Security Verification Going A Little Too Far at Household Bank

Well, its been 2 weeks and no response from HSBC, not that I had much
hope of it, so the card is cut up. Should be able to pay the account
off next month, and then will be requesting the account be closed.

I agree, that's very rediculous! I can't even remember my address from
THREE years ago!


I understand the need for security, but twenty years ago?? Next
they'll want the first boy you made love with and how many kisses he
gave you on the first date. And what color the couch was.

It may seem absurd but you would be the first to complain when someone
stole your card and they didn't verify ID ... thats why they have it.

But I can recognize every address I ever lived at. 3 in MD, 1 in CA,
1 in FL, 1 in TN, 3 in NY, 4 in NJ, 2 in PA.

Credit cards are so worth it! lol


Good Day

I agree 100%. This is absolutely unacceptable and ridiculous.

If only these banks had applied similar due diligence when they were
throwing mortgage loans and other credit lines at anybody who wanted
one.

I agree that some of this verification gets out of hand. My bank
changes the security questions every couple of months. You have to
choose 3 questions and at any given time, they can ask you two when
you log on. Since I handle both my husband's and my accounts, I end
up having to write the answers down so I remember them. How secure is
that?

One time my husband changed his without telling me. In most cases I
could guess or knew his answer but one of the questions was how much
did you make per hour at your first job? Like I would know how much
my husband made per hour over 35 years ago! I couldn't pay that
particular bill until I got in touch with him for the answer.

blood type of your 2nd landlord's wife's boss or something equally
ridiculous. I think Jeff's suggestion is good - give you the option
of speaking with a real person, one who would understand that
addresses from 20 years ago aren't etched on our memories.
Good luck.

i went through pretty much the same process when i had money wired
as well as when i had a replacement birth certificate issued


i understand the issue with trying to verify old addresses and data.
for the most part i just went by the city and state and if "none of
above" was the right answer that's what i said.*

* case in point, there's another woman out there with the exact same
name i have, some one of her addresses pop up on my questions. i
suspect they do that to make sure it's not just some crazy person who
got ahold of the data online or from zabasearch and is trying to use
it to hack.


best thing i can recommend is trying to go to the bank associated with
the card in person.

i would also recommend bringing various forms of ID
including DL, birth certificate, SSN card, etc...

(tho you might want to call ahead or something like that to see what
hthey require)

This is a security scheme that it being used more and more by
automated verification systems. For example, Virginia uses this when
applying to get a copy of a birth certificate.

Thing is, the old way of doing verification -- social security number,
mother's maiden name, etc. -- is no longer useful before that
information is just too well known. However, asking several questions
compiled from several databases is supposed to work better.

You raise a valid point about how this can fail to work. What a
company should do is offer the option to reach a live human. Yes, you
might need to take additional steps to verify who you are.

Keep in mind that the credit card company bears the cost of fraud, not
you. Because of this, they need to take steps so that THEY are
comfortable.

In other words, this isn't about you. It's about them. If you don't
want to play, then you don't need to use credit.