# A "Progressive" mystery **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 5, 2018, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581 "2018-12-05T03:14:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581/21 "2018-12-06T17:19:20Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > UPDATE: After a few phone calls, it’s been discovered that the person filing the claim typed her policy number incorrectly. It’s one digit different from mine. A mere typo. Case closed. That was my first inclination, but I’m glad you did due diligence. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581/22 "2018-12-06T19:07:03Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > UPDATE: After a few phone calls, it’s been discovered that the person filing the claim typed her policy number incorrectly. It’s one digit different from mine. A mere typo. Case closed. Seems odd that they would pull the policy up and not notice that none of the other information matched. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581/23 "2018-12-06T19:19:37Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > UPDATE: After a few phone calls, it’s been discovered that the person filing the claim typed her policy number incorrectly. It’s one digit different from mine. A mere typo. Case closed. Good work. But isn’t it odd that policy numbers don’t use the simplest of error-checking methods, like a checksum? Can you imagine what would happen if credit card numbers were entered one digit off, yet get accepted? Maybe Progressive isn’t the best company to use. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581/24 "2018-12-06T19:50:12Z")
Yeah, the checksum is usually the named insured. In a logical world, the scenario would go, “My policy number is 12345, and my name is Joe Snuffy of Amriallo.” Insurance Guy: “Hm, that policy number belongs to Mike Rotch of San Antonio.” Error detected, brief conversation ensues, correct policy number is determined. But in the REAL world Joe Snuffy says the policy number, entry level functionary on the other end of the phone enters something which may or may not match what was said, an error happens, entry level functionary doesn’t have the experience or authority to recognize or address the error, so the claim gets routed to the claims department complete with the error and no warning to the adjuster who gets landed with it. Adjuster may or may not catch the error before somebody gets disproportionately pissed off and abusive (yes, fully 33% of all people contacted by a claims adjuster are pissed off and abusive, no matter what news is being delivered–that’s just science). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581/25 "2018-12-06T20:22:40Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Good work. But isn’t it odd that policy numbers don’t use the simplest of error-checking methods, like a checksum? Can you imagine what would happen if credit card numbers were entered one digit off, yet get accepted? > > Maybe Progressive isn’t the best company to use. Perhaps that is why they ask for named and the 3 digit whatchamacallit on the back. Maybe Progressive called because things did match up. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581/26 "2018-12-06T21:25:32Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Maybe Progressive isn’t the best company to use. Well, you got idiots like Flo and Jamie working there. They show you right there on the commercial! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581/27 "2018-12-06T21:39:47Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Well, you got idiots like Flo and Jamie working there. They show you right there on the commercial! That’s why i use Allstate. They have a former POTUS as spokesman. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581/28 "2018-12-06T22:50:43Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Well, you got idiots like Flo and Jamie working there. They show you right there on the commercial! Yes, but she is cute. Maybe if I insure with them I can take her out. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581/29 "2018-12-07T15:20:34Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Good work. But isn’t it odd that policy numbers don’t use the simplest of error-checking methods, like a checksum? Can you imagine what would happen if credit card numbers were entered one digit off, yet get accepted? > > Maybe Progressive isn’t the best company to use. I’m not seeing that your example is the case here. The claim did NOT go through on the incorrect policy. It is odd they didn’t catch the name/number discrepancy, but it was sorted out before any checks were cut. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581/30 "2018-12-07T16:08:10Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I’m not seeing that your example is the case here. The claim did NOT go through on the incorrect policy. It is odd they didn’t catch the name/number discrepancy, but it was sorted out before any checks were cut. Using a simple checksum would avoid, automatically, 90% of random errors of this sort with the only expense that an account number would be one digit longer. Scrubbing data _before_ processing is a fundamental principle from Computer Science 101. Small price to pay for increased accuracy. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581/31 "2018-12-07T16:44:02Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Perhaps that is why they ask for named and the 3 digit whatchamacallit on the back. The 3 digit number is asked for mainly to make sure the person actually has the card and not just knowing the account number. The same thing for asking for the expiration date. Both cut down fraud when they first started asking for it, but the fraudsters got wise pretty fast. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581/32 "2018-12-07T18:21:59Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > The 3 digit number is asked for mainly to make sure the person actually has the card and not just knowing the account number. The same thing for asking for the expiration date. Both cut down fraud when they first started asking for it, but the fraudsters got wise pretty fast. How do the fraudsters get around it? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581/33 "2018-12-07T20:06:19Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Is there anything else I need to do? Track down a hurt the person who is scamming you… Revenge is a dish best served cold. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581/34 "2018-12-07T20:40:58Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > How do the fraudsters get around it? Can’t tell you. It is illegal and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581/35 "2018-12-11T16:33:22Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Perhaps that is why they ask for named and the 3 digit whatchamacallit on the back. > [@dtilque](#): > > The 3 digit number is asked for mainly to make sure the person actually has the card and not just knowing the account number. Because this is the Straight Dope: The 3 digit number on the back of your credit or debit card is know as the Card Verification Value, AKA CVV or CVV2. It is only required when the card taker does not have access to the physical card, i.e. phone or online orders. Per PCI security requirements, the information must be requested in those cases, but [cannot be saved](https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/pdfs/pci_fs_data_storage.pdf)longer than it takes to get an authorization. Any merchant who takes credit/debit cards and all payment processors must be PCI compliant or [face substantial fines.](https://www.merchantlink.com/how-explain-pci-compliance-penalties-beginners/) ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581/36 "2018-12-11T16:48:29Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Because this is the Straight Dope: > The 3 digit number on the back of your credit or debit card is know as the Card Verification Value, AKA CVV or CVV2. It is only required when the card taker does not have access to the physical card, i.e. phone or online orders. Per PCI security requirements, the information must be requested in those cases, but [cannot be saved](https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/pdfs/pci_fs_data_storage.pdf)longer than it takes to get an authorization. Any merchant who takes credit/debit cards and all payment processors must be PCI compliant or [face substantial fines.](https://www.merchantlink.com/how-explain-pci-compliance-penalties-beginners/) I don’t know what today’s standards are but when it was first rolled out, it was done so as a substitute for having a physical signature, that is, if the merchant collected the CVV then they would not be liable for a chargeback if the cardholder claimed they did not make the purchase. This would be analogous to someone walking into a store using a stolen card that had not yet been reported stolen, getting an auth, and showing a matching signature. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-progressive-mystery/825581.md?page=1)