Comments on: Bank of Montreal, I hate your security http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/ A miscellany of know-it-all-isms by Geoff Sowrey Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:56:22 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Geoff http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/comment-page-1/#comment-7412 Geoff Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:11:20 +0000 http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/14/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/#comment-7412 Sly point, Gasolene. I would prefer not to label myself as either "ignorant" or "irresponsible", as I'm usually very careful about access to my accounts. Instead, I would prefer that BMO consider other alternatives for identifying a specific person, especially when there is no possibility of them going into a specific branch to identify themselves. Sly point, Gasolene. I would prefer not to label myself as either “ignorant” or “irresponsible”, as I’m usually very careful about access to my accounts. Instead, I would prefer that BMO consider other alternatives for identifying a specific person, especially when there is no possibility of them going into a specific branch to identify themselves.

]]> By: Gasolene http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/comment-page-1/#comment-7346 Gasolene Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:07:57 +0000 http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/14/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/#comment-7346 Wow... I agree with you, BMO should compromise the security of other customers to avoid inconveniencing ignorant and irresponsible customers. You don't know (or even want to know) your mortgage payment? Wow…

I agree with you, BMO should compromise the security of other customers to avoid inconveniencing ignorant and irresponsible customers.

You don’t know (or even want to know) your mortgage payment?

]]> By: Geoff http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/comment-page-1/#comment-6916 Geoff Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:34:21 +0000 http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/14/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/#comment-6916 Hey Screwed, My sympathies, man. Yours definitely outdoes mine. That's a rather crappy situation, and unless you have someone on the other end who can help you out, I'm not sure what else you could do. I take it BMO's <sarcasm>ever so helpful</sarcasm> Direct Banking is of no help, eh? Hey Screwed,

My sympathies, man. Yours definitely outdoes mine. That’s a rather crappy situation, and unless you have someone on the other end who can help you out, I’m not sure what else you could do. I take it BMO’s <sarcasm>ever so helpful</sarcasm> Direct Banking is of no help, eh?

]]> By: Screwed in China http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/comment-page-1/#comment-6904 Screwed in China Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:37:18 +0000 http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/14/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/#comment-6904 Well, I think my story takes the cake. Try going travelling abroad to a far-away place, like....China, and having BMO cancel your bank card without telling you. They explained it's because they've been sending out new "chipped" bank cards which I have not activated yet. Well, they deem it necessary to cancel my current bank card when I haven't activated my new one. That is one policy which really is a work of genius. Meanwhile, I'm stuck in a foreign land with no access to my account. When I finally got them on the phone and had my account re-opened (which only lasts for 30 days until I activate my new card, another brilliant policy), my fucking pin doesn't work! I tried it too many times so that my account gets locked up again. So, back on the phone for long distance. Long story short, and two more phone calls later, they can't give me any better advice than to try my original pin code. The agent, who was really at a loss when I asked her what else I could do because I'm fucking without money abroad, told me to try and set a pin for my credit card, a pin which cannot be given to me over the phone and must be mailed to my address in Canada whereupon I must call a family member to find out what it is. To top it off, they have a branch where I am in Guangzhou and they told me that they do not dispense cash to account holders! Totally, fucking useless. Talk about a catastrophic failure at making use of technology. In retrospect, I cannot fathom how I could have prevented this. Well, I think my story takes the cake. Try going travelling abroad to a far-away place, like….China, and having BMO cancel your bank card without telling you. They explained it’s because they’ve been sending out new “chipped” bank cards which I have not activated yet. Well, they deem it necessary to cancel my current bank card when I haven’t activated my new one. That is one policy which really is a work of genius. Meanwhile, I’m stuck in a foreign land with no access to my account. When I finally got them on the phone and had my account re-opened (which only lasts for 30 days until I activate my new card, another brilliant policy), my fucking pin doesn’t work! I tried it too many times so that my account gets locked up again. So, back on the phone for long distance. Long story short, and two more phone calls later, they can’t give me any better advice than to try my original pin code. The agent, who was really at a loss when I asked her what else I could do because I’m fucking without money abroad, told me to try and set a pin for my credit card, a pin which cannot be given to me over the phone and must be mailed to my address in Canada whereupon I must call a family member to find out what it is.
To top it off, they have a branch where I am in Guangzhou and they told me that they do not dispense cash to account holders!
Totally, fucking useless. Talk about a catastrophic failure at making use of technology. In retrospect, I cannot fathom how I could have prevented this.

]]> By: Do you put too much faith in technology? at Experience Matters http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/comment-page-1/#comment-4574 Do you put too much faith in technology? at Experience Matters Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:00:41 +0000 http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/14/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/#comment-4574 [...] in my personal sphere. At the time, I passed them off as mere inconveniences — although I ranted quite loudly (warning, objectionable language) on one of them. But it was only when I stopped and took a step [...] [...] in my personal sphere. At the time, I passed them off as mere inconveniences — although I ranted quite loudly (warning, objectionable language) on one of them. But it was only when I stopped and took a step [...]

]]> By: Geoff http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/comment-page-1/#comment-3640 Geoff Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:29:28 +0000 http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/14/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/#comment-3640 RBS has a branch in the USA? Weird... never thought that would extend out of, y'know, SCOTLAND. Is there money in the ATM on the closed lane? Just wondering if they decided that maybe the cost of running the ATM wasn't worth having it, and shut it down as a test. If there's money still in the thing, though, really begins to make you wonder... I'm also wondering what a "cash option" is. You received a cheque -- something used to represent cash -- to take to a bank, and they can't turn it into cash? There are some really bizarre arcane rules in banks that just make me wonder sometimes. RBS has a branch in the USA? Weird… never thought that would extend out of, y’know, SCOTLAND.

Is there money in the ATM on the closed lane? Just wondering if they decided that maybe the cost of running the ATM wasn’t worth having it, and shut it down as a test. If there’s money still in the thing, though, really begins to make you wonder…

I’m also wondering what a “cash option” is. You received a cheque — something used to represent cash — to take to a bank, and they can’t turn it into cash? There are some really bizarre arcane rules in banks that just make me wonder sometimes.

]]> By: Karen http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/comment-page-1/#comment-3629 Karen Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:55:56 +0000 http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/14/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/#comment-3629 You should be doing business with the Royal Bank of Scotland (AKA Citizen's Bank here in the States...... our local branch ATM's first screen is in Spanish..... EXCUSE ME.... this is English country or used to be. Did I happen to mention that the lane approaching the ATM has had a "CLOSED" amber light glowing for the last 3 months???? ATM works fine. Today was a new experience..... received a check from a large health care provider drawn on JP Morgan Chase..... went to a branch of that bank, provided endorsed check and ID and was told that they could not cash check because health care company had not signed a "cash" option. Isn't it fun in the 21st century???!!***...... am glad to see that you young people are frustrated as well as we seniors!! You should be doing business with the Royal Bank of Scotland (AKA Citizen’s Bank here in the States…… our local branch ATM’s first screen is in Spanish….. EXCUSE ME…. this is English country or used to be. Did I happen to mention that the lane approaching the ATM has had a “CLOSED” amber light glowing for the last 3 months???? ATM works fine. Today was a new experience….. received a check from a large health care provider drawn on JP Morgan Chase….. went to a branch of that bank, provided endorsed check and ID and was told that they could not cash check because health care company had not signed a “cash” option. Isn’t it fun in the 21st century???!!***…… am glad to see that you young people are frustrated as well as we seniors!!

]]> By: Cath http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/comment-page-1/#comment-3625 Cath Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:54:20 +0000 http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/14/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/#comment-3625 Certainly hope you've changed your PIN now! Certainly hope you’ve changed your PIN now!

]]> By: Scott http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/comment-page-1/#comment-3624 Scott Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:31:57 +0000 http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/14/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/#comment-3624 I hear they are shortening their name to BM. Sorry for the potty humour, I couldn't resist. I hear they are shortening their name to BM. Sorry for the potty humour, I couldn’t resist.

]]> By: Linda http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/comment-page-1/#comment-3622 Linda Thu, 15 Nov 2007 03:01:10 +0000 http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/14/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/#comment-3622 When I was in Calgary last week I read in the paper where BMO was opening on Sundays in Calgary - that is more than it does down here!! When I was in Calgary last week I read in the paper where BMO was opening on Sundays in Calgary – that is more than it does down here!!

]]> By: Geoff http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/comment-page-1/#comment-3621 Geoff Thu, 15 Nov 2007 02:02:42 +0000 http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/14/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/#comment-3621 Okay, just got back from another BMO branch, having chatted with Jason — the same wonderfully helpful person who helped us buy our house. He alluded to the fact that the Bank of Montreal has had a lot of fraud problems lately, so this is their response. To treat customers like thieves, and force them into the branches. (It happened to Jason, as well, for the record.) Anyway, got my account unlocked, but was chewed out (!) by the clerk on the phone as I’d given Jason my pin so he could access my account. HE WORKS FOR THE FREAKING BANK, YOU MORON. I hate stupid people. Okay, just got back from another BMO branch, having chatted with Jason — the same wonderfully helpful person who helped us buy our house. He alluded to the fact that the Bank of Montreal has had a lot of fraud problems lately, so this is their response.

To treat customers like thieves, and force them into the branches. (It happened to Jason, as well, for the record.)

Anyway, got my account unlocked, but was chewed out (!) by the clerk on the phone as I’d given Jason my pin so he could access my account. HE WORKS FOR THE FREAKING BANK, YOU MORON.

I hate stupid people.

]]> By: Geoff http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/comment-page-1/#comment-3619 Geoff Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:47:32 +0000 http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/14/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/#comment-3619 So I just went to the BMO nearest to my office. One I was assured would be open. Got there at 5:30. The sign on the door read: Closed 5 to 6. Sorry for the inconvenience. Argh. So I just went to the BMO nearest to my office. One I was assured would be open. Got there at 5:30. The sign on the door read:

Closed 5 to 6. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Argh.

]]> By: Geoff http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/comment-page-1/#comment-3618 Geoff Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:23:21 +0000 http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/14/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/#comment-3618 Augh... in all my anger, I forgot to mention the rest. I now need to physically walk to a BMO branch (one that doesn't close at 5pm -- not easy to come by, I'll add!) and have them personally identify me as me, so I can get access to my account again. Augh… in all my anger, I forgot to mention the rest.

I now need to physically walk to a BMO branch (one that doesn’t close at 5pm — not easy to come by, I’ll add!) and have them personally identify me as me, so I can get access to my account again.

]]> By: Cath http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/comment-page-1/#comment-3617 Cath Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:59:21 +0000 http://www.sowrey.org/2007/11/14/bank-of-montreal-i-hate-your-security/#comment-3617 So I'm interested in the end result? Or did you hang up? So I’m interested in the end result? Or did you hang up?

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