Memorable words

[tazdevil]

Just tried to talk to one of the pension companies I use and couldn't remember the memorable words for stuff like 'What's your favourite film'. It's years since I set the account up so the chances of remembering what was my favourite film at some arbitrary point in the past is zilch So naturally they can't talk to me even though I'm logged into the account at the same time Solution is to send a message using their message function in the app but if I'm logged in with full access why can't they just post a message to me or flash up a code and ask me what it is or do like the banks and text me the code? Talking to real people is getting to be a real pain

[ladymuck]

If you're logged in then why not reset the memorable words and then phone them up?

[tazdevil]

If you're logged in then why not reset the memorable words and then phone them up?

Would if I could but I can't and it requires their technical team to reset them

[hobnob]

Generally it's best to use questions where the answers won't change. So, as you said "favourite X" is a bad choice, but "what's the first film you saw in a cinema?" is better.

The new snag is that if one company has a data breach, the security questions could be used to hijack other accounts. My solution is to use fake answers and store them in my password manager. E.g. "What was your first pet?" "A hippopotamus"

[ravenshaw]

My solution is to use fake answers and store them in my password manager. E.g. "What was your first pet?" "A hippopotamus"

Fake?

[OwlHoot]

Fake?

I never knew Karl Pilkington had a pet hippo!

[courtg9000]

Fake?

I must not make jokes about certain Labour MP's

[NotAllThere]

I must not make jokes about certain Labour MP's

Er... why not?

[courtg9000]

Er... why not?

OK when I first the picture I thought it was a picture of Dianne Abbott with her handler!

[ladymuck]

OK when I first the picture I thought it was a picture of Dianne Abbott with her handler!

That's mean (but quite funny)