fingerhut.com

Bad policy to confirm identity

I called Customer Service to change my e-mail address, since the website had a notice that I couldn't do it online. After asking me all the info they needed to confirm my identity, I was told they would text a code to me that I would tell to them to further confirm my identity. Then I was placed on hold, and was told the system required further info before they could text to change my e-mail address. Here's the punchline: they asked me to scan my Social Security Card and either e-mail it to them or send it by postal mail. When I informed them that was not secure and I would not do that, he said "That's what the system requires." I asked to speak to a supervisor. I told the supervisor I was only changing my e-mail address, and that I already gave them all the information they would need to confirm my identity. Long story short, they put my account on hold until they received my Social Security Card. I was able to talk to my e-mail provider and ended up not having to change my address. Had they just texted a code that I could tell them, that should have been confirmation enough, unless someone out there not only knew ALL my personal information, but was also in possession of my phone.About the account: I went to take care of my monthly payment and knew that I had a minimum due of $135.00, info I received in an e-mail that morning. When I went to the site, it said that the minimum due was $0.00. I called and actually got a very helpful person, Jackie. She explained that the $0.00 referred to my Fetti account, not my old Advantage account. She further explained that I now had TWO accounts, the old Advantage account that needed to be paid in full before going away, and the Fetti account which is where all purchases after 4/12/20 would go. She then said I would have two minimum payments due, one for Advantage and one for Fetti. Why didn't they just transfer the balances to the Fetti account, so you only have to deal with one account, not two? Lastly, they reported to the credit bureaus that my Fingerhut account was closed. Technically, that's true, but the credit bureaus don't know that. It could be my account was closed for non-payment. They should have reported that the Fingerhut account was now the Fetti account, not that my Fingerhut account was closed, which is really not true since I can still order at Fingerhut. Also, I always pay my amount due as soon as my retirement check comes in at the end of each month, which is weeks before the due date, so my account is in excellent standing... but it doesn't look that way on my credit report.

Date of experience: May 10, 2022