A new bank account, a new security system to learn on top of everything else that goes for me in the cyber world. Using the magic of the internet I tried to transfer money from one account to another. The new account came with instructions to change the passwords (not only one) which I did, but forgot those.
So it was time to phone the bank and ask for forgiveness. I confessed my sin (sorry I forgot my passwords), and then I was given the opportunity to redeem myself by revealing many more details about my identity. Ok, this time I remembered details quickly, and I was sent letters with new security details which I have learned now by heart, I promise not to do it again (I mean forgive such vital information).
But then when trying to transfer money to this new account from my old bank account, disaster happened again. The amount to be transferred looked suspicious for the system, it had to be referred for later approval. I tried a different route by transferring smaller amounts, and this is when my online access was blocked.
Another phone call to make (not that they are cheap!). And more questions about my identity. Telephone security number? I had forgotten all about it. I had to go then through about 20 more minutes of questions and calls transfers, plan B of security check it seemed. Some of the questions were the same as at the beginning of the call, only they were asked by different people, all of them wanted to follow the protocol, to make sure I am who I say I am. I finally passed the test. Explained (again!) what had happened and then I was forgiven for the second time in a single day by those who protect my identity.
The whole thing has made me think about our security systems and how as they become more sophisticated they also become more demanding of our memory and of what we may have said or done. So I will have to have my own security information stored somewhere else than my memory (not that I am getting too old) and remember specific details for specific accounts. As if they were members of my family or my close friends group whose birthdays, jobs, family details, pregnancies and bereavements among other things I must remember.
There is a third bank account which operates differently from the other two...but let us leave that for another post.
