EDF Energy - interesting attitude to security

macrotech

You may have read elsewhere about problems I've been having with EDF - I thought this one was worth sharing in a separate thread.

On one of my calls to customer services I was trying to find out what an amount that had appeared on my account meant. It was in the bill list, but didn't have a pdf icon next to it, so I couldn't download it. I explained this, the EDF person contacted her IT department, and, at first, she came back with "IT say there must be something wrong with your firewall". IT clearly haven't got a clue what they're talking about. Anyway, after explaining the situation again to her, she can't see this amount on her screen, so she says she'll have to log in as me. She then proceeds to ask me for my account password! She did not understand why I refused to give it, and why I was amazed she had even asked it. Her response was along the lines of "what's the problem Sir, I work for EDF"

Unbelievable.

GregTK

Indeed, EDF's Customer Service is an absolute nightmare... I am on-hold trying to get through to EDF as I write this.
Think I will give up on EDF and go to a supplier who actually has staff and decent procedures.

st999

What do you think an employee of EDF is going to do to your account if they sign in as you using your password?

You could change it as soon as they logged out.

Devils-Advocate_3

st999 wrote: »

What do you think an employee of EDF is going to do to your account if they sign in as you using your password?

You could change it as soon as they logged out.

This. Do you seriously think they are going to do something nasty to your account after asking you, on a recorded !!!!!!! call, for your password?! :rotfl:

Use your brains, chump

macrotech

st999 wrote: »

What do you think an employee of EDF is going to do to your account if they sign in as you using your password?

You could change it as soon as they logged out.

Obviously your concept of security is different to mine!

macrotech

Devils-Advocate wrote: »

This. Do you seriously think they are going to do something nasty to your account after asking you, on a recorded !!!!!!! call, for your password?! :rotfl:

Use your brains, chump

Thanks for the insult, obviously you also have a very different view of computer security to me.

st999

Obviously your concept of security is different to mine!

It's only a blooming fuel bill not your bank account.


You tell me what could go wrong?

yoda011087

st999 wrote: »

It's only a blooming fuel bill not your bank account.


You tell me what could go wrong?

I understand where the OP is coming from. However, the reps you speak to on the phone have access to your address and bank details, payment/default history and previous addresses as well.

Divulging a password is not going to make much difference; if they really wanted to defraud you, they would anyway.

I imagine in the past, Macrotech, you've filled out a direct debit mandate and posted it to a company, made a payment via card over the phone and generally put your details at risk - in the same way we all do.