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

[SapphireSeptember]

Just tried to log into my NHS account to make an appointment for DS. Need photo ID and a recording of my face or a load of details about my GP. The last time I logged on I didn't need any of this nonsense. They've got my details! My photo ID is a passport from 2016, the last time I used it for ID I got funny looks because I've aged a bit since then, so it probably won't match anyway. If I phone up I'll get told to do it online.

Tried to log into O2 the other week and it took forever because I needed to re- register now they've taken over Virgin Media. Took about ten minutes to get through to top up my phone whereas before it took about two.

Everything needs multiple steps these days and it drives me up the wall. Yahoo! is still easy to sign into though!

Authenticator wants me to use Authenticator to authorise my login. This is clearly impossible and I'm stuck in a never ending loop of frustration.

Seriously, you've got an app doing that?

there's a consumer campaign in all this.

Sadly yes. Microsoft Authenticator 🙈

I have an app for all my logins. 2FA drives me nuts though, I live in a mobile deadspot so having a code texted to my phone means I have to leave the house until I find a signal. Often by the time I receive the code and get back to the WiFi, the code has expired.

I did some cyber security training yesterday where one of the key points was if security measures are too onerous for staff then they’re useless, because people will find workarounds or stop using the thing altogether. Apparently this doesn’t apply to customers though…

It’s even bad on sites where security isn’t an issue. I just wanted to read an article linked to on Facebook - a mainstream article on a bona fide website. Well, it’s basically unreadable, with the pop ups, reloading, then I tried to open it in my browser, which just took ages, tried it on Reader view and it went blank…argh! And I’m good and confident with tech.

Yes @Sadworld23 @Daisymay8 it’s because eBay have to report sales to HMRC once a seller has hit certain thresholds. This is to enable HMRC to follow up to ensure the right amount of tax has been paid on those sales. It’s a new reporting requirement only - the amount of tax due is the same as before (but the new reporting requirement makes it easier for HMRC to crack down on those not properly declaring their income).

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/account/regulatory/sales-reporting/uk-digital-sales-reporting?id=5454#:~:text=As%20a%20UK%20resident%2C%20when,will%20be%20provided%20to%20you.

I feel as though we are backing ourselves into a corner as human beings.
'Your password is weak' oh do fuck off computer! Makes me crazy!

Oh lordy

wonder how you get round that

my neighbour got a parking ticket after selecting the wrong car park on the app

the next one on the drop down menu is the adjacent car park with the same road name

There really is a campaign in all this. Any ideas how to coordinate this? It should really be done by some sort of consumer watchdog.

Another thing I hate is QR codes everywhere that you have to scan, especially when they are on cafe or restaurant tables. Call me old fashioned, but if I go to a cafe or restaurant I want to see a menu and for an actual human being to take my order. Why? Because I’m also a human being and quite like exchanging a few pleasant words with other people. Whenever I see a cafe that has QR codes on the tables, I just walk on by, so they don’t get my trade.

I’m pretty tech-literate and I like a lot of it, but when the tech actually makes simple things far more complicated, I get angry. It’s just alienating.

@BaskervilleOldFaceccompletely agree. I hate qr codes - especially in cafes. Awful.

Or when you receive a QR code via email or WhatsApp to your actual phone that you need to scan the damn thing. Who on earth thought that was a sensible idea?!

I haven't had this experience yet

Who is doing that? I've only seen user-friendly QR codes

I would also avoid restaurants and cafés with QR codes, but my best friend likes them. She actually used to head for them on purpose sometimes but she got disillusioned because she realised you can't ask for any tweaks. Also, she says the menu often isn't the full menu?

she is turning into someone who doesn't want to talk to anyone else. She also really likes self checkout at the supermarket. I only use it if it's the only option (which it is in my nearest supermarket).

I was about to post that yesterday my poor 80+ neighbour was literally sobbing to me as she indeed feels digitally excluded and just can't cope with modern life anymore. As a 50 something I sympathised that I can barely cope either and expect to drown very soon. It's getting ridiculous, stressful and unmanageable 😔

Yep. Hate QR codes & struggle to scan them (probably need to change my phone as it's getting old but don't want to). I actually didn't donate to something recently because QR was the only way of doing so.

I live in a signal deadspot too, we don't get any signal whatsoever (and don't live particularly rurally either). Set your phone to WiFi calling and text messages will come through. It a huge drain on your mobile battery though

I've been using Edinburgh buses since childhood but recently I've found the ticketing process to be overwhelming with all the log-ins, installs, trackers, sites and apps. Too many options and rates and variables that are all time consuming to set-up and a nightmare if your phone malfunctions at the bus stop.

I remember the good old days where I simply put the coins in the slot and got on with my life.

@fromthechandelier Not all phones have that option, my phone being one that doesn't. 🙄

I’m guessing it’s so you can pay tax on what you earn.

Yup, more and more things are like this.

I work in a library, and I have a lot of people come in to use the public computers to do their personal admin. Some are homeless, lots are poor, or old, or both, quite a few are mentally ill or have some kind of intellectual impairment.

They struggle so, so much with this stuff. The ones without cell phones are now largely unable to access some services, like banking, at all. Those with some kind of cognitive issues are the worst off, be it from drugs, injury, or anything else, they are just massively frustrated, as soon as they learn a new protocol, it changes again.

I do wonder where the line will be for the general population, where the burden of the security measures outweigh the benefits of doing things online.

I do understand why the multi step verification is necessary sadly, for protection from the hackers, but my god it's so frustrating, especially when it keeps changing & gets more & more complicated each time.

What is more frustrating is that it's becoming impossible to do anything without downloading an app, a QR code or a portal and dealing with an actual human being is becoming a rarity due to AI. I feel everything is moving too fast and many of these systems have been inflicted on us still full of glitches & teething problems, making them less efficient than the manual systems they were designed to replace.This is aside from the constant changes & "upgrades" to systems that were working well. It's of course all down to making money, not for our convenience.

Like another poster, I'm almost missing the old days when you could pay a bill by writing a cheque & popping it in the post! So simple!

QR codes in public spaces like the payment instructions for a car park are dangerous. All it takes is someone to stick a modified one over the top and you could be redirected to a fake site.

Elderly and vulnerable are already well on the way to being pushed out of using essential services, like banking

And people seem to forget that if you were working and accustomed to using computers, etc, there are many health problems that are more likely to come in at old age than earlier, which will knock out your ability to confidently use these things.

I do really want a campaign about this, but I have no idea where to start, honestly I'd welcome suggestions

I won't bother you with the whole story, but recently my mum had issues with in person banking - I know we're lucky that she still has a bank to go to - and I think we may be at the point where I have to take it over for her entirely. Which I would say is really dangerous. And then we'll get into that territory where no one understands how power of attorney works

I realised from that incident that a lot of people are probably just creating a login for elderly parents ... and just operating it pretending to be them rather than going through any other hassle.

We eventually got the job done in the bank. But it took them an hour and I think the reason Mum was originally "encouraged" to go away was that they simply didn't want to do the task. She was also given wrong information about what she needed in order to get it done.

literally all done on purpose to spare a bank dealing with an actual human customer.

also, is everyone having to do biometrics for banking apps? Including passport scans and video clips? I'm guessing there isn't a bank left who won't make you do this.

Fair enough, was just trying to be helpful as it's not something everyone knows. It's worth investing in a cheap but newer phone that allows WiFi calling. Improvements to phone signal dead spots doesn't seem to be a priority for anyone in the meantime.

I thought they were set up so that you could just use a contactless card? Like getting on any bus basically. Have they changed it again?