I set up a new account in a bank and decided to register on-line with my PC so I could check the account from home. Something I do with other accounts at a different bank. The bank officer asked me to pick a "user name" so I could log into the account from my computer. He said a temporary password would be emailed to me and then when I logged on to the account I could change the password to my liking. Something I have done before with other websites. Well, yesterday I attempt to log-on, I put in my user name and the password they had emailed me. Then I got a window telling me they would email me another temporary code to be sure it was me and I should put that code in the box showing on the screen. I immediately got that code in my email and put it in the box. Then I got a message saying I had been "logged out automatically because I was inactive for 10 minutes". Heck, I never got logged in. I tried to log in several more times but always ended up with the same problem. I had a phone number that I could call for technical help. It was a 10-digit number, similar to 888-000-0000. I dial the 10 digits and a computer voice tells me I must dial 10 digits. I counted 10 digits, so I dial the 10 digits again and this time I get a voice telling me it is not necessary to dial a one or 0, which I didn't do. So I figure I have nothing to lose and dial the number again but this time I start with a one. I get through to the company's automated phone system. Now I have to "say" why I'm calling (I hate talking to a computer). I speak into the phone "Log-on problem". Then I'm told to punch "star 77". I get transferred to another section and they tell me to punch in my account number and after that they tell me I have a 45 minute wait to speak with a person. So I hold on and listen to the horrible "elevator music". Finally got a person after 45 minutes. They spent 10 minutes with me but couldn't resolve the problem to get me logged into my account. They transferred me to another person who spent another 10 minutes with me and couldn't solve the problem. Then that person said they would have to "reach out to their tech dept". So they put me back on hold and I'm listening to that horrible music again. After 10 minutes I hear the loud busy tone in my ear -- either we got disconnected or the company hung up on me. That bank just lost my business as I'll be moving those funds to a different bank. Recently I moved my stock portfolio from one financial company to another because of the same telephone hell. Now I have the new company's phone number and the extension of my broker and when I call he personally answers the call. That's customer service. The CEO's of businesses need to get on the phone and call their company to check what kind of customer service they are providing. They might learn something.
