The inconvenience of online (number 57)

10 years ago when I moved house it was really easy to update my contact details at 50 organizations that I have dealings with. 
 - I make a template "change of address" letter,
 - do a "Mail Merge" with the address book from my PDA,
 - hit print
 - sign (x50)
 - post (x50).

It could all be done in the space of one episode of "X-Files".

When I moved this summer I had the "convenience" of changing my address online, at the same 50 organizations.  Imagine how much more convenient that was...

 - Log onto company one's website,
 - create an account,
 - choose a password,
   no not that password, your password must have four characters three numbers and a punctuation symbol,
 - enter your customer number,
   no you CUSTOMER number, not your ACCOUNT number,
 - check your email for the confirmation link,
 - check your email for the confirmation link,
 - check your email for the confirmation link,
 - go for a poo
 - check your email for the confirmation link,
 - watch an episode of "Heroes"
 - check your email for the confirmation link,
 - unsubscribe from the dozen 'tailored' message lists that you're automatically approved for
 - type in your address

Repeat 50 times.  Oh, except company two require a password with between 6 and 10 alpha-numeric characters (no puctuation), company three already issued you a password, it's on the piece of paper they sent ... to your old address, company 4 requires you to  "Recount your first childhood sexual encounter" as the security question ... etc., etc.

I should be done around the time this house falls down.