The increasing complications of technology

MACKTEXAS

MACKTEXAS

Well-known Member
Tried to pay my WIFI provider online. After entering password to my account with them, it says they first need to send a code to my email. So, I tried logging into email, but can't do that until my email provider texts a code to my phone, which is required to complete the email login. So, I got the text, entered the code, and was logged into email.

So then I went to look in email for the code the WIFI provider said they emailed, but there is no code from WIFI provider. Instead, there is a link to log into my account with them: "click here to open." I clicked, and got a new window with a login screen, which I don't need, since I already have a window with their login screen open, as I'm still waiting for a code to finish logging in.

Called WIFI provider to explain the run around, and he said I could just give him my payment by phone for "only a $10 fee." I said no, I will not pay $10 when it's your company's fault for not sending the code. Thanked him, and hung up.

Then, went back to WIFI account. Screen says, "We sent you a code, enter the code." No, they did not send it. Then I scrolled down and saw this: "Did you get the code we sent you? If not, click here to get another code." Clicked that, then went back to email; finally got a code then entered it, and completed my payment.

All the above took around 25 minutes. In pre-technology days, it would have taken me under 5 minutes to write a check, put it in a stamped envelope, then I could just drop it in the mail slot the next time I drive by the post office.
 

I now have to do the same thing with every account I have.
I am not one to sit with my phone right next to me, so when I go to pay something
I have to remember to grab my phone because they text the code to me.
I gripe and moan every time I have to do bills now.
I guess it's good they are keeping your payment account private is the only way
I can justify it. Making sure it's you so they don't get bank info.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
Tried to pay my WIFI provider online. After entering password to my account with them, it says they first need to send a code to my email. So, I tried logging into email, but can't do that until my email provider texts a code to my phone, which is required to complete the email login. So, I got the text, entered the code, and was logged into email.

So then I went to look in email for the code the WIFI provider said they emailed, but there is no code from WIFI provider. Instead, there is a link to log into my account with them: "click here to open." I clicked, and got a new window with a login screen, which I don't need, since I already have a window with their login screen open, as I'm still waiting for a code to finish logging in.

Called WIFI provider to explain the run around, and he said I could just give him my payment by phone for "only a $10 fee." I said no, I will not pay $10 when it's your company's fault for not sending the code. Thanked him, and hung up.

Then, went back to WIFI account. Screen says, "We sent you a code, enter the code." No, they did not send it. Then I scrolled down and saw this: "Did you get the code we sent you? If not, click here to get another code." Clicked that, then went back to email; finally got a code then entered it, and completed my payment.

All the above took around 25 minutes. In pre-technology days, it would have taken me under 5 minutes to write a check, put it in a stamped envelope, then I could just drop it in the mail slot the next time I drive by the post office.
Click to expand...
I have gone through things like this before, and it can take three or so tries to get the code. It can be so frustrating. When it comes to things like regular monthly billing things like a WiFi provider. I just put it on automatic payment so I don't have to deal with it. They always let me know by email when it's about to bill, and the amount, so if it sounds right, I don't have to do anything. If the amount seems wrong, I can review the charges before it goes through.
 

bobcat said:
I just put it on automatic payment so I don't have to deal with it.
Click to expand...
I think this is what most companies are trying for. I don't do that because I never know for sure if I may make a change, then encounter difficulties getting automated payments stopped. I'm okay right now with the WIFI provider I have, but we've had a bumpy business relationship.
 
I'm with Macktexas on not doing automatic direct debit payments - I would rather keep ball in my court to pay when I want.

fortunately for me I haven't had any issues with the code to phone authentication which some things require.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
Tried to pay my WIFI provider online. After entering password to my account with them, it says they first need to send a code to my email. So, I tried logging into email, but can't do that until my email provider texts a code to my phone, which is required to complete the email login. So, I got the text, entered the code, and was logged into email.

So then I went to look in email for the code the WIFI provider said they emailed, but there is no code from WIFI provider. Instead, there is a link to log into my account with them: "click here to open." I clicked, and got a new window with a login screen, which I don't need, since I already have a window with their login screen open, as I'm still waiting for a code to finish logging in.
Click to expand...
I couldn't agree more. It's quite frustrating. I often say that the people designing much of today's apps and software likely don't actually use it.
 
I put payments that are likely going to stay the same on 'auto-pay", except for companies like DishNet, which I don't trust, as a telecom are notorious for padding the bill with unannounced / unauthorized amounts. Another exception: our water district wants to charge $5/mo. for auto-pay...I don't think so! Go ahead and send me a paper billing, and pay for handling and processing your-own-damn-self. :LOL:

But yea, 2 Factor Authentication is the latest thing with IT security. It's a PITA, and quite frankly, IMO is more of a placebo and a diversion from the real security failures of commercial organizations that cut corners on protection for customer data.
 
“Mama said there'll be days like this…
There'll be days like this, mama said…”

I get frustrated with similar things and quite often find out that I was somehow at fault.

Still, I prefer having as many of my regular bills as possible set up for automatic payment.

The only regular check I write is for my rent because the app they use charges a processing fee of $5.95/month.

The idea of having to pay a service fee in order to pay my rent sticks in my craw!!!

If they bumped my rent by $5.95/month I would happily use the free service, go figure! 😉🤭😂
 
That is a great thing about apple products...they communicate with each other.
If I get a code on my iPhone, it pops up automatically on my iMac.
Makes things very easy.

I only have two bills pulled... cell phone and mortgage.
Everything else I choose to push instead. I like have the control.
Everything is done through my bank's Bill Pay.
 
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MACKTEXAS said:
Tried to pay my WIFI provider online. After entering password to my account with them, it says they first need to send a code to my email. So, I tried logging into email, but can't do that until my email provider texts a code to my phone, which is required to complete the email login. So, I got the text, entered the code, and was logged into email.

So then I went to look in email for the code the WIFI provider said they emailed, but there is no code from WIFI provider. Instead, there is a link to log into my account with them: "click here to open." I clicked, and got a new window with a login screen, which I don't need, since I already have a window with their login screen open, as I'm still waiting for a code to finish logging in.

Called WIFI provider to explain the run around, and he said I could just give him my payment by phone for "only a $10 fee." I said no, I will not pay $10 when it's your company's fault for not sending the code. Thanked him, and hung up.

Then, went back to WIFI account. Screen says, "We sent you a code, enter the code." No, they did not send it. Then I scrolled down and saw this: "Did you get the code we sent you? If not, click here to get another code." Clicked that, then went back to email; finally got a code then entered it, and completed my payment.

All the above took around 25 minutes. In pre-technology days, it would have taken me under 5 minutes to write a check, put it in a stamped envelope, then I could just drop it in the mail slot the next time I drive by the post office.
Click to expand...

I think they make it frustrating so you wont bother them and will do autopay.
I hate calling. It always takes forever to get a real person and then when you do you cant understand them.

Is there a reason you dont do online bill pay. Once you set up a payee it only takes a sec to send a payment.
And you save a stamp. :D

I like it better than checks. The money gets deducted immediately so you dont need to wait around for a check to clear.
I never need to balance my checkbook. Its always up to date. Also I can call up a history of payments any time I need to.
 
I don't doubt at all that you had technical difficulties signing into the site of your wifi provider. I use AT&T for internet and DirecTV and navigating their site is ridiculous.

I have two-step identification for any financial accounts (credit cards, bank, investments) and I find that quite easy. If I access an account from my phone and request a text I will actually get a prompt in the login that says "from messages" that autofills the security code.
 
Veronica said:
I think they make it frustrating so you wont bother them and will do autopay.
I hate calling. It always takes forever to get a real person and then when you do you cant understand them.

Is there a reason you dont do online bill pay. Once you set up a payee it only takes a sec to send a payment.
And you save a stamp. :D

I like it better than checks. The money gets deducted immediately so you dont need to wait around for a check to clear.
I never need to balance my checkbook. Its always up to date. Also I can call up a history of payments any time I need to.
Click to expand...
Same here. I have Autopay set up for some of my utility bills and my insurance. I always receive a bill with a note saying I have Autopay and the bill will paid by such-and-such date. Easy peasy. They are all paid with my credit card so I receive the cash back or travel points.
 
I would laugh but I understand all too well. What's worse is when you get locked out of an account while messing around trying to get a code. LOL
 
seadoug said:
Same here. I have Autopay set up for some of my utility bills and my insurance. I always receive a bill with a note saying I have Autopay and the bill will paid by such-and-such date. Easy peasy. They are all paid with my credit card so I receive the cash back or travel points.
Click to expand...

Online bill pay is not the same as auto pay. With online bill pay youre paying directly from your checking account.
Once you set up your payees you just go in and say how much and click the bank send them their money.
Then a notice shows up online on your statement with date and their name and how much and it gets subtracted from your balance.

I also do autopay on some things. It keeps my cards active even if I dont use them. And I get points.
 
Technology is great when everything goes as it should, but horror stories abound abouth when things don't work as they should. It's insane that they wanted to charge you $10 to pay by phone!

I tried to pay a doctor bill for a tele-visit via a website that was provided on the bill. It also had a code I was to enter that had letters, numbers and dashes. When I entered the code, they seemed to have run out of room for the last character. I thought if I removed one of the dashes, it would fit. That didn't work. I even tried another browser. I've gotten three bills and tried three times but still haven't paid it. I hate to give my CC number over the phone and haven't trusted the P.O. in a long time. Since I won't see that doctor again until next month, with trepidation, I'm just going to mail a check.
 
As a tech person, I refuse to use online banking and only suffer having to do what everyone did decades ago, receiving bills via USPS mail, then sending out via USPS, stamped envelopes, paper checks. That way, I escape the ever-changing and potentially hackable digital landscapes. A couple trustable services like AT&T only use bank auto payment processes, that I'll endure. In any case, I only have a few bills each month, unlike business owners.

That noted, I regularly have to use the quite annoying process @MACTEXAS described, every time I log into my AT&T Yahoo email account via my desktop. My smartphone is conveneiently always logged into the email service, that is ok, because I also safely don't have any financial stuff resident on my smartphone. Bank of America regularly tries to get me into auto banking and are wise enough to understand some older people like me would rather pull all my several accounts out of their bank if forced to do so.

Anyone logging into say a Google gmail account has to use the same annoying two-step authorization as @MACTEXAS described. A reason I avoid using that email except for travel lodging and such.

Microsoft, given the Windows 11 operating system running on my new HP Omen 35L desktop, has forced me to use the new Pass Code PIN system every time I power up and boot my computer. I have not bothered to understand how that really works, so do not yet trust it. For years, I have been one to always SHUTDOWN, each day, then power up, and REBOOT into Microsoft Windows each day instead of what many do, leaving their computer on continuously day after day, week after week, a potentially dangerous strategy hackers love.

Someone sent me a bunch of camera image files that were too large to do so by email attachments. So put them on the Microsoft One Drive cloud as shared files. I have a One Drive cloud account, but such is nearly empty and don't plan to use it currently. Today, I spent a couple hours figuring out how to download such files that required quite a bit of web searching about how to bulk download about 150 such compressed as ZIP files instead of one by one. To do so was annoying, and had to log into my actual Microsoft account using the PIN a few times before figuring it out.

Although once one understands how to use many of the new computer and telecom processes, they may not be difficult to use, such often requires understanding what terse window icons, buttons, and text fields actually do that is of course regularly changing and may not be locally documented in apps unless web searched.
 
If businesses and financial institutions want to do all their business online, they should not push the security on us. You do not get the option of paying by invoice/mail anymore, so the inherent security issues of doing it online or through a specified app should be their responsibility.

I am giving them my valuable business, that should pay all their security expenses. I don't see them giving me a discount or kickback for jumping through hoops for a 2 or 3 step authentication.

I don't use a smartphone and they insist on using a text based verification. It is difficult to navigate around that. Luckily I have a smartphone that I use for work only, so I've had to turn it on a few times.

I'm not going to work much longer and that smartphone will be going in the trash where it belongs.

If I am then unable to verify something, then I will not use their service. Yeah, that's right, I will cut off my nose to spite my face;)

I will not conform to crap that I disagree with, period.

Damn, getting all riled up just talking about it:mad:
 
MACKTEXAS said:
Tried to pay my WIFI provider online. After entering password to my account with them, it says they first need to send a code to my email. So, I tried logging into email, but can't do that until my email provider texts a code to my phone, which is required to complete the email login. So, I got the text, entered the code, and was logged into email.

So then I went to look in email for the code the WIFI provider said they emailed, but there is no code from WIFI provider. Instead, there is a link to log into my account with them: "click here to open." I clicked, and got a new window with a login screen, which I don't need, since I already have a window with their login screen open, as I'm still waiting for a code to finish logging in.

Called WIFI provider to explain the run around, and he said I could just give him my payment by phone for "only a $10 fee." I said no, I will not pay $10 when it's your company's fault for not sending the code. Thanked him, and hung up.

Then, went back to WIFI account. Screen says, "We sent you a code, enter the code." No, they did not send it. Then I scrolled down and saw this: "Did you get the code we sent you? If not, click here to get another code." Clicked that, then went back to email; finally got a code then entered it, and completed my payment.

All the above took around 25 minutes. In pre-technology days, it would have taken me under 5 minutes to write a check, put it in a stamped envelope, then I could just drop it in the mail slot the next time I drive by the post office.
Click to expand...
That's happened to me too, Mack. I can't understand why these companies come up with these stupid schemes, the old ones work fine.
 
This thread brought to mind some letters that went round
several years ago about banks and computer answered phone
calls, there were several similar letters at the time.

Mike.

Shown below is an actual letter that was sent to a bank by a 96-year-old woman. The bank manager
thought it amusing enough to have it published in the New York Times.
Dear Sir:
I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I endeavored to pay my plumber last month.
By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting the check and the
arrival in my account of the funds needed to honor it.
I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my entire income, an arrangement which, I admit,
has been in place for only eight years. You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of
opportunity, and also for debiting my account $30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your
bank.
My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant
financial ways. I noticed that whereas I personally attend to your telephone calls and letters, when I try to
contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, pre-recorded, faceless entity which your
bank has become.
From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person.
My mortgage and loan repayments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at
your bank, by check, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you
must nominate.
Be aware that it is an offense under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope. Please
find attached an Application Contact Status which I require your chosen employee to complete. I am sorry
it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me,
there is no alternative.
Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public, and
the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be
accompanied by documented proof. In due course, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which
he/she must quote in dealings with me. I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have
modeled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone
bank service.
As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Let me level the playing field even further. When
you call me, press the buttons as follows:
1. To make an appointment to see me.
2. To query a missing payment.
3. To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.
4. To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping.
5. To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.
6. To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home.
7. To leave a message on my computer, a password to access my computer is required. Password
will be communicated to you at a later date to the Authorized Contact.
8. To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 7.
9. To make a general complaint or inquiry. The contact will then be put on hold, pending the
attention of my automated answering service. While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait,
uplifting music will play for the duration of the call.
Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting
up of this new arrangement.
May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous New Year.
Your Humble Client
 

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