Why doesn't my password work?!

[volatile]

This happened during my shift, but thankfully I didn't have to experience it first hand. This is as told to me by a fellow technician.

Customer: I want to know why my password isn't working? I type it in but the computer doesn't recognize it.

Technician: So...you forgot your password?

Customer (extremely angered by that comment): I KNOW WHAT MY PASSWORD IS! WHY ISN'T IT WORKING?

Technician: Sir, you probably are typing in the wrong password and forgot what the actual one is.

Customer: I KNOW WHAT MY PASSWORD IS. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING BROKE ON THE COMPUTER AND MADE MY PASSWORD NOT WORK!

This went on for a while and managers and other people had to get involved, because he refused to take blame for it and pay up to have us reset the password. He pretty much pissed off everyone that came into contact with him. From what I gather he was pretty belligerent and was causing a massive scene. *sigh* People......

[LostMyMind]

He could have had the cap lock on. That happens alot too. But most likely he was just an idiot who forgot his password.

[technical.angel]

We're getting close to the same thing, except it's because passwords are expiring.

Then, in a massive , my manager and boss decided we'd start giving incoming students their usernames and passwords sooner. But didn't have a predetermined process of giving me the info I needed to create said accounts.

So, now I have a small bunch of students telling a large bunch of students that they just have to call and they'll get their email addresses set up.........................

Thanks guys, appreciate it.

[volatile]

He could have had the cap lock on. That happens alot too. But most likely he was just an idiot who forgot his password.

heh, if it were only that. he brought in his computer and the management and the victimized tech watched as he tried to type his password in multiple times while berating them and blaming everyone but himself for not remember his password.

[Eric the Grey]

He could have had the cap lock on. That happens alot too. But most likely he was just an idiot who forgot his password.

Cap-lock, keys that aren't working, wrong user name, account locked out... there are a huge number of reasons why a password doesn't work. I think I've dealt with them all.

Personally, I don't think I would have told the user he/she didn't remember their password. That's just the thing to piss them off.

I had a guy earlier today who was putting in his user name wrong (using his first name instead of first initial, last name). Once we got that figured out, he was good.


Eric the Grey

[Depot Denizen]

The freshmen are creating their accounts (oh, wait, I can't say "freshman" anymore because people think it's derogatory - true story on campus) as soon as they get their acceptance letter.

Too bad most of them have the memory capacity of a goldfish. They make it, and then promptly forget their login name and password.

[technical.angel]

I'm waiting to start the mass creation of incoming student accounts (people are really getting up in arms about "freshmen"? is it because of male specific?). We had planned to start creating those accounts, yet no one can give me those names.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

The freshmen are creating their accounts (oh, wait, I can't say "freshman" anymore because people think it's derogatory - true story on campus) as soon as they get their acceptance letter.

In this case, I'd take to calling the incoming students "fresh meat" instead.

Ahh, the politically-correct gulags called "college". How I miss thee.

[sld72382]

heh, if it were only that. he brought in his computer and the management and the victimized tech watched as he tried to type his password in multiple times while berating them and blaming everyone but himself for not remember his password.

It's psychological, when people are called out for their lack of critical thinking and they know it they tend to lash out at the nearest person, in this case your tech.

Case in point:

I used to work at an electronics retailer known for carrying many parts not available anywhere else. One of the items we sold was this powered outdoor TV antenna that looked like a UFO with wings. Keep the word "powered" in mind. Although half the customers that bought it loved it, half returned it saying "it provided no better performance than rabbit ears." Here was the typical conversation with the latter half:

SLD: What is the reason for the return?

SC: It provided no better performance than my rabbit ears.

SLD: One thing sir/ma'am, this is a powered antenna. Did you make sure to plug it in?

SC: I do?!

SLD: Yes, that's why there's the AC adapter and cord packaged with the unit. *Shows customer the AC adapter.* SLD's note: on all these returned with the "it worked no better than rabbit ears" excuse, the AC adapter would still be sealed in it's bag.

SC: Look, it's not my fault that I didn't realize I needed to plug this in, it is your responsibility to inform customers of this!

SLD: Sir/ma'am if you like you can take it home and try it with it plugged in....

SC: Nah, I'll just return it.

What's sad is that it said "powered" in big letters on the box next to the words "TV Antenna." We eventually lost confidence in people's common sense and decided to explain to them in simpleton terms, "this antenna needs to be plugged in an electrical outlet for best results." Which is funny because we lost some potential sales on it because people thought it was going to be too inconvenient to plug it in. As if we're asking them to build a house.

[Samaliel]

And reading the user's guide / manual in order to know what they're s'posed to do with that 'adapter' thingy-ma-bob is right out of question, obviously...