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Fidelity Investments is the broker of choice for managing Microsoft financial benefits; in my case, a 401K account and some stock management. I have minor issues with the usability of the site, but my favorite usability issue with Fidelity is the readiness with which they alert you of any activity. Two days after I logged in for the first time, I received a letter from Fidelity:
You established your Customer Identifier (ID) using the Internet. You must now use this Customer ID whenever you access your account. This replaces your traditional ID, which is normally your social security number.
Alright, this is a handy security feature. I wouldn’t want someone doing this on my behalf, but isn’t there a way to turn off these alerts? I checked, but couldn’t find anything. Oh well, what are the odds that this will seriously happen frequently enough to care, right?
Two weeks later I go to log in, and I’ve forgotten my Customer ID. How foolish! I jump through the hoops to get it back, and sure enough, two days later I got another letter…
You asked for your Customer Identifier (ID) using the Internet, and we provided it to you. Please make a note of your ID.
Seriously. Can I please set up these alerts over email? I hate the idea that I’m wasting paper and postage every time I’m the least bit forgetful. And if I do set up the alerts over email… will I get a letter notifying me that of the change?
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Alert: This is a comment!!!!!!!!!
Exclaimation mark exclaimation exclaimation mark!
Knowing some user interfaces, it’s probably buried somewhere. But at the same time, you could probably get it done in less than 2 hours by calling them.
This is my pet peeve of grownup life. You spend so long at a job doing the best that you can, only to have to spend the rest of your free time on the phone fixing crap that other people screwed up in your life.
In that, I pick my battles. I’d rather not waste paper and postage, but if they can’t figure out an easy way to enable me to stop that waste, then it will go wasted.
I know some people that know some people and we will see if we can’t get this fixed or at least give you a great response :) In the mean time please let me know the usabilities issue that you have, I will see what I can do about those as well.
Thank you mysterious stranger. In the grand scheme of things, I don’t think it’s so bad. Well below “buy our stuff” as a best programming practice or confusing image uploading.
You see, my complaints get shot down at work so frequently. Here, nobody really gets on my back about my thoughts (except for Vince, who is curently undergoing behavior modification).