tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post5883192322107350..comments2024-03-29T09:08:47.702-04:00Comments on The Silicon Graybeard: Largely Wasted DaySiGraybeardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-46083320381940215762017-11-03T19:37:07.472-04:002017-11-03T19:37:07.472-04:00Mark, there's "sort of" a way around...Mark, there's "sort of" a way around that. I requested, and got, a "junk account" at my primary bank; it's, technically, a second checking account, but no checks were ever issued for it, it has no features or functions (over draft protection, or any other bells and whistles), and is as isolated from all my other accounts as it can be and still be with the primary bank. <br /><br />I created it because I get a huge discount by allowing a certain insurance company to auto-draft from it monthly. I hate allowing anyone direct acess to my money,but this constitutes the least of the evils. My bank requires $5 minimum to maintain an account, so that's what's in it 28 days a month. I've set up an automatic transfer to move X dollars from the "real" checking account to the junk account 2 days before the auto-draft from the insurance company. If the insurance company goes nuts, or rogue, they can move decimal points wherever they want - the account has their X dollars plus 5 bucks in it, so that's all they can get. <br /><br />Could some ingenious hacker use mad computer skills to access my "real" checking account through the junk account ? I suppose that's possible, but again, there's a limit to how successful they'll be. The "real" account holds its $5 and only enough money to cover the month's scheduled expenditures, plus $250 accessible through the ATM. <br /><br />Where's the rest? That's for me to know and you to wonder about, but some is in what's called a "Trustee Account" which, not only is completely separate from all my other accounts, the name of the TA is completely fictitious and non-identifying. On the originating documents I am listed as the primary trustee with my SS#, but that's on paper. As the trustee I have the ability to generate payments from the account, so I can logon uniquely (not shared with any other account), create a destination (any destination, including an account in my name), initiate a payment to that destination, and once I receive confirmation that the check has been created by the TA logging a check number, delete the destination. And yes, the bank will create a paper check - which is a nice audit trail, and the TA gets an electronic image of the check once it's processed - which issues from the TA and receipts in my checking or junk account. Does take 24-48 hours M-F, but as long as ones and zeroes are flowing, it can be done from anywhere. There's supposed to be a way to accelerate the process by phoning the 24X7 Customer No-Service department, but I've never tried it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-23962849090252974502017-11-02T22:26:04.700-04:002017-11-02T22:26:04.700-04:00Nothing of any value (especially relating to money...Nothing of any value (especially relating to money or government secrets) should be online. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://love-tipandtricks.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">ทางบ้าน</a><br />UplayOnlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07056159688537638797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-4395724635560895382017-10-31T19:16:23.660-04:002017-10-31T19:16:23.660-04:00Using online banking increases the chances that yo...Using online banking increases the chances that you will be hacked.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-61918879683483276572017-10-31T18:25:34.487-04:002017-10-31T18:25:34.487-04:00For what it's worth, I do all my online bankin...For what it's worth, I do all my online banking through the bank. I do not let any of my payees draw directly from my account. I expect that if Chase screws up, they will make me good, including covering any fees or penalties for late payment. On the other hand, if I let FPL or some other payee draw directly from my account and they were off by a couple of decimal places, I expect they would eventually make their part good, but I'd be on my own for any penalties or fees resulting from an overdraft even if it resulted from FPL's actions.Mark Matisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-74866523583218266512017-10-31T16:03:07.466-04:002017-10-31T16:03:07.466-04:00Consider a backup credit union, rather than a back...Consider a backup credit union, rather than a backup bank.<br /><br />Soviet Union policies produce Soviet Union results. Either voters stop obeying those laws, or America will come to resemble Cuba. Present Cuba has 50 years old cars, future America will have 50 year old laptops. When it progresses to mass starvation, remember you can eat voters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-57076233950867669142017-10-31T14:39:25.763-04:002017-10-31T14:39:25.763-04:00I hope you understand that, just because you'r...I hope you understand that, just because you're not using online banking, it doesn't mean your account is not available online. That matters because most financial institutions use Billy's software, and Billy is not especially interested in making sure it's secure before he shovels it out to the world, nor in correcting problems with said software when they are discovered in the real world.Mark Matisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-36331318762775461222017-10-31T13:36:08.066-04:002017-10-31T13:36:08.066-04:00"I've never seen a digital changeover thi..."I've never seen a digital changeover this clucked up."<br /><br />Is it just me or has IT in general been getting more and more "clucked up"?<br />I work for a very large - worldwide - "technology" company. The stories I could tell...<br />At any rate, I never do online banking. It's just too dangerous. Anybody can be hacked, including the US government.Royhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10108430731483801350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-81608601380384323172017-10-31T11:30:51.417-04:002017-10-31T11:30:51.417-04:00I am a member of four credit unions and I never us...I am a member of four credit unions and I never use online banking. Every time there is a hack I am always left wondering who is it out there that didn't expect that to happen. Nothing of any value (especially relating to money or government secrets) should be online. <br /><br />Passwords are my pet peave. I have one retirement that insists on sending me stuff through email but I have to sign on to their site to actually read it. I can't choose a password, something I could remember but instead are forced to use one they create. So of course I don't remember it and can't sign on. I sometimes wonder if that is the intent, i.e. to make things so difficult that you won't use it.<br /><br />I have four ATM cards and have always tried to get only ATM cards and not debit cards. But eventually three of the credit unions eliminated that option and they are combination ATM/debit cards. I have never used debit but I cannot get that feature removed for reasons known only to the credit unions. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-90928137105000546462017-10-31T08:47:26.658-04:002017-10-31T08:47:26.658-04:00So you've heard? ;-) Considering how bad the p...So you've heard? ;-) Considering how bad the phones were yesterday, I'm guessing anyone who used their online banking services had a rough weekend. <br /><br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-50667652485222231562017-10-31T08:41:25.729-04:002017-10-31T08:41:25.729-04:00You know, that's a really good idea, and one I...You know, that's a really good idea, and one I'd never thought of. <br /><br />Like you say, a bit of extra effort, but not a major effort. Have to investigate that a bit. <br /><br /><br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-5882820608710170792017-10-31T07:06:15.505-04:002017-10-31T07:06:15.505-04:00Sounds like you have been Launched!
}:-]
I have a...Sounds like you have been Launched!<br />}:-]<br /><br />I have an account with them for convenience in cashing checks, but my primary banking is with what used to be the Alamo National Bank Military Banking Center, which I joined whilst in Officer Training at Lackland in late 1972. Through the banking follies they have now become JP Morgan Chase. Yeah, I know, but in all that time they have never messed up my account. I'll settle for that.Mark Matisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-51659129999924154772017-10-31T05:48:26.057-04:002017-10-31T05:48:26.057-04:00"Two is one, one is none."
It's un..."Two is one, one is none." <br /><br />It's undoubtedly a hemorrhoid, but it does pay to have a Backup Plan for financials, too. Banks, or things that look like banks, are a PITA because while the rest of the world runs on 24X7 they do M-F 0900-1400, even with their Magic Electronic Systems (make a cash ATM deposit at 2145 on a Friday and see how long it takes before the dollars can be sent somewhere).<br /><br />It is inconvenient as Hell, but it pays to have a 2nd "financial institution" on tap; pick a reputable, reliable, IT-savvy bank (good luck with that....) which is both brick-and-mortar and totally different from your primary institution (brick-and-mortar because at some point you will need F2F to resolve some sort of issue). Once a month make a deposit, once a month make a withdrawal, to keep the account active. Maintain your account at a level allowing e-payment of the super critical stuff - mortgage, credit card, etc. - plus whatever the minimum amount is to avoid account closure. A couple hundred extra - whatever their maximum ATM amount is - provides an emergency cash buffer (this does not preclude keeping a 2-month (or greater) cash stash at home or someplace where it's instantly accessible; Backup Plan #3 is drive to the creditor to make a cash payment). Do not establish any sort of link between bank #1 and Bank #2; neither should know about the other. <br /><br />When Bank #1 hoses you, the recovery mode is "pay from Bank #2." Yes, you may wind up double-paying some stuff when Bank #1 gets itself un-hosed, but that just means you get to skip the next month's payment. And, you'll probably have some monthly "account maintenance" fee if your balance isn't high enough, or drops below <br />a certain minimum balance. Consider it insurance; you don't complain about maintaining fire and theft insurance because you know it's something you must have to provide a reasonable degree fo protection. Look at the Bank #2 fees the same way. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-46974553842754855472017-10-30T23:07:29.748-04:002017-10-30T23:07:29.748-04:00My wife spent about 90 minutes on the phone today ...My wife spent about 90 minutes on the phone today with Comcast trying to unscrew the order we placed last week for "Xfinity" Internet service and TV at the new house.<br /><br />And she spent almost two hours on that call!<br /><br />Now I'm beginning to understand why people call them "Comcrap".....drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-18121752242778848212017-10-30T22:54:59.216-04:002017-10-30T22:54:59.216-04:00There goes another day! ... YouTube "peep jou...There goes another day! ... YouTube "peep jousting microwave"SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-22303608448107340462017-10-30T21:50:15.356-04:002017-10-30T21:50:15.356-04:00I should explain, two or more peeps, toothpicks an...I should explain, two or more peeps, toothpicks and a microwave. Heh hehTerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693579680266086557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-66308813287282106322017-10-30T21:48:54.355-04:002017-10-30T21:48:54.355-04:00That is as good as peep jousting at Easter. (The p...That is as good as peep jousting at Easter. (The picture, not the CU.) Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693579680266086557noreply@blogger.com