Blog

Data Security Insecurity & Obscurity

Something interesting to speak of this week. No doubt everyone will be aware of the various security/data leaks we've had here these past months, with CDs, laptops and letters all going astray. Because of all of this, where my bank would usually send me the new card once the old one expires (at least they have in the past) I now have to pick up my card from the branch I opened the account at.

This might be fine for most people, but having gone to university, I've moved a couple of times, and am no longer near that branch.

Things get a little more difficult when you consider the fact that I didn't get the letter until the card actually expired, and to be honest, who keeps track of when the card is about to expire? I know I don't. So, there I am at home on a Saturday, my local branch is closed, so I try to phone the original branch holding my card. I don't know the number, but the bank website has a store locater on, the obvious place to look surely? No, wait, according to their own site, the branch holding my card doesn't exist. Of course I'm not worried, as I did visit it only a month before.

So, a call to the main number and several attempts at navigating their phone system, "press 3 if you want to rip off your ears and avoid this menu", I try arranging a pickup the same day, but the main call centre can't even get hold of this missing branch. When I finally do arrange to get the card transferred to another branch, I'm told it will be 3-5 days, nay 3-5 working days. So, in that time, what am I meant to do for money? Turns out, just use my cheque book. So, in the end I have to resort to a particularly unsafe method of getting to my money, just because they are trying a new security method that went completely wrong. Does that seem silly to anyone else?!