Comments on this Y2K info in my credit union's newsletter?

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I was at my credit union yesterday trying to get a check cashed. While I was there, I saw an October copy of the credit union's newsletter. The newsletter had this to say about the credit union and Y2K:

"We wanted to give you an update about our progress on preparing for the millennium computer bug facing everyone at the turn of the century. We told you last time that we have been working on this area since early 1997 and wanted to let you know that we will be ready for it. We continue to work toward our goal of zero problems. This requires involvement from some of our staff almost daily. We do frequent testing that does not involve our main system as a whole to this point. Major testing will be done during a weekend late this year and probably early next year as well. If you attempt to access INFO-TELLER on a Saturday or Sunday and find that you cannot (for 8-10 hours) it will probably be a day we are testing for Y2K compatibility. We utilize many computer programs, vendors and versions of software to deliver the high level of service and access we strive to maintain for you. Please allow us to create a small inconveniece now to a avoid a major one on January 1, 2000."

This sounds like good news to me, anyway. Is this as good as it sounds, or is there something between the lines that I'm not catching?

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), December 16, 1998

Answers

Well, Kevin, like so many other "good" announcements, this one is self-reported. If you subscribe to the notion that there is an organized effort soft-pedal the problem, there is certainly cause for some skepticism here.

-- Vic Parker (rdrunner@internetwork.net), December 16, 1998.

Kevin,

It does not pay to post good news here. The doom and gloomers don't want to hear it.

-- Anti-Chainsaw (Tree@hugger.com), December 16, 1998.


Kevin,

It sounds okay for a small local place. The question is how connected are they into the banking system at large? And can they, like the utilities are considering doing, take themselves off the "banking grid" so as not to corrupt the data, and still be functional?

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 16, 1998.


# # # 19981216

Anti-Chainsaw: Don't be such a DWGI-jerk!

The cited notice is FULL OF WEASEL WORDS and SAYS NOTHING SUBSTANTIVE

"... we have been working on ..." "... we will be ready ..." "We continue to work toward our goal ..." "... involvement from our staff ALMOST DAILY." "We do frequent testing ..."

Aside the warning that they'll "create a small incovenience," this entire newsletter blurb is demonstrates nothing of substance.

Kevin needs to see the CU's Y2K test plans, schedule, RESULTS ( to- date ), and a host of other factors about their Y2K PROCESS, to draw any meaningful conclusions, whatsoever.

Typical PR snowjob. "Don't worry! We're working on it."

Well, EVERYONE that is working on it is working on it. How hollow can these spin-meisters make their "statements." It astounds me!

You have nothing to hang your hat on from this statement, Kevin!

Regards, Bob Mangus # # #

-- Robert Mangus (rmangus@mail.netquest.com), December 16, 1998.


Kevin,

As others have pointed out, there is not much hard data in your credit union's statement.

But there is _some_: "Major testing will be done during a weekend late this year and probably early next year as well. If you attempt to access INFO-TELLER on a Saturday or Sunday and find that you cannot (for 8-10 hours) it will probably be a day we are testing for Y2K compatibility."

That looks good to me insofar as it means they're publicly revealing that they will do Y2K testing on their production system (with the customer ATM links disabled) before the end of 1998. That's ahead of a lot of the crowd. It's better than not yet testing on a production system and it's better than testing on a production system without warning the customers.

I say this from a background of having personally tested ATM software for several years. My employer would have notified customers of production system testing in a manner similar to that of your credit union.

-- No Spam Please (anon@ymous.com), December 16, 1998.



Whoops! Upon re-reading, I see that "INFO-TELLER" is more likely to be a telephone-access (or home-computer-access) system than an ATM system.

But the principles are all the same. They're going to test their production system. During those tests, the external links to customer access will be disabled.

My same evaluation and comments apply, with substitution of whatever kind of system "INFO-TELLER" is for "ATM". (And I've tested non-ATM customer financial stuff, too, though not strictly home telephone access.)

-- No Spam Please (anon@ymous.com), December 16, 1998.


But tell us how you really feel, bob mangus.

Kevin I think your should have no problems come 1/1/2000.

-- maria (anony@mous.com), December 16, 1998.


Kevin: One site to keep an eye on would be the credit union times. The url is http://www.cutimes.com

They have all kinds of info regarding credit unions, including Y2K. Can't hurt to keep an eye on it.

CU TIMES

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), December 16, 1998.


Mr. Bob Maggot,

Like I said, good news is not welcome here, hence your reaction. Don't have a cow over those who have faith. I think Kevin has a lot to be thankful for. A lot of banks will make it.

-- Anti-Chainsaw (Tree@hugger.com), December 16, 1998.


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