah, know Monzo certainly discourage and possibly even prevents you from using a VPN when signing up but once you’ve signed up and KYC’d they’re ok with it, Revolut I believe are the same. I guess banks would argue it could interrupts their compliance / safety tools / ability to protect you if you’re using your card in one country but your app says you’re in another although I believe these apps have other ways of finding your true location with certain permissions
Actually, you may have hit the nail on the head here. I do recall switching from UK to a Non-Nanny country around exactly the same time as loading MBNA as I was looking up about them on a Reddit link (where Reddit introduced the proof of age nonsense and I don’t have an account [and absolutely won’t be proving my identification to anyone in any case lol]).
Hmm this is looking more likely as MBNA might have thought ‘hang on, a minute ago they were in the UK now thousands of miles away’. That said, with Nationwide and Monzo my connection will show multiple different countries quite frequently (incl exit nodes). I haven’t had any issues with Nationwide/Monzo.
Doesn’t explain why MBNA still insist on writing me scribes via snail mail, not using my email address and phone number. But I guess some organisations are less progressive than others!
Yes, this could also be an issue. I know other services do this too outside of banking. Tuta mail is one. They don’t allow VPNs to set up accounts due to “anti-spam”. It did make me chuckle given their privacy stance even including metadata.
Yes - this is why I like Monzo. I use Monzo’s security features including location. Seems to work really well!
You getting the snail mail code proves you are actually resident in UK assuming you don’t use a forwarder.
I have used the Nord meshnet routing traffic through my Mac at home and services like Netflix, Prime video, Disney don’t flag me as being abroad or using a VPN.
Even checking my IP at IP.me would still show me using my Virgin media network. I guess that may work.
Did the same at one point, also tried other solutions like tailscale e.t.c back when NordVPN threatened to shut down Meshnet, then finally moved myself to VPN at router level using Wireguard Server for everything not plugged directly in via ethernet.
Traffic goes WG Server → Router → WG Client → Internet
Get around 250mbps download on a 500mbps line running Wireguard so around a 50% overhead, sure I could probably reduce it further but I just haven’t had the time yet
This is a good idea actually. I’ll have to look at this.
I think the issue with MBNA is they don’t have a ‘location’ piece within the security of the app (that I recall anyway. I’ve no way of accessing the app any longer to double check). Whereas Monzo does if you allow access to the Location.
However, in apps such as Maps or SpeedTest, the location is device based and shows me exactly where I am right now despite me being firmly in the U.K.
I wonder if MBNA (and the like) adopted device based Locations it would solve issues of location based logins and suspicious activity. Use of a VPN shouldn’t be seen as suspicious - in fact the opposite and should be encouraged by financial institutions as it’s a positive indicator of technical security and preventing MiTM which benefits the organisation as much as the individual.
The loss in speed made me use split tunnelling at router level. The Wireguard NordVPN set up failed to work on my router so got stuck on OpenvPN slow speeds. It is some devices I push to use the VPN like the TV and Fire stick.
SO wonders why she doesn’t see ads on the Youtube app on TV.
I think they use app location if permissions enabled but depending on the fraud ruleset, VPN use may be an absolute block no matter what location your app sends.
I manage a payment Gateway for one of the sites I run and have fraud rules set. I have VPN use at number one. If detected, you get an immediate block, no matter what other information has been entered.
Yeah I started on OpenVPN too cause at the time NordVPN didn’t support Wireguard integration, was extremely slow and I think I wasn’t even breaking like 80mbps if I remember correctly.
Was obviously delighted the day Nord announced support for Wireguard integrations at router level as it improved things greatly but yeah split tunneling is a good solution.
Personally i’m still living out hope that eventually support for Nordlynx will comes to routers for the privacy side of things (Double NAT, Dynamic IP’s and not needing to store identifiable info on their servers), reached out last year and this year to see and got the same generic we’re working on it answer from Nord. I know they do support it currently on their own Privacy Hero II it’s currently the only router testing it at the moment but not worth switching for me as I suspect they will eventually roll it out to other off brand routers
This makes sense for the unfortunate nature that not everyone using a VPN are particularly good actors
Unfortunately a big reason massive sites like reddit even have move to just blanket blocking VPN addresses from even viewing it (with the exception of a few vague ones they seem to have missed)
. Probably not a bad thing.
