On Tue, Feb 07, 2006 at 10:55:01AM -0000, Tim Trent wrote:
> That raises an interesting point. Organisations who "accept" bills tend to
> copy them and refuse not to do so.
> So that renders the alleged security worthless.
I was thinking about this some more, and trying to remember the times
I've had to actually call BT. Unless I'm misremembering, I don't think
they've ever asked me for any information other than my account number,
and possibly my address, (i.e. nothing that isn't clearly printed on a
bill) before discussing my account with me.
I could understand this if I was calling from my own phone line, but
I rarely even have a phone connected to that[1], so I've often called
them from the office.
So it seems the SMS service may have just the same level of security as
if you were actually to call 150 ...
Although I do remember an interesting experience once where we'd moved
into new offices, and discovered a phone socket that, when we plugged a
phone into it, appeared to be working. The company whose offices we were
sharing couldn't work out which of their numerous phone lines it might
be, so I called BT from the phone and asked "what number am I calling
you from?" (this was before 1471, and caller display etc.) They refused
to tell me for "privacy reasons". I eventually remembered the number you
can dial to have your number read back to you (17070). Always seemed
strange that you can get an automated service to tell you information that
a human won't.
But judging from some of the responses BT have given people here in the
last few days, it seems that the job of BT staff is just to get rid of
"problems" as quickly as possible with whatever sounds even reasonably
plausible.
Tony
[1] I only have a BT line because I need it for my ADSL.
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