grrgoyl | Has the whole world gone crazy?

Last night I ran out to Lowe's to find some better options for my indoor skating rink idea (I've been using a thin piece of wood, which works fine except for occasionally making very loud, alarming cracking noises, and being too wide to fit in the hallway).

I found two perfect pieces of particle board, 5/8" thick, only 4 feet long so I could fit them in my car, and cheap. I went to check out but there was a problem. My debit card kept getting declined, despite having almost $1000 in there.

The girl was apologetic and blamed USAA (our mutual bank), said they were having technical issues earlier in the day. I went to my car to give them a call.

The conversation started as usual, the customer representative trying to determine I really am Elaine Adamcewicz before discussing my account information. All for the good, but then it suddenly took a turn into Bizarro World.

Rep: Okay, Miss Adamcewicz, can I have your phone code please?
Me: My...what? My phone code?
Rep: Yes please.
Me: You mean my PIN number?
Rep: No, your phone code.
Me: I have no idea what that is.
Rep: Your hint is "mother's maiden name is Smith" (note: It isn't. I changed it here because I don't need you people knowing my answer to the most popular security question ever)
Me: (flummoxed) Right, it's Smith.
Rep: So I need your phone code, please.
Me: I'm sorry, I really don't understand what you're asking for.
Rep: Your hint is "mother's maiden name is Smith."
Me: Right. But shouldn't you ask me what her maiden name is and I would answer "Smith"?
Rep: It just says your hint is (yadda yadda yadda, you get the idea).
Me: Is there anything else you can ask me??
Rep: Sure. Do you have the card in front of you?
Me: Yep, right here.
Rep: Okay, read me the last eight digits on the card. (I did) Okay, now tell me a charge that's cleared in the last 24 hours.
Me: (drawing a blank because this is just so ridiculous) Ummm, I bought something at Sports Authority this morning for $32 something.
Rep: Very good, Miss Adamcewicz, how can I help you?

And I was in! I still don't know what the problem was. She insisted it was Lowe's system, but I tried getting cash out of an ATM shortly after this call with similar unsuccess. But my point is, if someone had physically stolen my card and shopped at Sports Authority, wouldn't they have the answers to those last two questions? How do they do anything to prove my identity?

I'm sending a letter to USAA right now about this issue, because I find it pretty disturbing. Have you ever seen the movie Idiocracy? It gets scarier and scarier every time I see evidence of us moving closer to such a world.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

WTF?... That is all I have to say on that.

I know, right? And once again I didn't catch the girl's name because I always forget to pay attention to such things. I just told them what time I called and maybe they'll just speak to everyone on that shift. I was just speechless through most of the call, I'd never heard anything like it.

Citibank once refused to help me because I wouldn't give them my social security number. I tried to explain that I was standing in the middle of Target and had just given them my full credit card number. Somehow I didn't think following that up with my social was the brightest idea ever. They refused to answer my question and all I wanted was my balance! Security measures can be so stupid sometimes.

Oh, and I had problems with the card I got from my mother-in-law to shop for home improvement materials. Guess where? At Lowes! They tried to tell me the bank said I was making a purchase outside of the normal usage pattern. Really? A card used exclusively for home improvement stuff being used at a home store is abnormal?

What I'm trying to say is I feel your pain. ;)

I don't think security measures are stupid, I appreciate them making sure they aren't talking to just anyone. What's stupid is customer service people reading a screen that says "hint is mother's maiden name is Smith" and just reading it word for word without thinking about what they're saying.

I've never heard of cracking down on an unusual usage pattern. So if you take a trip to Hong Kong and shop at a gift shop they wouldn't let you? That's pretty stupid.

That's the thing, reading the screen that way or insisting I recite my full card number and social security number in public aren't secure. I guess what I was really trying to say is the way they carry out those security measures can be stupid. Citibank finally set up a security word for me so I don't have to give them all of that personal information when I'm not in a secure location.

The usage pattern thing is pretty dumb. I had a Fashion Bug card for a while so I could get their special sales. They always deny my card when I do in to use it because I only use it like once a year. I guess in my case actually using the card is outside of the usage patterns. I used to have them call in and get it cleared up, but I don't do that any more. The last time they denied the charge I said fuck it and didn't buy the stuff. I don't need that hassle.

That is just ridiculous. To me "unusual usage" should be the time Amazon called me to verify I had just bought a $5000 laptop (I hadn't). THAT'S unusual usage. Not deciding to try a new store at the mall. Crazy.

Just imagine what would've happened if you hadn't had an early morning sports-equipment emergency.

Exactly. My last transaction had been days before, and we all know the difficulty I have remembering my life even 24 hours at a time.

That's why I purposely waited to respond to this. I like to test your memory. Quick, what is this post about?

What a dork weasel. OBVIOUSLY the purpose of the security question is have you answer it, NOT give you the answer. No fucking kidding about that IDIOCRACY thing. The World is Doomed. Is it too late for Obama to save us?

Never too late. He's going to make gay marriage mandatory and heal the hole in the ozone just by clicking his heels!

Has the whole world gone crazy?

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