Why do I have to verify my identity when I call to pay my own bills over the phone?

I'm finding the same thing when filing my annual income tax online, instead of mailing it in like I always use to do. The unprecedented verification process that is used by the tax department is telling me that that filing income tax online is obviously not as safe as we think it is, especially if they require such detailed verification to prove who you are when you're trying to send THEM money from a registered bank account in YOUR name.

As you describe with paying bills online, I'm going back to the old fashioned way of sending paper in the mail this time around when I do my taxes this year because paper never gets questioned.