A customer reported seeing a change to their online account details
Nationwide Building Society has clarified its rules following a query from a confused member. The customer had noticed an apparent inconsistency when checking their details online.
The member reached out to the provider via social media, initially asking about the timing of when new bank cards are issued when an old one is nearing expiry. In response, Nationwide directed them to information on the group’s website regarding debit cards. The customer then mentioned they had spotted a discrepancy when accessing their account online. They told Nationwide: “The new card is on my account but the physical card hasn’t arrived.”
The savings giant responded to explain the reason for this inconsistency. The provider explained: “This is because the new card has been generated, and will be with you at your registered address before the end of the month which is when the current one will expire.”
When are new bank cards issued?
The information page that Nationwide referred the customer to states: “We’ll send you a new card about three weeks before your current card expires. You can use this new card as soon as you’ve received it. We suggest destroying your old card.”
Other customers chimed in on the conversation, sharing their experiences of receiving a new card from Nationwide. One person reported their new card arrived some three weeks prior to their previous one expiring.
Another person reported their card turned up in the post fewer than two weeks before expiry. Customers might need to get in touch with Nationwide if their existing card hasn’t been used recently.
The online guidance states: “We won’t automatically send you a new card if you haven’t used your card in the last six months. You’ll have to request a new card by giving us a call.”
It makes a big difference
A senior representative from Nationwide recently spoke to the Treasury Committee about the provider’s efforts to get people to build up their savings. Stephen Noakes, head of retail at Nationwide, said: “Even a small buffer makes a big difference to their resilience. It is critical to start developing that savings behaviour.”
He told the MPs about Nationwide’s Flex Regular Savers, which offer a rate of 6.5 per cent. You can pay up to £200 a month into this account.
Regular savers are accounts designed so you can deposit regular amounts, up to a certain amount each month, with your deposits enjoying a relatively high interest rate. Consumer advocate Martin Lewis recently clarified a misunderstanding about how regular saver accounts work.
You can currently get rates of 7 per cent or more with some of the top-paying accounts. The leading regular saver account is with Principality Building Society, which pays 7.5 per cent.
