Over zealous credit card security

[ipitythefool]

So I received a new card through the post recently after having applied online last week, and on phoning to activate it I am asked a series of questions.

They then ask me what the first and last digits or letters on my password are. Like I am supposed to fking remember that. It could be one of about 5 or 6 passwords or passcodes I use for banking and so on. When I ask for a bit more info like how many letters or numbers are in the password I am told that is a security risk for them to tell me.
I ask them how on earth am I supposed to remeber which of my passwords I used to open this application with- the naswer - oh you'll love this: "Perhaps you could have written it down sir." You couldn't make it up.

[V8mate]

So it's their fault you can't remember a security word you associated with an account just a week ago?

[carreauchompeur]

I pity the fool

[Exige77]

Maybe when your account has been cleaned out by some scum bag you might have a different opinion.

Put them all on your mobile or computer in a way only you can understand. There always there if you need them and nobody else will know. (I am not regulated by the FSA and this advice is free !)

Ex77

[Deva Link]

ipitythefool said:

You couldn't make it up.

Why would you bother, even if you could?


How about asking them to send you a copy of your application?

[ipitythefool]

V8mate said:

So it's their fault you can't remember a security word you associated with an account just a week ago?

I have a password for Amex, a different one for my M/C, a different one for Barclays Premier, a different one for HSBC Premier, a different one for HSBC investdirect, a different one for my Priority Club account, a different one for my HiltonHHonors account, a different one for my Starwood account, a different one for my BA Exec account, a different one for my IF account, a different one for hotmail, a different one for PH, a different one for Yahoo and so on.
Occasionally I will forget a password and I accept it's my fault for that.

However to have a 'security' jobsworth tell me I should have written it down is beyond belief!

[ipitythefool]

carreauchompeur said:

I pity the fool

[350GT]

No... It's your fault. accept it, and you'll be a far less angry fellow.

[abels]

ipitythefool said:

V8mate said:

So it's their fault you can't remember a security word you associated with an account just a week ago?

I have a password for Amex, a different one for my M/C, a different one for Barclays Premier, a different one for HSBC Premier, a different one for HSBC investdirect, a different one for my Priority Club account, a different one for my HiltonHHonors account, a different one for my Starwood account, a different one for my BA Exec account, a different one for my IF account, a different one for hotmail, a different one for PH, a different one for Yahoo and so on.
Occasionally I will forget a password and I accept it's my fault for that.

However to have a 'security' jobsworth tell me I should have written it down is beyond belief!

You could just choose the same password for all of them

[pokethepope]

As has been said, either have one or two passwords that you use for everything, or write them down. Why do you find 'write them down' so shocking? Just do it in a way only you will understand and i cant see a problem.

[ipitythefool]

pokethepope said:

As has been said, either have one or two passwords that you use for everything, or write them down. Why do you find 'write them down' so shocking? Just do it in a way only you will understand and i cant see a problem.

Hmmm, this sounds a good plan.

Funnily enough I never forget my PH password.

[Tony*T3]

abels said:

ipitythefool said:

V8mate said:

So it's their fault you can't remember a security word you associated with an account just a week ago?

I have a password for Amex, a different one for my M/C, a different one for Barclays Premier, a different one for HSBC Premier, a different one for HSBC investdirect, a different one for my Priority Club account, a different one for my HiltonHHonors account, a different one for my Starwood account, a different one for my BA Exec account, a different one for my IF account, a different one for hotmail, a different one for PH, a different one for Yahoo and so on.
Occasionally I will forget a password and I accept it's my fault for that.

However to have a 'security' jobsworth tell me I should have written it down is beyond belief!

You could just choose the same password for all of them

You are 'having a laugh', arent you...?

[Deva Link]

ipitythefool said:

Funnily enough I never forget my PH password.

Shame. We'd have been saved from this thread.

[V6]

ipitythefool said:

I ask them how on earth am I supposed to remeber which of my passwords I used to open this application with

To be fair if you asked that I would think you were an idiot. You are supposed to remember your password because YOU chose it..

[Goughie]

ipitythefool said:

V8mate said:

So it's their fault you can't remember a security word you associated with an account just a week ago?

I have a password for Amex, a different one for my M/C, a different one for Barclays Premier, a different one for HSBC Premier, a different one for HSBC investdirect, a different one for my Priority Club account, a different one for my HiltonHHonors account, a different one for my Starwood account, a different one for my BA Exec account, a different one for my IF account, a different one for hotmail, a different one for PH, a different one for Yahoo and so on.
Occasionally I will forget a password and I accept it's my fault for that.

However to have a 'security' jobsworth tell me I should have written it down is beyond belief!

Worst "I've got more plastic than you" thread ever...

[swamp]

The advice I've heard is you should have three passwords, one for each category of use:

One for 'normal' websites like PistonHeads -- sites you just want to identify yourself.
One good password for financial websites, banks, eBay -- anything with money involved.
One (very) good password for your webmail.

Change your passwords from time to time, and update them if and when you find they are out of date.

[AlexanderV8]

PM me your passwords and I'll let you know which one was the one you used by return mail.

[King Herald]

ipitythefool said:

So I received a new card through the post recently after having applied online last week, and on phoning to activate it I am asked a series of questions.

They then ask me what the first and last digits or letters on my password are. Like I am supposed to fking remember that. It could be one of about 5 or 6 passwords or passcodes I use for banking and so on. When I ask for a bit more info like how many letters or numbers are in the password I am told that is a security risk for them to tell me.
I ask them how on earth am I supposed to remeber which of my passwords I used to open this application with- the naswer - oh you'll love this: "Perhaps you could have written it down sir." You couldn't make it up.

I have about twenty passwords, codes, log-ins etc. No two establishments seem to use the same system, no you need a whole variety. I keep them in a passworded file for safety, labelled as something innocuous.

[TheEnd]

i've had the same problem with natwest, asking me for my online password. because they set the rules, (min number of letter, plus numbers) i had no idea what it was.
I asked them how i could reset it, and they said sure....

with your password....


anyway, a week later i get a letter saying someone tried my account, and they were changing my password (that person being me) and i had to fill in a form otherwise they'd shut off that internet./ phone banking

i just let them, in my case it was due to a transaction not going through (turns out it was the batteries in a wifi card machine) but i'd prefer the usual pop quiz on direct debits, recent transactions etc.

[Dargie]

To be fair to the OP credit card companys and banks are alot more annoying with security just now. I work in a furniture store and we take large payments by card, over 10k on switch isn't unusual. Now and again you would get a security check, but now anything over 2k is getting checked! It's almost like they don't want you spending your own money! The funny thing is, chip and pin was meant to eliminate this sort of thing not make it worse! To keep this on topic, alot of people can't remember their passcodes when doing security checks, so you are not alone OP.