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Fearless brother Tad applied for and got Blue
from AMEX. It's the card you've seen on TV with an embedded Smart Chip promising the future of plastic. Well, the
future looks a little bleak.
The primary reason for trying Blue was its highly secure online transaction claim. Though it's not enough you have
the card with a user name and password, you must also sign up for Private PaymentsSM with its own PIN. And, you need a card reader for your computer.
Now, you'd foolishly think that being an American Express cardholder since 1982 it would be a snap to get Blue.
It is, once you've provided your name (as it appears on your current card), address, phone number, Social Security
number, mother's maiden name - all of which AMEX already holds in it's digital vaults.
Just to protract the proceedings, you cannot get the Card Reader until you actually have a Blue account. God forbid
you should stick your Sears card in it.
Because he runs Windows 98 with a USB port, Tad had to fork over USD25 for the Stand-Alone Smart Card Reader. Those
with Win95 and no USB get a free reader. Ain't fair.
Fast forward to having the card, the reader and
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Another twist: Tad's computer no longer shuts down unless done so manually. A
call to Dell solved the problem by removing several start-up programs. Unfortunately, some of them are needed to
perform such pedestrian chores as printing, using the CD-RW, etc. One suspects Blue is the culprit. |
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the software. Surprisingly, all installs as advertised. The reader even has its own little program to make sure
it's functioning. Being of the impatient type, Tad fails to notice the very last line of "the Reader diagnostic
tool" which says the card isn't working.
The result is when he applied for a Private Payments PIN number, the Web site told him
it was a no go.
After speaking with six AMEX representatives, a seventh one had him run the diagnostics
and, without even implying he's an idiot, said a new card is required which will be in his hands within a week.
Eight business days later a call to American Express reveals a new card had not been issued
which means Tad must again go through an airport security-type check in order to get a replacement for the one
he doesn't have.
Meanwhile, he does have the reader, which keeps a little green light courageously flashing in hopes of someday
being used.
To be continued, perhaps indefinitely…
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