January 01, 2009

Customer Service "Don't"

Received an email this morning from my doctor's office:

Blah Blah Blah Physicians has sent you a secure communication. Because we value our confidential relationship with you, this message is only available to be viewed through our secure online patient portal. To access the portal and view this communication, please go . . .
Followed by instruction about what part of the website to visit and entering my login & password, etc.

Of course, I rarely log in to that account so I forgot my login and password. Have to answer a bunch of questions for them to send my login ID. Got that. Have to answer a bunch more questions to get them to reset my password. Got that.

Have to answer more questions to reset & change the password. Then I have to login. Then I click on my messages folder, and have to log in again.

Then I get my message which says:

We would like to wish you and your family a very Happy New Year.
Thank you very much and we look forward to seeing you at your next visit.

As much as I appreciate the thought...why the F#%@ didn't you just say that in the original email?!? It isn't like there is anything requiring a "secure" messaging system. No personal data. Nothing.

Posted by Vox at January 1, 2009 11:11 AM | peeves
Comments

That initial e-mail sounds strongly like a phishing scam to me. I'd have never touched it in the first place. If my physician wants to talk to me confidentially, she has my phone number, cell number, home address, and mailing address.

Posted by: Dan at January 2, 2009 04:29 PM

I had actually signed up on the site previously, and like the idea of being able to communicate that way. I would much rather deal in the realm of email for time and convenience sake. Plus, the email directed me to the real site - so comfortable it wasn't phishing before I went.

And, I understand all the hoops - if it is confidential info.

My issue was the fact that they sent me an email to send me through hoops, instead of sending me an email with the completely non-confidential message.

But, that's just me ;-)

Posted by: Vox at January 2, 2009 04:42 PM

Good grief. How annoying.

Posted by: Martini Girl at January 7, 2009 11:26 PM