Day: February 1, 2012

OOoopps!

I forgot to enter the super special secret code from Verizon again.

This code has to be entered so that they will let me see my bill online.

This is one of the little annoyances they DON’T mention when you switch to online bill paying. We’re concerned about your online privacy.

I can pay the bill online… I just can’t see how many phone calls were billed to my account from 976 Chinese Slut.

I requested the super special secret code a few weeks ago. For my safety and security Verizon has to send the super special code by mail, and once again they sent it. I forgot to enter the first one too…

In the shuffle of life, when the super special secret code finally gets to the house a week or two later… It’s just not at the top of my priority list. So now I’ve requested two super secret codes and forgotten to enter them prior to their expiration. Ooopps.

I’m having the same problem with a certain bank. I just want to log in to make sure that they have some cash to pay a bill.

Recently they forced me to change a password for my online protection. I forgot about the password change and last month entered the password wrong a couple of times. Then I remembered the change and logged in successfully checked the balances and logged out.

This morning, I entered the old password once then remembered the change and entered the New password.

I’m still locked out of their site. It seems like the wrong password count is over the life of your password instead of resetting the count once you get it right.

So here I sit waiting for them to send me an e-mail with the super secret identification number so that I can reset the password to something equally forgettable and start the cycle all over again.

I havent even finished my first cup of coffee yet.

All of which leads to the point.

Why am I living in service to Banks, Phone companies, Utilities, and the 150 other web sites all demanding that I maintain user IDs and passwords? Wasn’t technology supposed to free us from drudgery? Now I’m as much a record keeper as I ever was.

I’ve swapped Invoices and statements for user ids, passwords and ever changing user agreements.

We value your privacy, and for your protection and inconvenience we’re absolving ourselves from any responsibility arising out of our loss of your data or your exposure to identity theft. Thank you for being our willing patsy… If you have comments or concerns dial 800WHOCARES.

I miss the good old days… Statements, envelopes, stamps, writing checks!

Is this a sign that I’m getting old?

Time for the second cup of coffee….