Access Denied
My daughter wanted to sign up for an MSN instant messaging account (it's mixed with other Microsoft services, apparently), and so "Microsoft Online Services" sent me an e-mail with a link to either give or deny permission. So I looked around to see exactly what it was she was signing up for, and decided that as long as she keeps her security software updated, and keeps in mind our "rules of engagement" (my kids & I discuss online safety quite often), then okay, I'd give her permission. I clicked the link, and the site told me that in order to answer the permission request, I'd have to sign up for my own "Windows Live ID". Okay... I don't really want it, but fine. So I went through that process, made my ID & password, and finally got to the part about giving my daughter permission to use the services. BUT, in order to "prove" that I'm an adult (don't have to prove I'm her parent, apparently, just that I'm an adult), they wanted my credit card information.
Say what?
Now, I'm comfortable enough with online shopping, and use my cards fairly often for that, and for online bill-paying, but as proof of age? I think not.
Needless to say, my daughter will be sticking to Yahoo & AIM, and can use either one under Trillian (which she could also have used MSN under, but won't be).
Now I've gotta go back & cancel my Live ID account, if it was actually created after all that, because I certainly don't want a bunch of Microsoft ads in my e-mail. I used one of my seldom-used e-mail accounts for the signup, but still. What a racket.
Say what?
Now, I'm comfortable enough with online shopping, and use my cards fairly often for that, and for online bill-paying, but as proof of age? I think not.
Needless to say, my daughter will be sticking to Yahoo & AIM, and can use either one under Trillian (which she could also have used MSN under, but won't be).
Now I've gotta go back & cancel my Live ID account, if it was actually created after all that, because I certainly don't want a bunch of Microsoft ads in my e-mail. I used one of my seldom-used e-mail accounts for the signup, but still. What a racket.
posted by Just-Me-Jen at 6:18 AM
2 Comments:
I would have balked at giving my credit card number too. God knows what they'd do with it-probably send you an email that you think is junk so you delete it without reading and they'd automatically give you some costly service because the email probably said "if you don't respond to this email, we'll assume you want it and will charge your credit card accordingly". Geez.
Yep. And I'm sure there are 8 million pay services that my daughter could land on within the one she was trying to use, that they could then charge me for, since they'd already have my credit card info. Thanks, but no thanks!
Post a Comment
<< Home