I have been trying to access my phone bill on the Verizon web site. Here is an excerpt of the ridiculous email I got in reply to my request that Verizon fix their web site:

We will be happy to assist you with your request; however, the information required is sensitive and should not be communicated through email. Please contact us at —— blah, blah, blah�
(Signed by �Dawn")

Now let us think about this for a moment. I think the problem is with their web site and the way it works, but let us pretend they somehow screwed up my user name and password. Why not just fix it and email me the new information?

Do they think their web site is so super secret it requires this waste of my time to fix their problem? Let us imagine they sent the information by email and some intrepid hacker intercepted it —— does �Dawn� suppose this hacker is going to use the information to pay my phone bill or something? Just what terrible thing is going to happen if somebody can access their stupid broken web site in my name?

People have gotten so anal and ridiculous with this password nonsense.

Aren’t password SOX requirements grand? “Dawn” doesn’t know a thing about your issue, I’m sure, but she was told on her second day that she’s not supposed to just e-mail people’s user names and passwords because that’s not secure. Nevermind that a phone-tap is ten times easier than intercepting your e-mail.

Noah L 14 Apr 2009, 2:12 p.m.

Verizon Password Insanity

Comment Guidelines Hashtags Help