UK Edition
Tesco Bank's 'anti-fraud measure' leaves customers without credit cards in the run-up to Christmas
Tesco Bank has cancelled a number of it credit cards as a "precautionary measure" just weeks before Christmas, in relation to suspected fraudulent activity.
Customers were sent a text message with a two-day period last week which stated their cards would be stopped upon receipt as part of a measure to combat fraud.
Tesco Bank said it was only a "small proportion" of its customers who were affected. It refused to cite a precise number.
It said it was currently sending out replacement cards which should be received this week.
Borrowers aren't happy about being left high and dry before Christmas and have taken to social media to air their grievances.
Tesco Bank did not fully explain why it had decided to cancel its credit cards now but said it was as a result of "industry-wide" anti-fraud measure.
However MoneySavingExpert reported on a similar incident in February last year where scores of customers had their cards cancelled.
It said it was contacted by numerous cardholders who said they had been told by Tesco Bank that their cards could have been compromised following a data breach at an online retailer, which it did not name.
The two incidents are not thought to be related.
In November 2016 Tesco Bank was hit by what was thought to be the worst cyber attack on a British lender. Around £2.5m was stolen from 9,000 current accounts - about £278 per account. It was initially believed that 20,000 customers had lost money.
A Tesco Bank spokesperson said: "We take the security of our customers’ accounts very seriously and take every measure possible to protect customers from fraudulent activity.
"As a result of routine industry-wide fraud protection measures, we have reissued a number of credit cards as a precautionary measure.
"We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused as a result."