Maybe you all knew about this already, maybe you don't care, maybe you actually think it's a great thing. (I didn't, I do, and I sure don't.)

Sometime in the last week or so, a new annoyance in my life appeared seemingly out of nowhere: Every time I log into the Amex website I am prompted to enter a security code. Not just log-in credentials. This is new. Two-factor authentication. This happens every time I access the Amex website from the comfort of my (very secure) home, or from the Amex app on my phone (which has multiple layers of security, including biometrics).

I did not ask for this. I did not consent to it. Amex just rolled it out and shoved it down my throat with no notice and without asking permission, because they know what's best for me, you and all their customers, who can all go pound sand if they don't like it.

Now, I know plenty of people will not care, will not even notice this - we are all so conditioned to accept corporate micro aggressions without questioning them or even being aware of them - others will shrug it off as just how things have to be (and yes, some of those people actually use passwords like "12345" or "password", so I understand why companies tell themselves this is good for everyone, when in fact it's actually just good for them...). Look at all the text messages on your phone: how many of them are just 2FA cruft? People have become so conditioned to this, it's just background noise you no longer hear, like spam except you can't block it.

So after decades of being an Amex customer, I was annoyed and surprised by this unexpected change. After cursing at the damn thing now every time I access Amex, tonight I was annoyed enough to engage an Amex CS rep via chat. At first the agent gave me instructions to disable the "feature". That failed. He seemed surprised that his instructions didn't work - in fact, he instructed me to use an option that didn't seem to exist for me. When I explained to him that no such option appeared where he told me it would, he put me on hold, and came back with bad news:

So, it's coming to you, too, and soon (if it hasn't appeared yet), whether you want it or not. Don't like it? Too bad, Amex doesn't care. I am not happy, and made that very clear - not that Amex is going to give a rat's arse about that.

Now you might be overjoyed at this, even celebrate that Amex is providing you, valued customer, with even greater account security than you have previously enjoyed. I am decidedly not. I don't care that Amex claims they're doing this for me (nonsense: they doing it for themselves). Offer it as an option? Great. Roll it out but allow those who don't want it to opt-out? Fine, good enough. But quietly impose it, and provide no way to turn it off, ever - except by firing Amex? No, that's not OK. It's arrogant, it's anti-consumer, it shows complete and utter contempt for users, and it speaks volumes about how the company regards it's customers.

I have enough annoyances in my life already, without every single for-profit entity I deal with requiring me to prove I'm really me, whether that's my bank or the company that sold me a toaster or a toilet. Checking to see my account balance or when my bill needs to be paid doesn't need to be yet one more annoyance. I understand the need for account security, and I am willing to be responsible for my end of that. I don't need Amex to force me into quadruple-double-secret-rectal-scans (or whatever they dream up next, blood tests anyone?) to prove my identity to their satisfaction - any more than I should need my plumber to get two-factor authentication from me each time I want to use my toilet.

Arrogance, hubris, contempt for customers. Don't Leave Home Without It.©