For the love of christ....

[Dreamstalker]

Actually for security using something else memorable as her maiden name isn't a bad idea.For a scammer, finding out her maiden name is easy enough.Figuring out her favourite literary character's surname that you gave as her maiden name.That's a challenge...Just as long as you remember it too

I do something similar; an answer that's technically correct, yet highly unlikely to be social engineered or guessed. One bank that I was doing this with (my mom never changed her name, so I went back a generation and fudged the spelling) wound up "updating" it to the correct answer when they updated their systems, and wouldn't let me change it even after explaining in person why I wanted to.

As a rule, I dislike pre-generated security questions.

[Sparklyturtle]

While most of the clients I worked for didn't do this, can you imagine trying to transcribe a medical report when the dictating provider is driving? One of our contract employees used to tell me about some of the things she'd heard, like the speaker swearing at other drivers, lots of "Are we there yet?" and "Daddy/Mommy, he's looking at me!" plus them forgetting that tunnels block their signals.

(One that happened to a transcriptionist I didn't know was a tape of the doctor and the office manager, who were both married to other people, having sex in the doctor's office. The transcriptionist was afraid she'd lose her job if the doctor knew she'd heard all that, so she was advised to erase the tape and claim it came to her blank.)

[Kit-Ginevra]

BTW, your mother's maiden name was the last name she was given when born, NOT her middle name or nickname.

Actually for security using something else memorable as her maiden name isn't a bad idea.For a scammer, finding out her maiden name is easy enough.Figuring out her favourite literary character's surname that you gave as her maiden name.That's a challenge...Just as long as you remember it too

[greek_jester]

That's the thing: You're not responsible for dumbass GETTING ON THE PHONE and trying to drive at the same time. Even if you call THEM, they're still the frigging nimrod trying to do crap instead of paying attention to the road.

Where I work if the driver doesn't confirm they're on hands-free and not on a dangerous road (e.g. a one lane windy country lane) we are to inform them we'll call back when it's safer and hang up.

[EricKei]

Buzzard - Exactly. I heard about a survey recently where they asked drivers where they ranked on the "Bad - Fair - Average - Above Average - Great" scale. NINETY percent of all drivers questioned answered with "Above average" or better.

[Buzzard]

That's the thing: You're not responsible for dumbass GETTING ON THE PHONE and trying to drive at the same time. Even if you call THEM, they're still the frigging nimrod trying to do crap instead of paying attention to the road.

Yes, we know. Those 'hang up and drive' laws are for all those OTHER drivers out there who are unsafe, not ME!

[telecom_goddess]

One my coworkers actually heard a crash happen on a call once. The customer stopped responding after and we had to put in a call to the local police to get out there and deal with it.

OH holy hell. I really hope that never happens to me. I don't want to be responsible for someone crashing.

[taxguykarl]

and for the other love of christ, DO NOT DRIVE WHILE CALLING US!!!!!!

consider that it's illegal in most states and provinces now

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

One my coworkers actually heard a crash happen on a call once. The customer stopped responding after and we had to put in a call to the local police to get out there and deal with it.

[dalesys]

.... Oh, BTW, your mother's made-in name ...

... isn't the one she used to get in the back seat of the VW Beetle ...

[Seanette]

Amen, sister!

I HATE it when callers tell me they're behind the wheel. I do NOT enjoy anticipating the sound of a crash at any moment.

As for password/security questions, how about not using something like a pet's name if there are so many possible answers you can't remember who you listed? I've had a lot of pets myself, which is WHY I don't use that one. Let's stick with something that has ONE definite answer that you can remember. Oh, BTW, your mother's maiden name was the last name she was given when born, NOT her middle name or nickname.

[telecom_goddess]

If are calling your credit card company, and YOU chose to add a verbal password to your account for YOUR FUCKING SECURITY, knowing full well we will need to have you verify that password EVERY SINGLE TIME you call us, then fucking keep it somewhere where you can look it up if you can't fucking remember it. and don't blame ME or the company, and say we suck, because YOU can't remember what YOU chose to use for a password that YOU chose to put on the account! This is NOT our fault, it's yours for being a dumbass.

and for the other love of christ, DO NOT DRIVE WHILE CALLING US!!!!!! A good portion of what we do involves you verifying very hard to read info on your card, which takes away attention from the road. DUMBASS!!