[nfb-talk] Captchas, a growing problem

[Michael D. Barber]

Aaron:  I know that the National federation of the Blind in Computer Science 
Division has addressed this issue.  Please send a note to Curtis Chong so he 
can contact these people.
I fully agree with your concerns.
Community Choice Credit Union had the same Captia stuff on their site and I 
went to the CEO and insisted they provide an alternative audio file for us 
so we could hear the letters and/or numbers.  they did comply.

Michael D. Barber
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jennifer Aberdeen" <freespirit328 at gmail.com>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 3:40 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Captchas, a growing problem


> Aaron,
>
> I can't offer much help with this, but I wanted to mention that I had this
> same problem. It is very, very frustrating!
>
> Jen
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Aaron Cannon" <cannona at fireantproductions.com>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 3:49 PM
> Subject: [nfb-talk] Captchas, a growing problem
>
>
>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>> Hash: RIPEMD160
>>
>> Hi all.
>>
>> This morning I attempted to get my free annual credit report from the big
>> three credit reporting agencies.  I went to
>> http://www.anualcreditreport.com
>> .
>>
>> The law says that each consumer is entitled to receive a free copy of
>> their
>> personal credit report from all credit reporting agencies.
>> AnualCreditReport.com describes its self as a "Site set up by the big
>> three
>> credit reporting agencies in the United States, to furnish free annual
>> credit reports, as required by federal law."
>>
>> While the form for requesting ones credit report obviously wasn't 
>> designed
>> with the blind in mind, I found it usable, until I reached the end when
>> they
>> asked me to enter the letters in an image.  There was no alternative
>> available, at least not that I could find.
>>
>> Now, feeling rather frustrated, I went to their feedback page, so that I
>> could politely remind them that not everyone can see images.  So, you can
>> imagine my chagrin when I find that the feedback form also requires the
>> completing of a visual captcha.
>>
>> Now, its one thing when a captcha prevents me from posting comments on a
>> blog, but quite another when it prevents me from accessing my personal
>> financial data, especially when such access is my right under federal 
>> law.
>>
>> I considered just biting the bullet and asking for sighted help, but I'm
>> not
>> sure I know anyone I trust that much, as my social security number is
>> visible on the same screen as the captcha, and more importantly, its the
>> principle of the thing.
>>
>> Anyway, I don't know if the NFB has anything in the works to deal with
>> sites
>> like these, but I think its something we should seriously consider.
>>
>> I'll have to think about it some, but I believe my next move will be to
>> write to the address given on the web site (its a physical address and 
>> not
>> an email address), explain the situation, and politely request that they
>> provide me with an electronic copy of my credit reports.
>>
>> There is a phone number to request a paper copy as well, but obviously,
>> that
>> would be less accessible and less secure than receiving an electronic
>> copy.
>>
>> I'll keep you all posted.
>>
>> Aaron
>>
>>
>> - --
>> Skype: cannona
>> MSN/Windows Messenger: cannona at hotmail.com (don't send email to the
>> hotmail
>> address.)
>>
>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
>> Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (MingW32) - GPGrelay v0.959
>> Comment: Key available from all major key servers.
>>
>> iD8DBQFG5vFHI7J99hVZuJcRAzK7AKCcvHbtvgzF/v/Cb1o3D+ReYwOAvACgz5jt
>> hbCcNYbhBJeTQ+XsiOMhruc=
>> =QOTz
>> -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
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>
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