Credit Bureau Reporting

[ThomPaine]

This thread is probably quite different than most in this category. I am interested in basically shutting down my credit files, Choicepoint files, etc., inasmuch as possible. Obviously there is no way to find all the companies or organisations that have information about you, based on past credit card usage, banking, job history, etc. However, these guys are the largest collectors of data and I try my best to make sure that new data is not collected in any way.

So how would I go about getting these files closed or shut down and protecting all of the info? Is there a provision that allows private companies to collect and store this information without my permission. I have not given them explicit permission to do this or entered into a contract with them. I do recall on old job applications and such that you may authorise a company to access this information for credit history or a background check etc. I have written to Choicepoint in an effort to get my information and they are making it difficult to obtain.

Any suggestions appreciated. I would like to do this cleanly if possible and not involve an atty or the govt, etc.

[mrg]

Originally Posted by ThomPaine

This thread is probably quite different than most in this category. I am interested in basically shutting down my credit files, Choicepoint files, etc., inasmuch as possible. Obviously there is no way to find all the companies or organisations that have information about you, based on past credit card usage, banking, job history, etc. However, these guys are the largest collectors of data and I try my best to make sure that new data is not collected in any way.

So how would I go about getting these files closed or shut down and protecting all of the info? Is there a provision that allows private companies to collect and store this information without my permission. I have not given them explicit permission to do this or entered into a contract with them. I do recall on old job applications and such that you may authorise a company to access this information for credit history or a background check etc. I have written to Choicepoint in an effort to get my information and they are making it difficult to obtain.

Any suggestions appreciated. I would like to do this cleanly if possible and not involve an atty or the govt, etc.

Do you have your ORGANIZATION/TRADE NAME/TRADEMARK registered DBA and copywritten?

Do you have a copyright on your autograph?

If, as you say, "they are making it difficult," the clean-ness you may prefer, may not be possible.

[Judge Roy Bean]

Originally Posted by ThomPaine

This thread is probably quite different than most in this category. I am interested in basically shutting down my credit files, Choicepoint files, etc., inasmuch as possible. Obviously there is no way to find all the companies or organisations that have information about you, based on past credit card usage, banking, job history, etc. However, these guys are the largest collectors of data and I try my best to make sure that new data is not collected in any way.

So how would I go about getting these files closed or shut down and protecting all of the info? Is there a provision that allows private companies to collect and store this information without my permission.

Unfortunately no. The horses left the barn years ago and it burned down not long after.

Originally Posted by ThomPaine

I have not given them explicit permission to do this or entered into a contract with them. I do recall on old job applications and such that you may authorise a company to access this information for credit history or a background check etc. I have written to Choicepoint in an effort to get my information and they are making it difficult to obtain.

The problem is, and most people don't realize this, the data they've been given or purchased about you is their intellectual property and they sell it to people willing to pay for it.

Originally Posted by ThomPaine

Any suggestions appreciated. I would like to do this cleanly if possible and not involve an atty or the govt, etc.

You'll have to disconnect from all forms of financial, medical, telecom and utility services as well as real property or vehicle ownership. You'll have to figure out how to live without a reported income and not file a tax return. You'll have to let your driver's license expire, not register your vehicles, not have insurance of any kind (including health coverage), not travel on airlines, not travel to other countries (where a passport may be required). And you'll have to quit using the Internet through an ISP and use it only on public-access computers. Under the circumstances, you should avoid getting arrested for anything, etc., etc., but even then, you'll only fade a little bit over time, not entirely disappear.

[ThomPaine]

Originally Posted by Judge Roy Bean

The problem is, and most people don't realize this, the data they've been given or purchased about you is their intellectual property and they sell it to people willing to pay for it.

So essentially I have no control over 'my' information because they own it? Is there some way to prove this or elaborate on it?? What are the policies and restrictions for using people's personal information? Who controls it, etc.?

You'll have to disconnect from all forms of financial (bank acct in company name or third party name or use FRNs for now)

medical (self insured and I never get sick)

All utilities will be in the name of a NM LLC, including cellular, though most new phones have GPS :-(
Real estate, land, homes, etc can be placed into the name of an LLC and I can use them with a private contract between two parties, my name is not on anything.

You'll have to figure out how to live without a reported income (I have this now) and not file a tax return (havent for 10 years). You'll have to let your driver's license expire (not to this point yet), not register your vehicles (wont be in my name) not have insurance of any kind (vehicle is corporate, medical, see above)
not travel on airlines (can travel private or charter if needed, though info may still be shared, have to research this)
not travel to other countries where a passport may be required (have a PP now, never used it)

And you'll have to quit using the Internet through an ISP and use it only on public-access computers (ISP is not in my name and the computer that I use to surf does nothing else but surf and get email. Everything then gets dumped to another machine on the network and then shut down.
Under the circumstances, you should avoid getting arrested for anything, etc., etc., but even then, you'll only fade a little bit over time, not entirely disappear.( I would like to avoid being arrested anyway, but strange things happen everyday)

Thanks for the info...I replied to some of your comments above in parenthesis and bold, but for some reason the bold wont show up...