Nationwide Warns Shoppers to Stay Alert as Holiday Payments Surge
Nationwide has issued a timely warning to millions of its customers, and honestly, it couldn’t have come at a more hectic moment. With Christmas just around the corner and the holiday rush kicking into full speed, shoppers are being urged to slow down, stay alert, and watch out for both overcharging and rising fraud attempts. It’s one of those reminders that feels obvious, but during the festive scramble, it’s easy for anyone to get caught out.
According to Nationwide, spending is expected to surge far beyond last year’s levels. In fact, more than 20 million payments are anticipated in the coming days as people hurry to complete their gift lists. The busiest days are predicted to fall on Friday, December 12, and Saturday, December 13, when over 20.6 million transactions are expected to be processed. And that’s just the beginning. The real peak is forecast for December 20, which is set to be the single busiest shopping day of the season with around 10.7 million payments expected.
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Despite consumer confidence still sitting lower than normal, Nationwide says spending is on the rise. Mark Nalder, who oversees Service, Operations and Performance at Nationwide, highlighted that retailers are likely to face an intense rush as Christmas approaches. He explained that even though people are budgeting more carefully, the holiday season still drives a huge wave of purchases. And because of this, customers are being encouraged to pause before making any transaction—whether they’re shopping on the high street, online, or through social media ads.
Fraud is a growing concern this year. Platforms like Snapchat and Telegram have reportedly seen the sharpest increase in social media scam activity. Shoppers are being reminded that if a deal looks unbelievably good, it might simply be a scam waiting to happen. Nationwide is strongly advising people to avoid bank transfers unless they are absolutely certain about who they’re paying. Secure payment methods, double-checking seller details, and taking a moment to think before clicking “buy now” can make all the difference.
To support its members, Nationwide is offering round-the-clock help. There’s a 24/7 fraud helpline, along with a Scam Checker service that allows customers to get payment advice before going through with a transaction. And if Nationwide approves the payment but a customer is still scammed afterward, they guarantee a full refund.
Shoppers are also urged to report any suspicious activity immediately—not only to their bank or building society, but also to Action Fraud. With transaction numbers rising sharply this month, a little caution can go a long way.
As we get closer to Christmas, the message is simple: enjoy the season, but stay alert. A few extra seconds of checking and verifying could end up saving a lot of money and stress during the busiest shopping period of the year.
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