General Chat

Just need a few second opinions on the following matter. I won't mention the company but I am usually very impressed with them. Don't really want to discuss on here which company it is.

My email provider has a facility to backup my photographs on line. There's an option to publish photographs with a password for myself and if I wish to share with other people, it allows me to give them a password too.

I've had a problem for a while which doesn't allow me to publish photographs to other people with a password - I'm only left with the choice of publishing them for everyone or just to me.

I don't really know what the problem is but I've finally gotten around to asking my internet provider to look into it for me.

They say that they need to access my account to look into the problem properly(which has access to my emails as well) they also need date of birth, address and security question as well as the last 4 digits of my bank cards. They expect me to send this to them by email "to protect my privacy", They won't accept me just emailing them my password without all this information for security reasons. They say they can't give me any other options if I don't provide this information.

I'm just really hesitant sending such personal details by email as emails aren't that secure. Am I being overly wary? What do you think

Hi squirrel

I can only assume that if they need this info, ie your date of birth, address and security question as well as the last 4 digits of my bank cards to verify your identity, then they must have had this info in the past - otherwise what's the use of it to them?

Did you provide it to them in the past?

Sue x

Hi, I am the same really. very wary of giving out personal details by e-mail, so I would not do it.

I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole :)

yes they will have most of this information on my account. The only difference is they don't have the answer to my security question - they need that to access my account and retest the situation to see what's causing the problem.

If I had rung them up (which I can't because it's the American branch that's dealing with it) I probably don't think I would be so wary answering the security questions over the phone but I'm very hesitant giving ALL this information by email incase it falls into the wrong hands. Someone misusing the information and having access to my emails would be very worrying.

Thanks Rose, those words have convinced me. I'm going to ask them to escalate it further. I'm just not happy with them putting my details at risk in the name of protecting my privacy.

Sorry, where are my manners. Thank you everyone who replied on this thread. You've all helped me formulate my opinion but the bargepole just pushed me. :)

Hi Squirrel

They should have no need for you to provide the answer to your security question, as they will have the ability to re-set this themselves. They must be able to access your account without it - after all, they manage to take your money without it. I'd ask them for a copy of your on-line contract and see what that says

Sue x

Thanks Sue, I appreciate this. Some good tips there.

You're welcome, Squirrel. Hope this has helped. My opinion - whatever you do, don't send this info on line. Make them work for the money they've taken from you. It's called customer service!

Sue x

Hello Sue, don't worry I haven't sent anything online. I've explained all my concerns in the email and asked it to be escalated higher. I've also mentioned customer service (this company is usually excellent and I would still recommend them to anyone at the moment).

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Thanks again for the useful tips.

I can't see that they should need ALL of this information. However, if they are so security-wise, they will have given you an incident number. If you are sure they already have all of this information, then use this number in the subject line and give them half or one third of the information and tell them that for security reasons, the remainder of the information will follow in another email or two.

It is too easy for emails to go to the wrong address. I've had them from time to time with the address 'almost' the same as mine - and I have seen the copy of emails which have been addressed to me correctly and which I never received. It doesn't happen often - but it can happen. I wouldn't put it all in the same email.