Why are things so hard to log into these days? Just

That is appalling. What are people supposed to do?

Authenticator apps work even if you are out of mobile reception (remember not everywhere is the UK).

Also SMS 2FA is fatally compromised.

Well those receptionists will soon be out of a job soon in that case!

I know, my own surgery has a link on their website to book but hers doesn't and their receptionists are like rottweilers!

That is awful - there should be different ways of booking appointments, so people have the option of phoning up if they prefer it

It's a nightmare. I can't get an appointment for my mum at the moment as she doesn't have internet or a smart phone and the surgery have refused point blank to let her make an appointment on the phone or even in person.

For the GP I would rather have an app/website to make an appointment than have to phone up (if it worked properly of course!)

Phoning means waiting in a queue. And means you have to do it between 9-5 too, which might not be when you have time free to call if you’re working. Or you might be juggling noisy small kids who don’t have any sympathy that you’re trying to hold a phone.

One of my team members used to build websites in his previous job - he mentioned the other day that websites were "passe" and for most businesses not that important anymore.

Which fits with what I had noticed myself - a lot fewer businesses with websites, and those that have them seem in many cases to have less on them. My kids (teenagers)don't seem particularly good at navigating them either because they don't do it much.

I don't know what it all means but it does seem to be a trend.

If you have issues with the nhs app you obtain log in details from your GP surgery. I give these out all the time to our patients.

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@Capillaryaction thank you for that info

I think the last time I tried to use patient access, it asked me to use an authenticator app.

I still don't know what goes on at my doctor surgery, but I am going to go and inquire. It's on my list of things to do. I should've done it ages ago really. I tend to just hope that if I need an appointment, I'll be able to phone up! But I should really get that sorted.

I've never used an app for anywhere that I might buy stuff from even if they are offering a discount. I don't really have to use sandwich shops or anything like that. I fully appreciate that if you are in that position, you want that app to work and you want to use all the app offers. So it's interesting to hear that those don't work either.

I used to mostly shop at Aldi. I really welcome anywhere that doesn't have this crap.

My 86 year old mum manages to use the NHS app. But 2FA confuses her utterly, and so when it occasionally logs her out and asks her to do it, she has to wait until I am there so I can help her. It's ridiculous. Even if you ask it to remember the device.

The issue now is that she needs a new phone so we will probably have to wrestle with the whole photo/uploading ID thing for that and her banking app. The other thing she doesn't like is bank transfers, she still prefers cheques. Some tradesmen bless them will take a cheque.

And why don't they also give you the web address so you can type it?

One of the websites I very occasionally use has decided that I can no longer use 2FA and have to use an authenticator app. I am NOT downloading any other apps. Fortunately because it's a work thing I can use the app I occasionally have to authenticate myself at work.

Yes, why do we need apps when a website will do? Are websites getting too expensive to maintain? 02 has recently done away with its Rewards website.

Might be worth having a quiet word with your dad to say that this incident shows that if something happens to him, your mum will be pretty vulnerable. He might rethink how they approach some things.

I think we could, and in fact that businesses do. And people do as well, and at a certain point, it will not pencil out.

There is a simple way to opt out of face scanning in the NHS app.

It's on the first screen, there's some kind of icon/settings button that if you click has an option to 'disable face Id' or 'use password to log in', can't remember the exact phrase.
I used it when I first downloaded it and have never been asked for it again.

I keep thinking that I would like to ditch mine as well.

There should be some kind of movement. Like a union of non-phone users. Demanding their rights.

I do wonder if conventional, in person, paper based services could now be a selling point.

Tell me about it. I've just spent the best part of half an hour trying to log in to my Subway app. I was sent an email with a 30% off offer and as I was going to be near one of their branches today, thought I'd make use of it. But oh no,the app wasn't having any of that nonsense. I'd forgotten my password so entered my email for them to send me a link to reset it. Email arrived,but nowhere on it to reset my password,just a 6 digit code number. Went back to the app,but nowhere to enter this code number. After 3 attempts,I gave up. It infuriates me when I get sent these money off offers but I can't use them because the poxy bastarding app won't cooperate. A similar thing happened with the Gregg's app a couple of weeks ago. I was sent an email for a free sweet treat for my birthday,it said go to the app. I went to the app. Nothing there!

This has made me laugh a lot as I have definitely used Fuckyou symbol number before as a password when I’m really pissed off with a sign up process.

There isn't.

Our GP uses a service delivered by "app" called Livi that can't be used on an iPad pro - which is a friends lifeline for accessibility.

After a few to-ing and fro-ing I had an email saying they were well aware of this limitation (i.e. shit design) however they couldn't afford to fix it (i.e the offshore team they used had upped their rates) and could my friend try and lie on her side when using it.

Needless to say I was unimpressed.

That's literally what we are complaining about. What's the point of all this, other than to make money for tech companies?

Yes. So why have an app? For fun?

That's when fat fingered officials aren't mass mailing everyones details to all and sundry every five minutes. Or leaving them on trains.

My bugbear is the plethora of systems needed within the NHS (each one being a potential point of failure, so multiplying your chances of being exposed) plus the rather shit dodgy apps they use that don't respect accessibility setting and insist on revalidating 2FA every login.

@YorkshireGoldDrinker if you're not using the app, you'd phone first, surely?

I don't think so, no. Because even if you refuse to use the NHS app for example, you'd then have to go to the healthcentre and book an appointment, the receptionist will then say you have to call them up anyway. It's a tough game, sadly.