October 15, 2000
Untitled
Crap. This should be a simple task. All I want is to be able to check my American Express account balance and reward points online. I have an account number. Their system knows about my account number. The account number is all I need to get this same information over the phone. No password. No login. Just my account number. Left without anotehr option, I dutifully start the registration process. Naturally the two most common user names I use for my other online accounts are already taken, so I settle on the third one down my list. It’s accepted. Additional data is requested and entered… email, birth date, work phone number, zip code. Zip code? Crap. Ever the optimist, I gamely attempt to enter my six digit postal code into the five character wide zip code field assuming that developers of this fine site would allow for address variations. Crap. Since the system obviously hasn’t been designed for Canadian addresses, and my Canadian address obviously isn’t configured with the required American zip code, I concede defeat. But wait, perhaps there’s a Canadian version of the site that will accept six digit alpha-numeric postal codes. Ah, yes. There’s the pop-up, right on the home page. Figuring that since my previous attempt at creating an account was aborted, I should be able to use the same user name, right? Crap. Even though the account creation was never completed, I am forced to pull yet another unique user name out of my hat because my third choice is stuck somewhere in the pipes. Nevertheless, I’m accepted again. Probably because I’m such a likable guy… The additional data is requested and entered… email, birth date, work phone number, but surprise… the Canadian site doesn’t require a postal code. Good news. One less thing to get screwed up. However, I am presented with this little informational gem:
“We’re Sorry… The American Express Online Services system has not properly responded to your request. Technical Support will be notified of this problem immediately, and will work to correct the situation as soon as possible. Please try again later.”
I don’t want to try again later. I either want the system to work properly when I use it the first time, or I want to be notified when the problem is fixed. Try again, my aunt fanny. I’m the customer. They’re providing the service. Shouldn’t the solution be at my convenience, not their’s? Crap.
This item was posted by .
Categories:
Leave a comment or send a trackback from your own site.