Problems with Millennium Bank

[sam]

Any one else having problems with their bank account?
I tried to make a Domestic Transfer this week, but despite trying several times I did not receive an authorisation code by text. I used the bank website email system to report this. I got a reply to say that the messages were being sent to me, but that some networks are blocking 4 digit SMS codes which they use. also I could purchase a card reader.
So I have tried several things:-
- Checked my phone and no blocks there, contacted Orange - no blocks there nor any record of messages from Millennium number.
- Tried my UK card reader, which generated a code, but the Millennium site would not accept the code.
- Tried to order one of their card readers, but message that page not found, so unable to purchase.
- Downloaded bank's App but cannot activate as code sent by text, which was not received.
- I again used the banks website email to notify them of situation and that the problem seems to be with the bank.
- I have tried 3 different browsers all comply with bank's requirements.
I logged in today to look for a reply. No reply. Instead, all records of my correspondence with the bank have been deleted from my Bank account details, and my email address had also been removed.

All of this is really bad, but what I find so appalling is that the bank seems to think it acceptable to sent vital text messages from a number that they say is blocked by some networks.
I have recommended Millennium several times on this forum, but can no longer do so.

[e-richard]

Is the text being sent to a local Portuguese mobile or to your UK mobile ?

I had a similar experience with BPI and changed the registered phone number to a local Portuguese mobile and all was OK.

[roy4eyes]

Forget this system and transfer through someone like Premier Fx - normally the transferred money is in your account the same day.

[sam]

Is the text being sent to a local Portuguese mobile or to your UK mobile ?

I had a similar experience with BPI and changed the registered phone number to a local Portuguese mobile and all was OK.

It is a Uk mobile and the texts have been coming through Ok for about 3 years. The CVO branch have replied to an email to them and they will take an instruction for the transfer by email. They suggest I use a Token (card reader) in future, but they have ignored the fact that I informed them that their website won't take the order for one and it won't accept the code generated by my UK card reader. I don't have a Portuguese mobile.

Forget this system and transfer through someone like Premier Fx - normally the transferred money is in your account the same day.

The money is in my account, getting money into the account is not aproblem - its getting it out that is the problem.

[Farol]

I had a fairly similar problem a couple of years ago when I had a Millennium account. It turned out to be how they stored the mobile phone number. Their system at that time did not allow a UK mobile number including the international code to be entered as the field was too short. After a few calls to them the person I spoke to entered the full uk mobile number via a different screen and the problem was resolved. I was told they had since fixed the problem but as I have switched my account to Banif cannot confirm this.

[sam]

I had a fairly similar problem a couple of years ago when I had a Millennium account. It turned out to be how they stored the mobile phone number. Their system at that time did not allow a UK mobile number including the international code to be entered as the field was too short. After a few calls to them the person I spoke to entered the full uk mobile number via a different screen and the problem was resolved. I was told they had since fixed the problem but as I have switched my account to Banif cannot confirm this.

I too had that problem at first, but got it sorted and have been getting the texts OK for about 3 years until this month.

[sam]

Update - I emailed the CVO branch on Friday about the problems. They rang me tonight just after 6pm and they have sorted out the transfer and we managed to order the card reader. It would appear that their website is so slow that it was timing out before the order could be processed.
She also said that the texts are being blocked by UK networks. I cannot understand why a major bank would be sending out texts knowing they cannot be received by customers in the UK. Even once I get the card reader I still cannot download their app, which is advertised in English, as I cannot get their texts with activation code. Why don't they just change their SMS code to a 5 digit number?

[ceh]

Last year I had major problems trying to register my new mobile number with them and separately trying to change a standing order. It took several trips to the branch and was impossible to resolve from the uk. The person who usually sorts problems out, Isobel, was on holiday and no one else seemed to know what to do. The root problem was the mobile number

[Alison]

We had the same problem and wasted a lot of time unsuccessfully trying to transfer money to our Millennium account a month or so ago - no authorisation text ever came through despite this process having worked successfully in the past. In the end we gave up and went into the bank during our recent trip to cvo and yes, they admitted that their 'system' was having trouble with sending text messages to UK mobiles and recommended that we use their card reader/token system instead. This has now arrived in the post but we haven't needed to use it as yet so let's hope it works when we do use it.

[SatRoger]

(...) and recommended that we use their card reader/token system instead. This has now arrived in the post but we haven't needed to use it as yet so let's hope it works when we do use it.

Alison, you need to register the card reader/token, before you can use it, by calling the bank. I live in the US and that is what I use.

[sam]

My card reader has just arrived so will look and see what is needed as want to do transfer next weekend. Phone calls from Uk to sort this out came to about £6 and cost nearly 10 euros for card reader, so I'm not very pleased with them. Isabel at CVO branch helpful and invited me to visit her during my next visit.

[SatRoger]

My card reader has just arrived so will look and see what is needed as want to do transfer next weekend. Phone calls from Uk to sort this out came to about £6 and cost nearly 10 euros for card reader, so I'm not very pleased with them. Isabel at CVO branch helpful and invited me to visit her during my next visit.

Sam,

If it cost less to call the US, try calling this numbers:
+1 973 536 1436
+1 617 936 8676
+1 631 386 8663

All those connect directly with Millennium BCP in Portugal. It might be cheaper to call the US from UK, than Portugal.