HALSWELL WOMAN LOCKED OUT OF AUCKLAND COUNCIL PORTAL DESPITE LIVING 800KM AWAY
The portal has rejected fourteen passwords. One was the portal's own suggestion.
A Halswell ratepayer trying to sort a parking fine her son copped in Grey Lynn has been locked out of the Auckland Council portal fourteen times in two days. One of the rejected passwords was Council1! — which the portal itself had suggested.
Joan Ferriter, 71, said she'd been roped in because her son Callum's new girlfriend Tayla "can't work a computer, or a jug". Three hours in, Ferriter had achieved nothing.
"It told me my password wasn't strong enough. So I made it stronger. Then it said I'd used that one already. Four minutes ago," Ferriter said. "Gerald, God rest him, would've put a boot through the screen."
By attempt eleven, the portal had locked her out. It then emailed a reset link that expired before it arrived. Then it asked her to prove she was human by clicking traffic lights in a photo with no traffic lights.
An Auckland Council spokesperson said the portal was "performing to expectation" and suggested users "try again in a private browsing window". Ferriter said that sounded like something a wee shit would say. The fine has since accrued a late fee.
Ferriter has posted the letter back to Auckland with NOT KNOWN AT THIS ADDRESS written across it in Vivid. The portal, at time of filing, is down for scheduled maintenance.
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Reader Letters
Trev_Hornby
Council websites are always a bloody joke.
Sandra McKenzie
I've had the same thing with my rates payment! Honestly, that portal is useless.
Garry (Halswell)
Back in my day, you'd have just dealt with this by phone. No passwords, just a good old chat with a council officer who couldn't hang up until you were satisfied! Now everything's rooted because of some tech that doesn't even work. Technology was meant to make things easier, but it seems the council didn't get the memo.
frustrated_fran
That portal is always 'down for maintenance'. I reckon the council's just too cheap to fix it properly. Typical!
MumOf3
Gerald would have shattered that monitor with a glare. Miss those good old days.
chaotic_cheryl
Lol.
wayne1987
Mate, the council's just making up ways to fine us! It's a piss-take.
Nigel_NotMyProblem
If the council suggests a password, you'd think it'd bloody well work! What's next? A fine for using their own suggestions?
Trev_Hornby
@Sandra we pay so much in rates, and this is the service we get? It's a bloody joke!