From: dh4j+@andrew.cmu.edu (David O Hunt)
Newsgroups: alt.censorship,alt.privacy
Subject: Private data not so private
Date: 23 Aug 92 02:33:55 GMT
Organization: Masters student, Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA


Hello all.  A while ago I promised to get some info about what is
available about us...well, here it is in gory detail:



PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING *below     PEOPLE LOCATOR SEARCHES
------------------------            -----------------------

-Consumer Credit Reports            -Social Security Number Traces
-Criminal Records                   -Name Trace
-Driving Histories                  -Address Verification
-Professional License Standings     -National Change of Address Data
-Education Backgrounds              -Occupants by Street or Area
-Workers' Compensation Claims       -Decedent Data
-Past Employment Histories          -Telephone Number Ownership
                                    -Telephone Number Changes
VEHICLE RECORDS                     -Military Personnel Locator
---------------                     -Surname Scans: City, State, National

-Vehicle Registrations              BUSINESS BACKGROUND
-License Plate Ownership            -------------------
-Total Vehicle Ownership By Name
-Driving Histories                  -In-Depth Business Report
-Pleasure Craft Registration        -Verified Business Credit Report
-Aircraft Ownership                 -Business Asset Records
-Title Histories                    -Fictitious Name Records
-Mechanic's Lien Process            -Trademark Identifications
                                    -SEC Filings
PUBLIC RECORDS -Indvl & Business    -Holdings and Subsidiaries
--------------------------------    -Public Filings
                                    -Uniform Commercial Code Records
-Judgements                         -Civil Case Records
-Tax Liens
-Bankruptcies                       NEW VENDOR SCREENING
-Marriage and Divorce Records       --------------------
-Birth Records
-Civil Records                      -Credit Background
-Probate                            -Trade Association Records
-Litigation by Address              -Business Background
                                    -Public Filings
FEDERAL RECORDS                     -Trade Reference Verification
---------------                     -Subsidiary Searches

-Bankruptcy
-Tax Liens
-Criminal Records
-Judgements


Details of the Pre-Employment Services (from * above).  Note - XXXX is
the name of the network, and I've X'ed it out....

CREDIT REPORTS:  The network gives you access to every credit bureau
nationwide.  XXXX's Profile host employs an automatic directory program
that routes your request to the nearest bureau to the applicant's home
address.  Reports are programmed to alert the employer to mail drop
addresses, fraudulent social security numbers and the possible use of
assumed names.
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND:  Criminal conviction histories are available nationwide
at the county level, and statewide from many states.  Statewide county level
records are available for the past 7 years on a given subject in most areas.
Records vary from area to area but in general will list all offenses proven
and the resulting consequence.  Turnaround time is exceptionally fast, and
the low cost makes a criminal background check very affordable for all
levels of employment.  Employers familiar with negligent hiring or retention
suits now so popular will note that most of these cases rest on a past
history of criminal behavior.

DRIVER'S LICENSE HISTORIES:  Driver's License histories are available through
the XXXX Network from all states and DC.  Records reflect from 3 to 7 years
of driving history and alcohol offences are retained as a permanent part of
the individual's driving record.  Driving histories are valuable as part of
any pre-employment screening process and can also be used to periodically
check drivers of company vehicles.

WORKER'S COMPENSATION CLAIMS:  Records are availavle at the state level
from 44 states.  A worker's compensation records allows the employer to
place new employees into positions best suited to their physical abilities.
These records vary by state but normally include a full claims record, case
numbers, dates, injury data, the deposition ofthe claim and the employer
of record at the time of the incident.
EDUCATION HISTORY:  An education review obtained through the XXXX Network
verifies degrees attained and gathers a general history of the student's
activity according to the policy of the institution.  Records from over
6000 schools of advanced education and training are available.

SOCIAL SECURITY VERIFICATION:  XXXX Profile system is programmed to
automatically verify the social security number given by the applicant
through the credit report ordered.  Where available or known this feature
will indicate the use of a retired, faulty, or unissued number. This check
is included with each credit report at no extra fee.

PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT RECORDS:  XXXX past employment review is a verification
of the data submitted by the applicant.  Points of verification include
dates of employment, work history, position, supervisor, salary, and reason
for leaving.  By use of the approved XXXX query form, the rights and
concerns of the previous employers are protected which gives the user a
very high response ratio.

PROFESSIONAL LICENSE CHECK:  Good standing reports are available at the state
level from every state, DC, and US possessions.  Most records will contain
information concerning the applicant's licensed employment history in that
area, employer of last record, current states, and the area of initial
transfer, if any.
EXTENDED BACKGROUND REPORTS:  This search is generally used as an extra,
in-depth check for those applicants being considered for sensitive
positions.  The report seeks residential and employment history using all
personal qualifiers given through multiple databases nationwide.  The
report may indicate omissions in the employment application and may
add additional prior employers and/or areas of residence.  The extended
background report will alert the employer to assumed names and
registered business names connected to the applicant shown within any
of the databases.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discussion:

I've recently heard (verbally) that the Privacy Act mainly applies to
GOVERNMENTAL agencies, and that private institutions (such as companies
and schools) are not nearly as strictly bound by said laws.

Personally, I'm _OUTRAGED_ that this much information is so easily
available about me.  While I have no problems with a potential employer
calling up past employers and my schol to verify my data, to be able to
just call up some database and get the info is, IMHO, obscene.
Note:  This information came (nearly verbatim) from a sales pamphlet
on the XXXX Network.

David
Newsgroups: alt.censorship