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this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2023
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My apartment complex wants me to download some third-party app just to pay my rent, instead of using their perfectly serviceable web portal. I assume they're getting a data harvest kickback that's buried in several layers of fine-print legalese, which will be used to send me targeted spam and junk mail. And that data will be sold and re-sold to other parties ad infinitum. Whatever they can collect about my personal life, for sale to any asshole with enough cash in their pocket. Fuck that. I shouldn't have to deal with this bullshit just to keep a roof over my head.
I was visiting family in the city I grew up in and we decided to go to this place that now charges for parking. It's a city lot. I figured I have to get this app to park. The city app.
First, it was a nightmare of horrible bad UX and half-assed customization. Second, it took about 15 minutes of bs to pay for parking (time outs, a couple 2fa's, we need you to use a social but we haven't set up that login path correctly). Finally, get parking paid, my wife is losing her mind thinking I'm an idiot because it took so long, and then the spam calls started. I literally wasn't into the building and I was getting spam texts and robo calls. I'm not talking "goods and services I might like" , this was "Canadian border services has determined you have unpaid fines" voicemails and "hi, i just found your number again can u text" type stuff. Just wild.
That's terrible. So much data harvesting out there. It's crazy. Cities and companies hire out to contractors that also do shady shit to the code to also harvest that data. It's wild.
Yes, agreed. It's not like it's a big city but it's big enough that it was obvious this was either a blatant cash grab or complete mismanagement (laziness/incompetence). Guessing the latter.
Oh I feel this in my soul. I am pregnant and have a two year old.. I was and am a huge customer of pampers (and enfamil formula for when my two year old was little) the apps have kick backs... and against my better judgement z I broke down and got these apps for the kick back.... I regret it.. my email is overwhelmed with spam suddenly... an email I worked hard to get all the spam out of a few months ago.. I am also getting random calls and voicemails for services I would never use. It's so frustrating.. I just wanted to the points for the products I normally buy to save a few pennies... but can't do it with out my data being harvested and being spammed with crap
Does your lease precise you have to use the app or own a smartphone ? If not, get a cellphone, like those new 3210. Call them, ask them how to install, or visit their office. Play it dumb. Of they tell you to get a smartphone, tell them to provide you one.
Or use your bank's bill-pay service. They'll mail a check or send it electronically (which is effectively the same as using a debit card).