OK this is a rant -- stop if you don't care.
I'm buying something important from a company that I haven't dealt with before. But I know their reputation and I signed with them. I told them that I would pay via my bank's bill pay because then I have much better records. That was all fine.

But the bank was not fine. I added the company name to my list and tried to pay them. I got a security popup requiring extra validation. It only offered one choice -- respond to a text message with the code that they would send. Not fine because the only number that they have is my landline. Of course it didn't work. I added my cell phone and noted that it could accept texts, but they noted that it would take a day or so for that to be registered.

That was Strike one. I wrote to CS and complained about their moronic validation. I noted that the phone number that they had was shown as unable to receive texts. I suggested that maybe they should work on their system of validation.

Strike 2: CS wrote back instructing me on the correct method of adding payees ! Really, I have been doing this for years -- I had no trouble adding a payee. I replied with some frosty but not rude comments and explained that it was on them -- not me. I repeated the details about what I had done and how they dropped the ball. We will see how this goes.

-- end of rant--

hj

 

me thinks it is time to switch to a bank that cares about it's customers.
i did just that last year. the fact i had multiple accounts with the old bank for 45 meant nothing to them.
the new bank is closer to me, has better hours, and appreciated my business. they even offered a better interest rate.

 

I know it can be frustrating, but look at it from another angle. Someone gains access to your bank account, switches the phone number from your to theirs. Enters the payee information, gets the validation text, okays it, switches the phone number back to yours and sends out a check, bam, your account is empty and you blame the bank for their lack of security and validations.

 

OK this just gets better. The bank gave me a number to call to get my mobile number added -- apparently just including it in my contact info is not enough ( who are these people?)

I called and was given 2 options1) something that would require a week to complete and 2) go to an ATM and set it up. At that point I said good bye. I will probably go to an ATM, but I have left every complaint that I could.

For alloro -- I have no issue with security, but this was just stupid. If they want to make a policy like this, they need to warn people and make it reasonable to sign up.

hj

 

Seems this is the way EVERYTHING is these days. These systems are supposed to make things quicker & easier. It sure doesn't work that way. What ever happened to a simple phone call and talk to a human??

 

When you do finally get a human it's "Bob" on the other end that can barely speak English.

 

Over time especially since the internet and "text messaging" via "smart phones" has become so prevalent I've learned to navigate around so much of the BS that comes with simple transactions. I'm still paying a lot of bills with a hand written check. I must love getting those constant "reminders" I can sign up for their automatic payments etc--saves me a stamp yada yada yada.

IF its truly convenient for me to pay via a credit/debit card I have two that are per-loaded by me, almost never more than $100 in each. When there's a pending charge I'll add the necessary funds to cover those costs. If those are hacked my main accounts aren't affected, the ATM/debit card for that account NEVER used for online purchases.

Unfortunately as we're seeing in Texas those with automatic payments to the electrical utilities have had their accounts drained due to massive charges relating to the power outages they're dealing with currently. Sure they'll receive refunds but when and do they have sufficient funds set aside to get by until then?

Like has already been suggested maybe find a bank NOT so caught up in its own foolish "security" checks where you're put to unnecessary hassles.