I do have to use my own cell phone to activate the debit card
By kingparker
@kingparker (9673)
United States
June 25, 2012 7:04pm CST
My debit card was about to expire, and the bank sent me a new one today. My cell phone was about out of battery and I put it in charge. So I have to use my home phone to activate my card, you know the procedure, called their 1 - 800 number and pick the option. After automated voice told me to punch in the 14 account number, it kept telling me not recognize it. Eventually, it transfer me to the service personnel. I asked that lady while she help me to activate my card. I punch it exactly the same number, and why it doesn't recognize it? She said that I probably didn't use my cell phone, or the phone that has the number which matching to their primary phone record. I was like, what if I lost my phone, I can't rely on this stupid machine.
For the experiment sake, I used my half - charged cell phone to call that number again, and go through all the process, and punch in the account number, it works smoothly. Now, I see how that stupid automated machine work.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
26 Jun 12
I do not see why the lady would not activate it for you. All she had to do to verify that it is you is ask a couple of personal questions to verify. I know when I had gotten my new card I went to my bank in person and they activated it for me and I got to select a pin number. I would list both numbers for your account that way you can activate on either one.
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
26 Jun 12
no, no, she did activate it for me, I just want to experiment it to see whether it work this way.
@chiyosan (30186)
• Philippines
26 Jun 12
that is good that you are able to handle it well now, the thing is i think they had to make sure that what you registered to them is actually the one you use to activate the card and that is for security reasons that no one can activate the card elsewhere. that is actually a good security measure if you ask me.. this should be how it is here in the philippines when you activate a card. and if you are to lose the number registered to them, you just had to call the company and ask for them to change it after verification of your identity... :D
@FrugalMommy (1438)
• United States
26 Jun 12
Most banks' phone verification systems work that way. They want the phone number you call from to match the phone number on your account so they know that you're the one who's activating the card. It's something they have set up to prevent fraud. 
I never call in my card activations. I just go to the bank's ATM and do a balance inquiry. With my credit card, I can just log into my account online and activate it that way. 
I never call in my card activations. I just go to the bank's ATM and do a balance inquiry. With my credit card, I can just log into my account online and activate it that way. 