New TSP Password Requirements

[PessOptimist]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

FWIW I logged in yesterday with my 8 character password and changed it. It works today. What sux is that I could actually remember the 8 characters. Now if I lose the media I keep the passwords on I am truly forked. I am not sure I like the idea of keeping all my login info on somebodies server in somebodies cloud.

 

[userque]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

FWIW I logged in yesterday with my 8 character password and changed it. It works today. What sux is that I could actually remember the 8 characters. Now if I lose the media I keep the passwords on I am truly forked. I am not sure I like the idea of keeping all my login info on somebodies server in somebodies cloud.

I had the same concerns, especially being an uhmm...techie--until I actually seriously researched the issue and realized how the process works. (A little understanding as to how passwords can be neutralized also helps in trusting the process.)

 

[Cactus]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

It sounds to me like they truncated the password field in the database. So all passwords used prior to changing only have 8 valid characters to validate against.

Actually, the wording before was that your password had to be exactly 8 characters. How's that for making life easier for the cracker? Anyways, if you had created a password with more than 8 characters, those beyond would have been ignored like Microsoft did in Hotmail. Now that the password length is increased to 10 min - 32 max you are typing in characters that you always typed but were never part of your password. It would have been better if they had checked and generated an error message for out of range passwords, but I guess that was too much to ask for.

 

[Frixxxx]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

Actually, the wording before was that your password had to be exactly 8 characters. How's that for making life easier for the cracker? Anyways, if you had created a password with more than 8 characters, those beyond would have been ignored like Microsoft did in Hotmail. Now that the password length is increased to 10 min - 32 max you are typing in characters that you always typed but were never part of your password. It would have been better if they had checked and generated an error message for out of range passwords, but I guess that was too much to ask for.

Got it!

 

[PessOptimist]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

FWIW most of those 8 character passwords were generated by TSP. Mine was and I'm willing to bet a warm Natural Lite most other's were. I never changed t because I could remember the one they sent. Cactus, I think you are exactly right.

PO

 

[Boghie]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

<sarcasm>

Very happy TSP decided to weaken my old password by limiting it to 8 characters without telling me. Very nice, it is only my largest store of wealth. Time for me to 'share the wealth', eh.

</sarcasm>

 

[FireWeatherMet]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

Question to all:

I redid my password a few weeks ago tot he more complex version...and it worked fine.

BUT...now I went to re-enter it and evidently my PW does NOT work. Seems I might have written it down on a piece of paper I might have trashed.

Only option I can now find is to request a new PW be mailed to me...which can take 3-10 business days.

So my question is..without a PW...is there any way you can still make an IFT by calling in to TSP and giving your account # and perhaps answer a security question?
I wanted to make an IFT today but got stymied!
Thanks...FWM

 

[ravensfan]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

Question to all:

I redid my password a few weeks ago tot he more complex version...and it worked fine.

BUT...now I went to re-enter it and evidently my PW does NOT work. Seems I might have written it down on a piece of paper I might have trashed.

Only option I can now find is to request a new PW be mailed to me...which can take 3-10 business days.

So my question is..without a PW...is there any way you can still make an IFT by calling in to TSP and giving your account # and perhaps answer a security question?
I wanted to make an IFT today but got stymied!
Thanks...FWM

I think DreamboatAnnie called in an IFT recently...DBA?

 

[nnuut]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

BUGA BUGA!

 

[FireWeatherMet]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

Question to all:

I redid my password a few weeks ago tot he more complex version...and it worked fine.

BUT...now I went to re-enter it and evidently my PW does NOT work. Seems I might have written it down on a piece of paper I might have trashed.

Only option I can now find is to request a new PW be mailed to me...which can take 3-10 business days.

So my question is..without a PW...is there any way you can still make an IFT by calling in to TSP and giving your account # and perhaps answer a security question?
I wanted to make an IFT today but got stymied!
Thanks...FWM

I think DreamboatAnnie called in an IFT recently...DBA?

Thanks Ravenfan,
I just found out my answer...to anyone else in this situation.

YES...you can do an IFT over the phone while you have no online password and are requesting a new one mailed to you (could take 10 business days). All you do is call, enter your Account number into the automated system...then choose to speak to a live rep...then they will ask you some questions about your personal data (where you live, date of birth, type of retirement system you're on)...and then you can say what you want to do with your IFT...and they do it. Did it this evening and they said it will go thru COB tomorrow.

Usually like to wait and see what the market does...but did not want to get into a situation where you can't get thru to a live person right away and miss noon EDT deadline.

Thanks for the help...and I hope this helps someone else.

 

[ravensfan]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

Thanks Ravenfan,
I just found out my answer...to anyone else in this situation.

YES...you can do an IFT over the phone while you have no online password and are requesting a new one mailed to you (could take 10 business days). All you do is call, enter your Account number into the automated system...then choose to speak to a live rep...then they will ask you some questions about your personal data (where you live, date of birth, type of retirement system you're on)...and then you can say what you want to do with your IFT...and they do it. Did it this evening and they said it will go thru COB tomorrow.

Usually like to wait and see what the market does...but did not want to get into a situation where you can't get thru to a live person right away and miss noon EDT deadline.

Thanks for the help...and I hope this helps someone else.

Roger that! Glad to hear you were successful.

 

[burrocrat]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

Question to all:

I redid my password a few weeks ago tot he more complex version...and it worked fine.

BUT...now I went to re-enter it and evidently my PW does NOT work. Seems I might have written it down on a piece of paper I might have trashed.

Only option I can now find is to request a new PW be mailed to me...which can take 3-10 business days.

So my question is..without a PW...is there any way you can still make an IFT by calling in to TSP and giving your account # and perhaps answer a security question?
I wanted to make an IFT today but got stymied!
Thanks...FWM

i have the same issue. new password worked for several logins over a week or more but quit working yesterday. i know i wrote it down right and typed it in right on several login attempts.

i was not trying make an ift, so i haven't worried about it.

i figure greg long and the software brainiacs over at tsp.gov that have increased management fees ever since limiting ift's will eventually hire a consultant to figure out how inadequate and ancient their software is.

i think it's crying shame it takes 2 weeks in the mail to reset my tsp password to access my money. if i lock myself out of a secure government network that requires a security clearance to access other people's and uncle sam's money, i can reset it by answering as series of security questions or call help desk and instantly be restored access.

 

[PessOptimist]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

Just tried mine and it still works. I changed it 5/13. Something that works for me but is not without risk is to put the password in a file of some sort and copy and paste it. How you secure that file is up to you, there are lot's of options. The right click paste usually will not work on most web sites but the keyboard command which I'm sure everyone knows usually does.

 

[burrocrat]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

Just tried mine and it still works. I changed it 5/13. Something that works for me but is not without risk is to put the password in a file of some sort and copy and paste it. How you secure that file is up to you, there are lot's of options. The right click paste usually will not work on most web sites but the keyboard command which I'm sure everyone knows usually does.

my favorite keyboard command is 'ctrl z'. it works almost everywhere except for on tsptalk.com, which is too bad because there are a lot of things i should've ctrl z'd around here.

oh well, you is what you is.

 

[DreamboatAnnie]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

Thanks Ravenfan,
I just found out my answer...to anyone else in this situation.

YES...you can do an IFT over the phone while you have no online password and are requesting a new one mailed to you (could take 10 business days). All you do is call, enter your Account number into the automated system...then choose to speak to a live rep...then they will ask you some questions about your personal data (where you live, date of birth, type of retirement system you're on)...and then you can say what you want to do with your IFT...and they do it. Did it this evening and they said it will go thru COB tomorrow.

Usually like to wait and see what the market does...but did not want to get into a situation where you can't get thru to a live person right away and miss noon EDT deadline.

Thanks for the help...and I hope this helps someone else.

Hi FWM, I've done IFTs by phone many times and they have always been accurate...the downside is that the confirmation letter takes a week to receive. Just need the TSP phone number (1-877-968-3778) and your TSP account number. They ask the questions you mention and you can change allocations and/or do IFT, and they can give you balance of each fund at that point in time.

They are quick at answering phone...I've done it 5 minutes before noon. The other day I was gonna try at two minutes before noon but changed mind and hung up. I've never been put on hold and they answer within about 15-30 seconds after you enter your account number....at least that has been my experience for past year. Total transaction time is about 2-3 minutes if you don't ask for balances. Obviously, it is less stressful if you call 15-30 minutes in advance...thats plenty of time. Bye for now DBAnnie

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

my favorite keyboard command is 'ctrl z'. it works almost everywhere except for on tsptalk.com, which is too bad because there are a lot of things i should've ctrl z'd around here.

oh well, you is what you is.

I have this in my office...

 

[Cactus]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

I see a number of responses mentioning talking to the TSP folks by phone but I'm surprised no mentioned using the phone menu with your account number and pin to call in the IFT yourself. I've done that when I couldn't get the internet to work. It goes a lot faster than talking to a person and you don't have to answer all those questions.

 

[joh1135]

Snail Mail

Why does TSP still use SNAIL MAIL? All my other financial accounts allow me to get a new password by either eMail, phone or a Helpdesk after verifying that I am the person who owns the USERID, knows the security questions?

To me it seems like another expense that the government has to pay to mail the info to me along with taking so long to get it.

Just my thought

 

[burrocrat]

Re: $ Intrepid Timer's TSP Strategies

i have the same issue. new password worked for several logins over a week or more but quit working yesterday. i know i wrote it down right and typed it in right on several login attempts.

i was not trying make an ift, so i haven't worried about it.

i figure greg long and the software brainiacs over at tsp.gov that have increased management fees ever since limiting ift's will eventually hire a consultant to figure out how inadequate and ancient their software is.

i think it's crying shame it takes 2 weeks in the mail to reset my tsp password to access my money. if i lock myself out of a secure government network that requires a security clearance to access other people's and uncle sam's money, i can reset it by answering as series of security questions or call help desk and instantly be restored access.

fortunately i did not repeatedly enter the password enough times yesterday to cause a total lockout. I tried the exact same password i have written down (the one that worked for a couple weeks, and then did not work for the last two days) and it works today.

FWM, check your password and see if it works, unless you already ordered a replacement, i bet it works today, mine does.