Scripts and online payments

[GeordieJedi]

Hi all.

(Sorry in advance if this is the wrong place. Please move if necessary).

/Rant mode on

Right, I've just tried to pay my council tax online today, twice in the last couple of hours.

Each time I've been thwarted by bloody scripts.
(N.B I use Firefox with Adblock-plus and No script)

I enter all of my details properly. I double/triple check my info.
I finally get to the last page (the payment processing screen)
and it falls over (I suspect that it's a combination of the "verified by Visa"
and using No script)


1st time - Noscript turned on and working as normal.
2nd time - I allow scripts on the damn pages in question and they still don't work !!

Gaaaggghhhh.

I'm trying to give the government some money.
Stop making it difficult !!


Are scripts really necessary to complete something like this ?
Or are they essential ??

/Rant mode off.


Sorry for the rant, but I needed to vent.
Grrrrrr.

[lok1950]

The server at that gov office maybe a M$ one and expecting iexplorer as your browser or something equally stupid don't blame Linux yet

Enjoy the Choice

[nelz]

Try a different browser.

[catgate]

I would be inclined to write to the Chairman of the council and point out to him that you are taking the fact that you can not pay your tax online as a sign that they do not want your money.
Pointing out that you are quite willing to pay, and if they do change their minds, and want you to pay, you will pay, if they notify you, in writing, of their alteration to their site.

[guy]

Better still, write to the Council and inform them that their site is not secure and standards-compliant, as mandated by the Cabinet Office. Remind them of their obligations under current law to provide web services which are secure, standards-compliant and open to all users of compliant browsers. Your system is w3c compliant, theirs is not. Javascript is open to known exploits, and its use is therefore not secure. (You might even point out that if major sites such as Amazon can conduct secure online transactions without resort to javascript, and accessible to any standards-compliant browser, then they can too).

Ask them to explain to you why they are breaking a Cabinet Office mandate, and when do they propose to offer you an online payment method which meets your needs as a taxpayer. Or, can they confirm to you in writing that they expect you to lower your security settings before making payment, and that they therefore take responsibility for any consequences of your acting on their request?

[lok1950]

An and on to guy's comment say you are cc'ing all correspondence to the Cabinet Office might put the paper shufflers in fear of God

Enjoy the Choice

[MartyBartfast]

If it's the "Verified by Visa" bit that's breaking things then that's a function of your card provider, not the Council so if you do write the council/cabinet office/queen they're likely to tell you to choose another way to pay.

Of course you could try complaining to your bank/credit card company and see where that gets you, but don't hold your breath.

[guy]

Yeah, I have to admit that I do allow javascript for the various "secure" credit card payment sites. Otherwise, it gets pretty impossible to pay online.

But would you rely on a consortium of the major banks to run a site as "secure" as they claim? That's one reason I refuse to use my debit card online - if someone empties my credit card account, it's their money and their fault, not mine.