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Original poster

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

158 replies

SapphireSeptember · 16/10/2025 13:13

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!

OP posts:
TempestTost · 23/10/2025 01:15

dynamiccactus · 22/10/2025 17:57

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.

Show quote history

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.

Catsandcwtches · 23/10/2025 01:31

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.

DiscoBeat · 23/10/2025 01:39

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.

Catsandcwtches · 23/10/2025 08:22

DiscoBeat · 23/10/2025 01:39

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.

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

DiscoBeat · 23/10/2025 12:45

Catsandcwtches · 23/10/2025 08:22

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

Show quote history

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

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 23/10/2025 13:09

DiscoBeat · 23/10/2025 12:45

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

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

SerendipityJane · 23/10/2025 15:01

dynamiccactus · 22/10/2025 17:57

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.

Show quote history

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

Also SMS 2FA is fatally compromised.

EmeraldRoulette · 23/10/2025 17:34

DiscoBeat · 23/10/2025 01:39

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.

That is appalling. What are people supposed to do?

dynamiccactus · 24/10/2025 15:43

SerendipityJane · 23/10/2025 15:01

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

Also SMS 2FA is fatally compromised.

Show quote history

Well this particular website is a UK one and doesn't have anything particularly confidential on it. It's not like the NHS or a bank.

I didn't know that about SMS 2FA but if that's the case why has my bank got rid of allowing people to use email instead of SMS? I do wonder how people get into their bank accounts when they lose their phones. My son got a new phone recently and I think he has left his banking app on the old one which is probably a good move.

dynamiccactus · 24/10/2025 15:45

EmeraldRoulette · 23/10/2025 17:34

That is appalling. What are people supposed to do?

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They can't do that - they have to make reasonable adjustments and the Care Quality Commission has made very clear that they are service providers under the Equality Act.

My mum has had this but once she said that to them they magically found a way to make an appointment at the counter.

dynamiccactus · 24/10/2025 15:47

TempestTost · 23/10/2025 01:15

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.

Show quote history

But apps are on a tiny screen and it's much easier to use a laptop (and type on a proper keyboard).

A few months ago I attended a session about consumer law and consumer detriment and they said one of the reasons people buy things they don't need, or the wrong thing, is because they are trying to do it on a small screen. I guess it's another "dark pattern" businesses use!

SerendipityJane · 24/10/2025 16:36

dynamiccactus · 24/10/2025 15:45

They can't do that - they have to make reasonable adjustments and the Care Quality Commission has made very clear that they are service providers under the Equality Act.

My mum has had this but once she said that to them they magically found a way to make an appointment at the counter.

Show quote history

That's nice dear.

Now you enforce it.

DoraSpenlow · 24/10/2025 17:12

Got stuck behind someone in a coffee shop this morning. He was trying to unlock his phone with facial recognition. It didn't recognise him. Eventually got it unlocked and then because the signal was poor was wandering around trying to get his card details up, muttering that it usually works. All the while the queue was building up. FGS have a fiver in your pocket to pay for your coffee and not hold everyone else up. His coffee must have been nearly cold by the time he got to drink it!

GrrrrrrrBrrrrrrr · 24/10/2025 17:34

My Mum lives alone, is 87 and has poor vision and poor hearing. We deal with things by making it that I, mostly, deal with everything for her. I have all her passwords and we have registered with companies that I can act for her. I also have LPA. She’s not stupid and she is willing to learn but 2FA is a step too far. She orders her own Waitrose shops and can manage to order from Amazon but everything is so tricky for her because of her poor sight.

Onthemoooove · 25/10/2025 10:27

DoraSpenlow · 24/10/2025 17:12

Got stuck behind someone in a coffee shop this morning. He was trying to unlock his phone with facial recognition. It didn't recognise him. Eventually got it unlocked and then because the signal was poor was wandering around trying to get his card details up, muttering that it usually works. All the while the queue was building up. FGS have a fiver in your pocket to pay for your coffee and not hold everyone else up. His coffee must have been nearly cold by the time he got to drink it!

I feel like a dinosaur as I still tap my card, rather than having it on my phone, as I'm scared of this exact scenario. I also print off tickets for the same reason!

Onthemoooove · 25/10/2025 10:30

I've just seen that our local council are running free sessions to help adults become more tech savvy, with a separate session on how to use the NHS app!

stayathomegardener · 25/10/2025 10:34

Surely it’s training us to meekly comply with digital ID.

SerendipityJane · 25/10/2025 16:13

DoraSpenlow · 24/10/2025 17:12

Got stuck behind someone in a coffee shop this morning. He was trying to unlock his phone with facial recognition. It didn't recognise him. Eventually got it unlocked and then because the signal was poor was wandering around trying to get his card details up, muttering that it usually works. All the while the queue was building up. FGS have a fiver in your pocket to pay for your coffee and not hold everyone else up. His coffee must have been nearly cold by the time he got to drink it!

Odd.

Even my 7 year old Samsung has NFC which allows Google pay to work offline.

SerendipityJane · 25/10/2025 16:16

Onthemoooove · 25/10/2025 10:27

I feel like a dinosaur as I still tap my card, rather than having it on my phone, as I'm scared of this exact scenario. I also print off tickets for the same reason!

Show quote history

If you are using the NFC feature on your phone, you don't need connectivity. Your phone is basically a copy of your card.

You may need connectivity to receive a 2FA code by push notification from your provider - but then that can use wifi and doesn't need the cellular network (which SMS would need).

blackheartsgirl · 25/10/2025 17:03

I’ve considered leaving my college course due to how difficult logging in is now.

Theyve now put on 2 step verification before we can access our online learning (fair enough) but as my course is in a village miles away from the main campus there’s no signal (text is sent to phone) so yep can’t complete the log in.

my tutor is as frustrated as we are. Two of us sat twiddling our thumbs the entire lesson as the tutor desperately tried to work out what to do.

the main campus has very little signal either so loads of students are stuffed

EmeraldRoulette · 25/10/2025 17:08

@blackheartsgirl I hope you can complete your course somehow

Please keep us posted

They must be able to do something for a course. It's not confidential information.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 25/10/2025 17:09

I work for a supermarket and recently had to load an app just to be able to see my shifts! The app now doesn't work because it wants me to use a verification app just so I can use the first app - but I don't want to load the verification app and tried to ask it to use two-step verification instead (using PINs rather than another app). First app literally cannot understand this and therefore now won't let me use it at all.

So I go to work and write my forthcoming rota down on a bit of paper. Like the old days. I really can't understand why security has to be so high when it is ONLY MY SHIFTS that can be accessed and I doubt very much that this is a high security matter, unless someone wants to lie in wait for me...

AyrshireTryer · 25/10/2025 17:11

After an hour on the phone today I may or may not have added another person to my Nectar account.

SerendipityJane · 25/10/2025 17:16

blackheartsgirl · 25/10/2025 17:03

I’ve considered leaving my college course due to how difficult logging in is now.

Theyve now put on 2 step verification before we can access our online learning (fair enough) but as my course is in a village miles away from the main campus there’s no signal (text is sent to phone) so yep can’t complete the log in.

my tutor is as frustrated as we are. Two of us sat twiddling our thumbs the entire lesson as the tutor desperately tried to work out what to do.

the main campus has very little signal either so loads of students are stuffed

Authenticator apps (that don't need signal) have been around for at least 15 years.

You may want to check this outfit are as up to date as they claim.