Information released reports the CIA has been targeting people and performing credit checks. That is right The CIA as in The Central Intelligence Agency and not the IRS as in the Internal Revenue Service is doing credit checks. The news reports read in these words, "…hundreds of Americans and others suspected of terrorism or espionage in the United States." I know terrorism is a fact or life in the 21st century, but now generally being an American can make you automatically under suspicion of terrorism and espionage. Vice President Cheney, aka "The Great White Hunter," claims this is legal and not a violation of legal rights. The chilling fact is he not only may be right, but credit checks are performed everyday on people without their knowledge.
The lending institutions of America want you!
Recently, my bank performed a credit check on me when I opened up a new checking account. Apparently, they automatically submitted me for one of their credit cards as a favor for signing up with them. Of course, I was declined. I have enough credit cards. Thank you folks, but I knew that already. On of the benefits of being declined credit is law permits you to get a free copy of your credit history statement from the credit reporting companies used. Therefore, I did and talk about shock. In the last year I have had my credit information reviewed over several hundreds of times by lending institutions all over the country. The list included a few high-end exclusive country clubs in Florida, Texas, California and Las Vegas. I never been to let alone applied to any of these places. Have I been a victim of identity theft?
The "Wha' cha talking about" game.
I began to dial without a smile the credit agencies. They claim non-complicity and are only a reporting bureau. The just report the facts. With the report in hand, I dialed bank after bank, lending institution after lending institution and every one of the country clubs. None had on file any application or credit request from me. No one would explain to me why his or her business showed up for requesting a credit check on me.
The off the record insider information.
"Deep Throat" was the code name for the whistle blower in "All the Presidents Men." The tell all book revealed the corruption and conspiracy behind the Watergate break in linked to the Nixon administration. During my investigation, I came across my own version of "Deep Throat." This person revealed to me that everyday lending institutions request credit checks on millions of Americans in order to see who qualifies for the pre-approved credit card direct mailing marketing campaigns. There are several fallacies here. Even though they call called solicitation pre-approved, you really are not. Computer performs all the credit checks. To save time they look for predetermined indicators only. If you register on a certain number of those indicators, you are pre-approved, but not really approved. The sales letter has you name edited in and is mailed out. Those who take the time to reply are processed and 90% of all applications are rejected.
Who pre-approved me the most?
Bank One wants to get into my wallet more than any other company does. In one month alone, they performed 25 pre-approval credit checks. The closer to Christmas, the greater the frequency of credit checks performed. The second place creditor was Washington Mutual and coming in third was The Bank of America.
Now The CIA
If banks can access your records this easily, then it must be a breeze for The CIA. In order to protect Americans from being lumped into suspected terrorism, espionage and potential candidates for credit card hell, we need new laws. Congress is supposed to be looking into The CIA activity for legality. I expect the outcome may be the issuance of a new of international intrigue credit cards to skirt the issues that will come up. The slogan, "We are into more than your wallet." Meanwhile, the lending industry unless we get new laws will continue with these unwarranted credit checks unregulated.
