Consumers Continue to Feel Privacy is Threatened
Posted by Kraig Baker
Consumers' distrust of Corporate America is growing. It's probably not surprising following a summer full of well-publicized data breaches, but a CBS News/New York Times Poll shows widespread concern about what has become a common business practice -- collecting personal information about individuals. A large majority of Americans express negative views about companies collecting personal information about individuals, including what they buy, their credit histories, and income information.
When presented with reasons for and against such practices, 83% say that it is mostly a bad thing because it makes it easier for the information to be shared inappropriately, and just 13% think it is mostly good because it allows companies to better serve their customers and process financial transactions quickly. 82% of Americans think that privacy is under threat or has already been lost and 68% think the government needs to do more about it.
Even more interesting, the poll shows that almost twice as many of those polled fear what their banks and credit card companies will do with the information than what the government and law enforcement agencies might do. A big change from Americans' historic distrust of their government. Look for more new privacy laws governing Corporate America's management of customer information....
Can skip trace collection companies contact your neighbors by phone and ask them to deliver an urgent message to you to return the call?
Hello. I am an employee of CMS(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). I am a customer svc representative who deals with medicare beneficiaries, medical providers, and different types of insurance companies. As representatives we have always been required to give either our last name or first name with first intial of our last name. Very recently it has been stated that we must give both our first and last name. This request makes me very uncomfortable. I would like to know if this request is within the confines of the law. Can an employer require you to give your whole name to the general public? It has been stated that if we do not give our full name disciplinary action will be taken against us. I would assume either first or last name with a employee specific identification number should be sufficient to identify each rep. Pls contact me and let me know what is correct?
My question is simple. Under the personal privacy law can a Homeowner's Association that collects monthly association dues in a gated community not allow you entrance into the community, because you fail to give a copy of your car registration? A personal document?
According to a letter sent to all homeowners by the Master Association. It indicates that we must submit the association with a copy of the vehicle registration (registration must have the actual house address) for the above listed vehciles by March 15, 2006 or the barcode information will not be entered into the database and the barcodes will not be activated. Don't they need my permission to enter my information into their database? I have reviewed the Bylaws/Articles as well as Florida Statute 720 which is not supportive of the above.