I almost fell out of my chair yesterday when I was talking to someone at Verisign. They were supposed to be authenticating my company’s identity for a Code Signing Certificate.
I called Verisign support to see why I hadn’t heard from them yet (they were supposed to call me days before). They said they called the day before, but the phone just rang and rang. I asked “What number did you call?”, and they gave me a phone number I haven’t had for over 10 years! When I asked them where they got that number, they said “Dun & Bradstreet”! I HAD TO LAUGH!! Here is Verisign trying to verify that I am who I say I am, and they’re relying on information from a known information fabricator?!? That’s just ridiculous!!!
Here is the disclaimer right from Dun & Bradstreet’s own site:
D&B does not warrant the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of any of the data and/or programs (Information) available at this D&B Site. The Information is provided as is without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title or non-infringement.
I asked why they didn’t open up Google or Yahoo!, type in my company’s name, and go to the first entry’s web site and find a phone number? They said they don’t use Google; they only use “reliable online directories”!
It’s been a LONG TIME since I’ve heard someone seriously use the term “reliable” in the same sentence as “Dun & Bradstreet”!!