electricrcaircraftguy / bug_reports

Consumer bug reports you and I can report for any product or service we use. Add additional details & screenshots to an Issue here and link to it when submitting help requests through their website.

Hi, I'm Gabriel Staples 👋

Working hard to make the internet more complete.
>> Become a sponsor on GitHub! <<

I'm originally an Idaho country guy who grew up primarily in a small farming town, on a little farm, near Boise, ID. Where I grew up, town sizes are measured in the quantity of stop lights we have. Some towns are so small they have zero. My town was a 3 stop light town. Today, it has more. Before that we were in just a 1-blinking-light town. I grew up jumping off cliffs, bridges, and railroad trestles and doing flips off of rope swings into rivers, canals, and reservoirs. For work, I shoveled poo and cleaned cow stalls, dug ditches with a pick, chopped wood, bucked hay, fed cows, irrigated fields with siphon tubes, weeded gardens, and mowed grass.

Now, I live in the San Francisco Bay area and work in San Francisco.

(click to expand and learn more)

I'm trying to balance my life somehow as a husband, father, active Christian, and multi-faceted engineer. When I'm not busy trying to figure out how to better learn my job as a senior embedded software engineer, I'm trying to spend time with my two kids and wife, figure out how to make a Jekyll-based website so I can write about my thoughts, and spend some time flying my radio-controlled airplanes or building or creating something.

I also programmed this gadget and sell it on Amazon, and trying to do the business side of things and handle customer support takes a lot of my spare time.

I am big into RC aircraft and embedded programming. Very fun stuff. I love airplanes and all things that fly! I love building control systems to make autonomous vehicles autonomous. I'm an aeronautical engineer by trade, but I also do a lot with electronics, electrical engineering, and computer science/programming (including a lot with C/C++ in Arduino and some lower-level AVR code). That's how I got my job I have today. Here's my website, with some articles on the aforementioned topics, showing a tiny subset of my work: http://www.ElectricRCAircraftGuy.com. More recently, I created https://gabrielstaples.com to have an avenue to write about anything.

I strive to be a polyglot. I have studied both foreign languages and programming languages many thousands of hours.

I speak English. (Hablo inglés.) (Je parle anglais.) (أنا أتكام الإنجليزية.)
Hablo español. (I speak Spanish.) (Je parle espagnol.) (أنا أتكلم الاِسبانية.)
Je parle un peu de français. (I speak some French.) (Hablo algo de francés.) (أنا أتكلم بعض الفرنسية.)
Eu falo muito pouco de português. (I speak very little Portuguese.)
انا اتكلم العربية قليلاً جداً. (I speak Arabic very little.) (Hablo muy poco de árabe.) (Je parle un petit peu l'arabe.)

I love learning about foreign people, eating foreign foods, and speaking foreign languages. I have put many thousands of hours into foreign language study--just as I have done for aeronautical engineering, electrical engineering, programming, electronics, and controls. I speak Spanish really well and have even helped translate official medical training documents. French is my next best, and is my current area of study. Next comes Portuguese, which I have the least formal training in, but speak next best because it's like a blend of Spanish and French. Lastly, comes Arabic. Although I technically have a minor in it, I'm not conversational in the slightest. Nevertheless, I can read and write it, and I know the alphabet. I have put a great deal of effort into proper pronunciation so I can read and write and make all the sounds.

Here's one of my favorite projects I've ever done! (Autonomous quadcopter flight controller I wrote myself)

Quadcopter Physics-based Flight controller demo w/lead point navigation & Arduino interface to RC Tx.

See some of the code from an Arduino to the back of an RC Tx (required to duplicate this project yourself) here: https://github.com/ElectricRCAircraftGuy/eRCaGuy_PPM_Writer.

Flight Controller Videos:

1. 1/3 - Autonomous quadcopter guidance and control (physics-based pure pursuit simulation)
2. 2/3 - Autonomous quadcopter guidance and control (PID-based pure pursuit demonstration)
3. 3/3 - Autonomous quadcopter guidance & control (physics-based pure pursuit demonstration) <=== my favorite video

You can find me at many places online:

(click to hide)

1. My Websites (listed newest first):
   1. GabrielStaples.com - my newest and current, anything-I-want Jekyll-based website. Topics I write about here include engineering and programming of course, but I want this to literally be a place I can write about anything, so it will also cover some of my thoughts and knowledge on finances and life skills, such as general computer skills, refinancing a house, calculating loan costs, and fixing my bike or phone. It is also where I can write about politics and religion. This is a website that is truly my own. Being a Jekyll site, this also allows me to write in markdown (same as this readme itself), which makes writing less burdensome.
   2. ElectricRCAircraftGuy.com - my slightly-older, general-purpose engineering and programming website.
      Examples of some of my more-popular articles (click to expand):

      1. Restoring/Recharging Over-discharged LiPo (Lithium Polymer) Batteries!
      2. Parallel Charging Your LiPo Batteries
      3. The Power of Arduino
      4. Propeller Static & Dynamic Thrust Calculation - Part 1 of 2
      5. Arduino Power, Current, and Voltage Limitations
      6. Using the Arduino Uno’s built-in 10-bit to 16+-bit ADC (Analog to Digital Converter)
      7. Arduino micros() function with 0.5us precision - using my Timer2_Counter Library
   3. OldSite.ElectricRCAircraftGuy.com - my oldest website, with various useful articles which are still found here and only here. See the navigation links in the top-left corner for more articles. Examples:
      • Page 6: Helicopter Control Explanation (Gyroscopic Precession)
2. Forums & Community Sites (these are just a few):
   1. Wikipedia.org--@ERCaGuy - see my contributions to Wikipedia here.
   2. cppreference.com--@ERCaGuy - see my contributions to the cppreference.com C and C++ reference documentation here.
   3. Gumroad.com--@gabrielstaples - download some things I've made here. Note: Gumroad is intended to be a place you can BUY (pay $$ for) things. So, I have some downloads for sale here, though most are no cost ($0.00) but allow an optional payment or "donation" to support my work if you so choose.
   4. Instructables.com--@ElectricRCAircraftGuy - see my Instructables articles here.
   5. FliteTest.com--@panther3001 - see my FliteTest articles here.
   6. RCGroups.com--@panther3001
   7. Forum.arduino.cc--@panther3001
3. LinkedIn - follow me on LinkedIn!
   • Please DO follow me on LinkedIn! Please don't try to add me as a connection unless I can vouch for your skills.
4. All of my "Stack Exchange" Sites (incl. Stack Overflow)
   (click to expand)

   1. Stack Overflow
   2. Ask Ubuntu
   3. Arduino
   4. Super User
   5. Electrical Engineering
   6. Unit & Linux
   7. etc.
5. GitHub
6. YouTube--@eRCaGuy (ElectricRCAircraftGuy) Channel. Examples:
   • Hovering HobbyKing/Nitroplanes 3D Hawk for 4.5 min. Straight, at night!
7. Instagram--@ercaguy
8. Twitter:
   1. Twitter (Hobby)--@eRCaGuy
   2. Twitter (Personal)--@GabrielStaples3

bug_reports's Issues

SoFi Security Issue: SoFi may call you and request you give them a 2-factor authentication code when sending wire transfers [potential for total account theft and loss of account!]

I was doing a wire transfer from SoFi to my title company in Oct. 2022 to purchase a house. SoFi blocked the wire transfer for "security concerns". They needed to verify my identity. So, they [SoFi, supposedly] called me (ie: they initiated the call to me, which is also how scammers work). SoFi then initiated a 2 factor authentication to my cell phone (which is also how scammers work when they are illicitly logging into your account). The 2-factor authentication said something to the effect of: "never give this to anyone on any call not initiated by you." Update 1 Aug. 2023: here is exactly what these SoFi security messages say (with the security number changed):

From: SoFi
Reminder: SoFi will never ask for your code on a call not initiated by you
One-Time Code: 999999

Then, the SoFi rep, who initiated the call to me, not me to them, then said, "I need the verification code" (which is what scammers would do to finish illicitly logging into my account). Red flag red flag red flag! This is exactly how social engineering fraud works to get you to give them their 2-factor code. I had no choice because we had no place to live and we were about to lose the house and have to reschedule closing, our movers, cleaners, truck rental, and moving help, so I double-checked the phone number of the person and reluctantly gave the code. It turned out to not be fraud/a scam, and the rep really was with SoFi, but this is dangerous. The SoFi representative and SoFi wire-transfer 2-factor authentication system and process followed the pattern of what a scammer would do to the T!

There are 2 problems here:

1. SoFi's security practices for verification of wire transfers via 2-factor authentication codes like this, as described above, are downright dangerous and in violation of 2-factor norms, and contradictory to SoFi's statements themselves in the 2-factor messages.
2. Also, SoFi's general usage of 2-factor authentication codes (I did not describe this above) are non-standard and deviate from best banking practices. The fact that SoFi ever asks for a 2-factor code over the phone, even on calls "initiated by [us]", is also a (slightly lesser) security risk. Typically, 2-factor codes are NEVER legitimately asked for by any human or robot, period, via a phone call, as that is how hackers and hackers alone get them.

The security consultant KnowBe4 (https://www.knowbe4.com/) agrees with me. They have explicit trainings in which they show how hackers get your 2-factor authentication codes by initiating a login which triggers a 2-factor request to you, then they run a hacker demo script, python3 call.py -n "[phone]" -s google -v female, to call your phone with an automated message saying you might be under a fraud attack, and to press 2 to reject the attack. Once you press 2, it asks you to type in the 2-factor authentication code you got to confirm your identity. This "confirmation of identity" is actually you mistakenly sending your 2 factor authentication code to the hacker, who then uses it to finish logging into your account. SoFi's 2 factor authentication practices are in general, dangerous, and in the case of the wire transfer, downright wrong and risky.

SoFi Feature Request: add an HTTP REST API to your trading platform, and add Python scripting

TD Ameritrade has a "ThinkOrSwim" tool which has a feature which runs a user's custom Python code to make automatic trades.

Please add to SoFi:

1. An HTTP REST API we can use to write our own trade algorithms with Python code running on our own computers, using those REST APIs to communicate with your servers and make the trades
2. A custom Python code section which runs our code on your servers, to make trades according to our rules, at fixed intervals--ex: every minute.
3. Examples and tutorials to show us customers how to get started using these features. For the HTTP REST API example, favor examples using the command-line tool curl which is super easy to run on Linux, and which can easily send HTTP POST and GET requests.

Chrome periodically locks up my CPU while using Google Meet

This is a recurring issue. While using Google Meet, Chrome periodically locks up my CPU by bogging it down with high usage in a process for a minute or two, then drops back down to normal levels right after. Here is the offending process this time:

SoFi Feature Request: add custodial brokerage accounts

I have to use Charles Schwab for Custodial Roth IRAs and Custodial Individual Brokerage accounts for my kids, to do investments for them, because SoFi doesn't offer custodial accounts. Please add that feature!

Staples print-from-email bug: cannot print PDF filled-in-form data

The Staples.com print-from-email service doesn't work right. If I email this filled-out PDF (https://www.schwab.com/resource/custodial-ira-application), for instance, to [email protected], and then go in-store to print it, it prints blank! I can confirm in my email it is not blank, but the software Staples uses can't seem to pick up the saved metadata inside the form, so it prints blank.

My work-around is to use pdftoppm as I describe here to convert the PDF to a bunch of images, then I use my pdf2searchablepdf tool to convert all those images back into a PDF, then I use Ghostscript, as I describe here, to compress that PDF to make it smaller. I then email that to Staples and it prints just fine.

For more on the "Print from email" service, go here (https://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/copy-and-print/printing-services/) --> click on the "Print from email" button halfway down the page.

USAA General feedback I just left: 3 problems and solutions: 1) external accounts and the Home (accounts summary) page, 2) credit card transaction view, 3) SoFi credit card external account shows money out as money in

How to leave USAA feedback from the webpage on a computer:

Log into USAA.com on a computer. Click the blue "Feedback" tab on the right-hand side, near the bottom, here:

I just did that.

Here is some feedback I just left USAA:

So many negative things, where to start? I'll just name a few: 1) you keep messing up the order and naming of my external accounts! It takes me hours to re-add, re-name, and rearrange them all again...and again....and again...each time you make another stupid update. 2) credit cards still don't show the balance on each line, which is asinine. Many years ago they did. You just keep making the site look newer, but act stupider and stupider and stupider with each new update. 3) My SoFi credit card shows up as a credit, when it is a debt. You need to add a negative sign in your import settings for that one.

Solutions to the above issues:

1. Cache the view settings, name, position, etc, of each account on the accounts summary page prior to pushing updates or disconnecting an external account. Then, when an external account that was previously added gets added again, ask the user if they'd like to restore its previous nickname and view settings on your accounts summary page.
2. Show the running balance of credit cards on each line in the transaction view.
3. Fix your SoFi credit card import settings to negate the number so that debt shows up as debt not credit. SoFi must use opposite signs to indicate debt than other credit card companies you are used to using when adding them as external accounts.

My final comments:

I find myself getting more and more aggravated and rude (in my written feedback at least) towards USAA as the years with them pass. I've been with them 18 years now. They used to lead the banking industry. They are falling behind. They slap a pretty face onto a broken product, rather than just fixing the product. They think a pretty new shell outside a rotting egg will make the egg smell nice again, just because it looks pretty from the outside. That's just not the case. Fix the inside and back end of your products first, and then make them look pretty once they work really well.

If you choose to make them look pretty first, you may just piss people off. I just moved nearly all of my cash out of USAA and into SoFi recently, in part because of these problems and irritations with USAA.

Alpaca: cannot confirm bank micro-deposits to add a new bank account via the new UI; it works only on the old UI

Referencing support request 110998 sent to [email protected] on 28 Apr. 2023, and which still is not resolved.

First off, Alpaca, your customer support is ineffective. I might as well go talk to a tree as try to get something resolved through your customer support. I don't believe this is their fault. I think it's your fault. You need to empower them, and train them to think like humans and attempt to duplicate the problem themselves, instead of acting and thinking like trees. You need to give them some accounts to play with so they can click and try to add a bank account. If anyone actually tried The steps I meticulously provided, they would see the problem right away.

Your new UI and workflow to add a bank account via micro-deposits has a variety of problems. Try to follow your own instructions here and you will immediately begin to spot them: Q - How do I link my bank account to my Alpaca account using micro-deposits?

1. The instructions are for your old UI, not your new one, so they don't quite match up. Ex: step 2 says:
2. ...

(work-in-progress)--I need to update this info.

communities.usaa.com: Request Entity Too Large (cannot load web pages) when using Google Chrome

I have tested this on two separate computers, both running the same version of Google Chrome:

• Operating system: Linux Ubuntu 18.04 and 20.04 (tested on both)
• Chrome browser (same version on both computers): Version 101.0.4951.64 (Official Build) (64-bit)

I am unable to visit the USAA community forum website in Google Chrome (tested on two separate laptops, both running the latest version of Chrome, as shown above). I get the following error:

(or here as searchable text):

Request Entity Too Large

The requested resource
/t5/Banking/USAA-bug-the-phone-app-stops-you-from-using-Zelle-for-transfers/td-p/258317
does not allow request data with GET requests, or the amount of data provided in the request exceeds the capacity limit.

Steps to reproduce

Try to go to https://communities.usaa.com/t5/Banking/USAA-bug-the-phone-app-stops-you-from-using-Zelle-for-transfers/td-p/258317 in Google Chrome. It results in the error above.

Temporary work-around

Use the Firefox browser instead.

Related: #6 (comment)

Chrome Google Meet CPU usage is still too high (see plots and CPU usage during Google Meet with my camera ON vs OFF)

• OS: Linux Ubuntu 18.04
• Chrome version: Version 99.0.4844.74 (Official Build) (64-bit)

Summary

CPU usage is still too high, hovering around 85% with my camera ON during a Google Meet.

Details

THANK YOU for reducing CPU usage from 100% during Google Meet meetings to 80%! Tha'ts a very recent development, and a great improvement! However, that's still too high. Please lower it further.

Here is a CPU usage plot showing me in the Google Meet with my video camera ON vs OFF. Notice the HUGE change in CPU usage when my camera is ON:

I have 8 CPU hyperthreads.

Top processes (as logged by my cpu_logger.py script) with my camera ON while in a Google Meet

With my video camera ON, the overall CPU usage was 84.79%. This is still too high. I need to be able to run other things at the same time. Here is a snapshot of my top 10 processes at that time:

CPU usage: ==> Overall: 84.79% <==, Individual CPUs: 86.30%, 83.90%, 85.20%, 84.90%, 84.20%, 84.00%, 85.00%, 84.80%:

2022-03-22__10:54:52, INFO,        ==> Overall: 84.79% <==,        Individual CPUs: 86.30%, 83.90%, 85.20%, 84.90%, 84.20%, 84.00%, 85.00%, 84.80% 
     1/10) 69.40%, cmd: /opt/google/chrome/chrome --type=renderer --enable-crashpad --crashpad-handler-pid=4110 --enable-crash-reporter=268aff53-36a9-4582-a3c8-e90265a8e7eb, --display-capture-permissions-po
licy-allowed --origin-trial-disabled-features=ConditionalFocus --change-stack-guard-on-fork=enable --enable-logging --v=1 --disable-gpu-compositing --lang=en-US --num-raster-threads=4 --enable-main-frame-be
fore-activation --renderer-client-id=16516 --launch-time-ticks=346992127670 --shared-files=v8_context_snapshot_data:100 --field-trial-handle=0,i,15427397749472110246,12853657884234341309,131072
     2/10) 44.30%, cmd: /opt/google/chrome/chrome --type=gpu-process --enable-logging --v=1 --enable-crashpad --crashpad-handler-pid=4110 --enable-crash-reporter=268aff53-36a9-4582-a3c8-e90265a8e7eb, --chan
ge-stack-guard-on-fork=enable --gpu-preferences=UAAAAAAAAAAgAAAIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgAAAAAAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAAABgAAAAAAAAAGAAAAAAAAAAIAAAAAAAAAAgAAAAAAAAACAAAAAAAAAA= --use-gl=angle --
use-angle=swiftshader-webgl --enable-logging --v=1 --shared-files --field-trial-handle=0,i,15427397749472110246,12853657884234341309,131072
     3/10)  8.40%, cmd: git-lfs filter-process
     4/10)  5.60%, cmd: /usr/lib/xorg/Xorg vt2 -displayfd 3 -auth /run/user/46153590/gdm/Xauthority -background none -noreset -keeptty -verbose 3
     5/10)  5.20%, cmd: /opt/google/chrome/chrome --type=renderer --enable-crashpad --crashpad-handler-pid=4110 --enable-crash-reporter=268aff53-36a9-4582-a3c8-e90265a8e7eb, --display-capture-permissions-po
licy-allowed --origin-trial-disabled-features=ConditionalFocus --change-stack-guard-on-fork=enable --enable-logging --v=1 --disable-gpu-compositing --lang=en-US --num-raster-threads=4 --enable-main-frame-be
fore-activation --renderer-client-id=13832 --launch-time-ticks=305656378882 --shared-files=v8_context_snapshot_data:100 --field-trial-handle=0,i,15427397749472110246,12853657884234341309,131072
     6/10)  5.00%, cmd: /opt/google/chrome/chrome --enable-logging --v=1 --enable-crashpad
     7/10)  3.80%, cmd: /opt/google/chrome/chrome --type=renderer --enable-crashpad --crashpad-handler-pid=4110 --enable-crash-reporter=268aff53-36a9-4582-a3c8-e90265a8e7eb, --display-capture-permissions-po
licy-allowed --origin-trial-disabled-features=ConditionalFocus --change-stack-guard-on-fork=enable --enable-logging --v=1 --disable-gpu-compositing --lang=en-US --num-raster-threads=4 --enable-main-frame-be
fore-activation --renderer-client-id=16571 --launch-time-ticks=347646846605 --shared-files=v8_context_snapshot_data:100 --field-trial-handle=0,i,15427397749472110246,12853657884234341309,131072
     8/10)  2.70%, cmd: /opt/google/chrome/chrome --type=renderer --enable-crashpad --crashpad-handler-pid=4110 --enable-crash-reporter=268aff53-36a9-4582-a3c8-e90265a8e7eb, --display-capture-permissions-po
licy-allowed --origin-trial-disabled-features=ConditionalFocus --change-stack-guard-on-fork=enable --enable-logging --v=1 --disable-gpu-compositing --lang=en-US --num-raster-threads=4 --enable-main-frame-be
fore-activation --renderer-client-id=65 --launch-time-ticks=258098277411 --shared-files=v8_context_snapshot_data:100 --field-trial-handle=0,i,15427397749472110246,12853657884234341309,131072
     9/10)  2.00%, cmd: /opt/google/chrome/chrome --type=renderer --enable-crashpad --crashpad-handler-pid=4110 --enable-crash-reporter=268aff53-36a9-4582-a3c8-e90265a8e7eb, --extension-process --display-ca
pture-permissions-policy-allowed --origin-trial-disabled-features=ConditionalFocus --change-stack-guard-on-fork=enable --enable-logging --v=1 --disable-gpu-compositing --lang=en-US --num-raster-threads=4 --
enable-main-frame-before-activation --renderer-client-id=16655 --launch-time-ticks=348594962070 --shared-files=v8_context_snapshot_data:100 --field-trial-handle=0,i,15427397749472110246,12853657884234341309
,131072
    10/10)  1.70%, cmd: /opt/google/chrome/chrome --type=renderer --enable-crashpad --crashpad-handler-pid=4110 --enable-crash-reporter=268aff53-36a9-4582-a3c8-e90265a8e7eb, --display-capture-permissions-po
licy-allowed --origin-trial-disabled-features=ConditionalFocus --change-stack-guard-on-fork=enable --enable-logging --v=1 --disable-gpu-compositing --lang=en-US --num-raster-threads=4 --enable-main-frame-be
fore-activation --renderer-client-id=16268 --launch-time-ticks=343821553110 --shared-files=v8_context_snapshot_data:100 --field-trial-handle=0,i,15427397749472110246,12853657884234341309,131072

With my camera OFF in a Google Meet:

...the overall CPU usage dropped to only 24.39%, which is much better!. Here is a snapshot of all processes > 15% usage on a single core at that time:

CPU usage: ==> Overall: 24.39% <==, Individual CPUs: 26.60%, 24.70%, 22.80%, 25.50%, 23.10%, 22.60%, 24.10%, 25.70%:

2022-03-22__10:55:13, INFO,        ==> Overall: 24.39% <==,        Individual CPUs: 26.60%, 24.70%, 22.80%, 25.50%, 23.10%, 22.60%, 24.10%, 25.70% 
     1/2) 69.40%, cmd: /opt/google/chrome/chrome --type=renderer --enable-crashpad --crashpad-handler-pid=4110 --enable-crash-reporter=268aff53-36a9-4582-a3c8-e90265a8e7eb, --display-capture-permissions-policy-allowed --origin-trial-disabled-features=ConditionalFocus --change-stack-guard-on-fork=enable --enable-logging --v=1 --disable-gpu-compositing --lang=en-US --num-raster-threads=4 --enable-main-frame-before-activation --renderer-client-id=16516 --launch-time-ticks=346992127670 --shared-files=v8_context_snapshot_data:100 --field-trial-handle=0,i,15427397749472110246,12853657884234341309,131072
     2/2) 44.30%, cmd: /opt/google/chrome/chrome --type=gpu-process --enable-logging --v=1 --enable-crashpad --crashpad-handler-pid=4110 --enable-crash-reporter=268aff53-36a9-4582-a3c8-e90265a8e7eb, --change-stack-guard-on-fork=enable --gpu-preferences=UAAAAAAAAAAgAAAIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgAAAAAAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAAABgAAAAAAAAAGAAAAAAAAAAIAAAAAAAAAAgAAAAAAAAACAAAAAAAAAA= --use-gl=angle --use-angle=swiftshader-webgl --enable-logging --v=1 --shared-files --field-trial-handle=0,i,15427397749472110246,12853657884234341309,131072
2022-03-22__10:55:17, INFO,        ==> Overall: 27.80% <==,        Individual CPUs: 29.30%, 28.50%, 27.60%, 26.20%, 24.90%, 26.30%, 28.70%, 30.90% 

SoFi bug: cannot manually link bank account using routing number & account number except through the Invest side of things, NOT the Banking side of things!

Summary

THE PROBLEM: I want to manually link my bank account to SoFi Banking withOUT Plaid.

It is possible to do this in SoFi Invest: https://support.sofi.com/hc/en-us/articles/4408300216845-How-do-I-manually-connect-my-bank-account-to-my-SoFi-Invest-account-without-Plaid-

Please add a feature to allow us to do it in SoFi Banking.

These instructions are BROKEN! There is no "Add account manually" link nor button! It DOES NOT EXIST!

Your existing instructions are broken. They do not work. They are found here: https://support.sofi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038730052-Linking-Bank-Accounts-to-SoFi-Money

The circled part in this image indicates that there is a way to connect a bank account manually to "SoFi Money" (banking), when, in fact, there is not. Also, all your screenshots/images of the steps in these instructions are broken links, as you can see:

Details

This is really flippin' annoying. I've wasted my time chatting with SoFi and calling them, as well as trying on a PC in the Chrome browser, in the Firefox browser, and in the phone app.

SoFi, please fix this.

I'd like you to re-enable your manual bank account linking feature where instead of using Plaid to link my bank account, I can manually type in my bank account number and routing number and you will do 2 verification deposits < $1 each over the next couple days, which I have to verify to prove I own the account.

Please re-enable this feature of manual bank verification for people like me who don't want to give you my bank account login information through Plaid.

Problem

I don't trust Plaid. It requires my login info. to another bank. That's dumb. I just want to manually link the account with the routing number, account number, and some trial deposits, like every other bank has allowed for decades.

BUT, you can ONLY bypass Plaid and manually add a bank account via a routing number and account number if you do it through the Invest side of SoFi, NOT through the Banking side of SoFi, leaving one no way to link a bank account to your SoFi checking account from within the SoFi online system.

The Banking chatbot, found here under "Banking support" (https://www.sofi.com/dashboard/contact --> Banking support --> "Chat with banking support"), does NOT provide correct instructions. These instructions do NOT work:

Searchable text and clickable links from the chat above:

manually add account

It seems like you have a question about linking a bank account. Please select the topic you are inquiring about:
Was this helpful?

Linking External Bank Accounts to Checking and Savings

You can link a bank account to your Checking and Savings account in one of two ways. Please select which you would like to know more about:
1:04 pm
Was this helpful?

Connect a Bank Account Manually

1. Click the following link, then from the 'Manage your connected bank accounts' section select 'Connect a new bank':

1:04 pm

Link a Bank Account to Checking and Savings

2. Select the 'Connect a New Bank' to enter your account and routing numbers
3. Then click 'Add account manually'
4. Enter all applicable information and click 'Next'
5. The account will need to be confirmed with micro-deposits (A message will be displayed with instructions to keep an eye out for two small deposits)

Desired behavior

One should be able to manually add a bank account withOUT Plaid, by manually using a routing number and account number.

Steps to duplicate

Do on a computer, in Google Chrome.

1. [BROKEN here] proof it doesn't work through the banking side:

1. Log in to SoFi via sofi.com. Click "Banking" at the top, then the "More" button with 3 dots in a circle at the right. You'll now see this:
   
2. Click "Connected bank accounts" --> "Connect a new account". It brings up the Plaid PoS (not "point of sale", but rather: "piece of s***"):
   
3. Now, no matter what you do, and no matter what the SoFi reps tell you, you can NOT get to any page from here to manually add a bank account, PERIOD. That's not good. Please fix it.

2. [WORKS HERE, but I can't move it to checking or savings!] To add it through the investing side:

1. Log in to SoFi via sofi.com. Click "Invest" at the top, then go through any prompts required to sign up in case you haven't before. Once done, you'll end up on the main "Invest" page.
2. Click the "Add cash" circle button on the right with a dollar sign ($) in it --> click "Additional transfer options". It now says "Connect a bank account to SoFi invest". Click "View other transfer options" --> "Connect a bank" --> "Next". That brings you to the Plaid page, but it looks slightly different! It has a "Continue" button instead of the "Get started" button we saw before!:
   
3. Click "Continue" --> you'll see this:
   
4. Click the "X" to close it. NOW, UNLIKE BEFORE FROM THE BANKING PAGE, YOU'LL GET THIS OPTION TO "Connect via your bank's routing and account number"!:
   
5. Click "Connect via your bank's routing and account number" --> now you'll see this:
   
6. Enter the information for your bank, and click "Next" --> you'll end up back on the "How much would you like to add?" page. Enter a dollar amount where it shows a huge "$0". Choose a frequency and choose the account you just added from the dropdown menu under the "From" section. Then, click "Review" --> review the amount, from, to, and frquency fields, and click "Add Money".
7. Click "Done" to exit. I added $1, as shown here:
   

But..that doesn't solve the problem at all! I can't move that money anywhere. Back to square 1. I can't transfer that money now in the investment to the SoFi checking...which is all I want to do!

SoFi Feature Request: allow "community property" (ex: in AZ) and "joint" Active Investing accounts

Active Investing accounts appear to be allowed for individuals only. Please allow joint and community property accounts too.

I'd like our "Family Money" investing account to be co-owned by my spouse.

SoFi bug (computer only): % total gain or loss is missing on the web view of the "Invest" tab

The percent (%) total gain or loss is missing on the web app! It should be where the yellow circle is in this image, but it's missing! It shows up on the phone app only, but should be on both. Note that it should be a total gain or loss %, not a daily percent change.

Have your software developers use git bisect in your code base to find out which commit caused this regression, as I'm pretty sure it is something that worked in the past and then was broken at some point.

communities.usaa.com bug: cannot link to other posts on communities.usaa.com; it replaces URL with "[removed sensitive data]"

When making a post on communities.usaa.com, their sensitive info filter is too aggressive. It blocks links even to other posts on communities.usaa.com!

Ex: posting a link to this: https://communities.usaa.com/t5/Technical-Support/communities-usaa-com-bug-Request-Entity-Too-Large-cannot-load/td-p/258329

...gets replaced by this: https://communities.usaa.com/t5/Technical-Support/communities-usaa-com-bug-Request-Entity-Too-Large-cannot-load/td-p/[removed sensitive data]

See that "[removed sensitive data] " part above!?? That's exactly what I"m talking about. That's the bug!

SoFi Feature Request: allow multiple "Active Investing" accounts

Summary

Just like you (SoFi) have "vaults" in your Banking side, to allow segregating funds based on intended purpose, I'd really like the same for my investment accounts in SoFi: allow us to have multiple "Active Investing" accounts, each with a different nickname, to accomplish this.

I believe to comply with FINRA regulations all you have to do is disallow margin trading on all but one of the active investing accounts. This is fine. Margin trading is risky and probably shouldn't be used by most people anyway.

Details

Example, I want one investment account for "Family Money" and one investment account for "Personal Money." The "Personal Money" investment account must be separate because it is money I can spend on anything I want, such as a jet-ski or OneWheel electric offroad skateboard, rather than using it responsibly for a house, car, etc.

In both investment accounts we might have the same tickers, such as VGT, VOOG, or AAPL, so it must be separate accounts for me to truly keep track of which money is which.

Currently, SoFi only allows one Active Investing account, so I will have to open an account with a competitor, https://www.tdameritrade.com/, for my "Personal Money". :(

USAA bank: fraud representatives will ask you for a code that says "USAA will never contact you for this code, don't share it"

This happened to me today and yesterday, on two separate calls, with two separate USAA representatives:

I had a $175 fraudulent transaction on my USAA bank account a few days ago. I called USAA's official number (once yesterday and once today) saved in my phone. The automated system asked for security verification. When it asked me to verify the last 4 digits of my phone number to send me a 1-time two-factor-authentication passcode, the automated voice said something like, "I'm sorry, we cannot verify your account at this time." It then routed me straight to the fraud department. A human answered and said they'd need to verify me. They said they sent me a passcode to my phone, and then they asked me to give it to them. The problem is, the text message said this (emphasis added, security code changed):

USAA FRAUD PREVENTION ALERT: USAA will never contact you for this code, don't share it: 999999. Call 800-531-8722 if you gave it to anyone. Reply HELP for help.

So, you see the major security concern, right? A human I am talking to is claiming to be with the USAA fraud department, because there is fraud on my account, and they're asking me to give them a code that literally says right on it to never give it to them! It seems to me that there should be a slightly different message when the fraud department triggers the code and expects you to give it to them.

The only consolation I had was that I called them, and I knew I used the saved number from my phone that I've been using for years, so I reluctantly gave them the code and that was that. They helped secure my account and fix the fraudulent transaction.

But, the biggest problem here is that the USAA anti-fraud department themselves is conditioning callers like me to violate the warning and give away the code anyway (despite it saying to never give it away), and in particular when we already suspect fraud. This sounds like a recipe for disaster to help condition us to accidentally help more fraudsters commit fraud on us, because the more we give away a code that says never to do so, the more we feel like we should ignore those warnings when the situation is really dire, stressful, or serious. Boom. We are conditioned to give it away, just like that.

Furthermore, there was an option sometimes to wait on hold and get a call-back. This would be even more risky: imagine getting a call-back from a stranger who claims to be USAA, and then triggers this and asks you to give them the code. That's exactly what fraudsters do too.

DisplayLink Club3D CSV-1477 video adapter: mouse can go off-screen when using multiple monitors

Quick summary

I can move my mouse off-screen into the sections in yellow here. I shouldn't be able to move my mouse past the edge of any monitor, so this is a definite bug. When not using this adapter at all, but using the same computer, monitors, and setup, I do not see this bug, and my cursor is properly blocked from exiting the edge of all monitors.

Details

• This adapter: Club3D CSV-1477 USB 3.0 Type A to Dual Display Port 1.2 4K 60Hz External Graphics Video Adapter for Multiple Monitors
• OS: Ubuntu 22.04 (Dell Latitude 5570) and Ubuntu 20.04 (Dell Latitude 7490); I tested and proved this bug on 2 separate computers
• DisplayLink driver: 5.8.0-33 (as shown by sudo apt install displaylink-driver)

I installed the DisplayLink driver per my instructions here: https://askubuntu.com/a/1486986/327339:

# Make this directory if it doesn't exist, and cd into it
mkdir -p ~/Downloads/Install_Files/DisplayLink
cd ~/Downloads/Install_Files/DisplayLink

# Download the Ubuntu APT package provided by Synaptics.com, the official 
# makers of DisplayLink
wget https://www.synaptics.com/sites/default/files/Ubuntu/pool/stable/main/all/synaptics-repository-keyring.deb

# Install the DisplayLink APT package keyring
sudo apt install ./synaptics-repository-keyring.deb

# Update your APT package cache
sudo apt update

# Install the DisplayLink driver provided by Synaptics.com, the official source
sudo apt install displaylink-driver

In certain multi-monitor configurations, however, I can move the mouse off of the monitors into the dead corner spaces between monitors. I should be blocked from moving the mouse off-screen, but again, the bug is that I am not blocked from doing so. The problem only seems to exist when driving really high-resolution monitors (ex: 4k 32"), while other monitors are plugged into my computer too, even by other means.

Here is the most basic monitor setup exhibiting this bug (I removed a monitor for the purposes of this demo):

1. My laptop screen: 1920 x 1200 59.95 Hz
2. My 32" 4k AOC monitor: 3840 x 2160 60.00 Hz connected via a DP cable into the Club3D DisplayLink adapter.
3. this monitor 2560 x 1440 59.95 Hz plugged in via an HDMI cable to a separate HDMI to USB-C adapter

When in this configuration, I can move the mouse off the screen to all the corners shown in yellow. Again, this is the bug. I should not be allowed to move the mouse into these areas!:

When using a single external monitor in addition to my laptop screen, this bug does not seem to occur.

• Email the DisplayLink people to report this: [email protected]
• Email [email protected] too. https://www.club-3d.com/en/detail/2413/usb3.2_gen1_type_a_to_displayportt1.2_dual_monitor_4k60hz_video_splitter/

USAA bug: the phone app stops you from using Zelle for transfers in the United States if your phone system language is set to a foreign language

I have been experiencing this bug from 2017 to 2022 (5+ years so far), starting when I set my phone language to French in order to enhance my study of French which first began at DLI-Washington while studying it for the US Air Force, and USAA still has not acknowledged the existence of this bug nor have they indicated they would fix it. That's pretty irritating.

I have contacted them somewhere between 6 to 12 times regarding this issue. Not one of them has been able (or willing) to go to my article below to read the details.

For full details, see my article here: https://gabrielstaples.com/usaa-and-zelle/

This is the error I see when I try to use Zelle in the USAA app and my phone is set to French:

The problem

If your phone language is set to anything other than English (ex: mine is set to French), then the USAA app will block all usage of Zelle for money transfers under the premise of "State or foreign restrictions".

I hypothesize that this is because the software developers have foolishly chosen to use your phone's language as the means of determining which country you are trying to use Zelle in, rather than some other more-robust means.

The temporary work-around

Option A:

1. Set your phone language to English.
2. Open the USAA app and use Zelle.
3. Set your phone language back to the foreign language you want.

Just make sure your phone language is English whenever you try to use Zelle. That's it!

Option B:

Leave USAA and use a different bank which offers Zelle and doesn't discriminate based on your chosen phone language.

What does NOT work

You can NOT use the stand-alone Zelle app if you are a USAA customer. Rather, the stand-alone Zelle app redirects you to the USAA app for Zelle transfers, thereby putting you right back in the situation where you can't use Zelle, due to the USAA phone app's bug.

Consider Option B above, instead.

SoFi bug (computer only): Invest "Account nickname" feature doesn't work

On a computer, in a browser, go to Invest (at top) --> Individual Active Investing --> More --> Account details in left tab --> click the "Edit" link.

It should allow you to edit the account nickname, but it doesn't! Nothing happens when you click the link.

I've tried in both Chrome and Firefox.

Screenshot:

SoFi bug: a popup window mistakenly says you have $1000 available for investing even if you moved < $1000 and do not

• Device: computer
• OS: Linux Ubuntu 18.04
• Browser: Chrome Version 101.0.4951.64 (Official Build) (64-bit)

Log in to SoFi.com --> click the "Invest" link at the top --> click "Add cash" button at right --> transfer any amount of money < $1000 into your Individual investment account as cash. You'll see this, which is WRONG. This should state the correct amount, up to $1000 if you transferred >= $1000. Instead, it just mistakenly shows $1000 every time even if you only move like $100:

Once you get back to your Individual account under the "Invest" tab, you'll see the correct amount available, but this pop-up window above is wrong.

Probable bug: can't enable Share Lending in auto investing accounts if you didn't check the box during the initial account application

Under the "More" section of an auto investing account, there should be a section and slider to enable/disable Share Lending. If, during the application process, however, you did not check the box to approve Share Lending, then you can never activate this feature later. That's the bug. There should be a way to activate it after opening the account.

I just called SoFi and the rep said it was active on my account, and would probably show that button in the next 24 hours or so, but it's not showing up now. I need to confirm this bug. If this is not the case that it shows up later, then the bug is confirmed and I need to screenshot the whole account opening process and everything too, to show how to replicate it.

I suspect that the bug does exist, and that I'm going to have to close this entire investment account and reopen a new one just to get Share Lending turned on. This would be really dumb.