Sometimes I wonder about the analysis that actually goes into creating computer systems. One example of what I consider is poor analysis is by Powergen. I created an on-line account a while ago but when I rented out my house whilst I was working abroad the tenents switched to another energy provider and so my energy account with Powergen lapsed. However, on returning to the UK and moving back into my house I went back to using Powergen. As I find managing bills on-line so much more convenient I decided to add my new energy account to my on-line account. Despite the facility existing to do this I could not. Despite two phone calls to Powergen I am still completely in the dark as to why I could not add my new energy account to my old on-line account. It is at the same address (a pre-requisite) and I am puzzled as to what other circumstances the add account facility could possibly be used under.
Anyway I thought I'd just cancel my on-line account and re-create it. Again this was not possible. Apparently the same on-line account login ID cannot be used, even if the previous on-line account is cancelled.
So I have created another on-line account login ID and registered my new energy account with that. Needless to say it means the chances of me remembering my on-line account login ID are fairly remote so I'll have to write it down somewhere. As a Systems Analyst/Programmer this smacks of poor analysis to me. You should be able to create a single on-line account that you can manage your enery accoutn from and in this day and age when moving between energy providers is so common it should be possible to remove and add different energy accounts if the provider insist on issuing different energy account numbers.
Maybe my expectations are too high but things like this just seem obvious to me as an Analyst. Anyway the on-line account system itself is pretty good but whenever asked in the pub about whether I would recommd Powergen I'll always retell this story and be unable to give them a glowing review which otherwise they might have received.