OT: CompUSA Collecting personal information / Is this a trend ?

[Jeff Nyman]

I worked in construction for many years and this is common practice for
many contractors. Building permits are public record. I would often
go to cities to see who was building so I could go to the contractor
and see if he needed a painter.

Jeff Nyman
systems administrator
Caselle Inc.
jln at caselle.com
support at caselle.com
(801)798.2092 x1095 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: plug-bounces at plug.org [mailto:plug-bounces at plug.org]On Behalf Of
> Roberto Mello
> Sent: Monday, January 31, 2005 8:27 PM
> To: pluglist at plug.org
> Subject: Re: OT: CompUSA Collecting personal information / Is this a
> trend?
> 
> 
> On Mon, Jan 31, 2005 at 01:15:27PM -0700, Jeff Schroeder wrote:
> > 
> > I agree wholeheartedly.  There's a growing trend for companies to 
> > request this sort of information, and as far as I can tell 
> there's no 
> > compelling reason for it.  If you're buying an item, they 
> already have 
> > access to your credit card; it doesn't make sense to get 
> your birthday, 
> > SSN, driver's license number, favorite pizza topping, or whatever.
> 
> Yep.
> 
> A couple weeks ago I got a building permit from Provo city, 
> so I can work
> on my basement (I didn't know I needed one when I started). I 
> paid $73 for
> it.
> 
> Last Friday I get a call from some dude in Salt Lake City:
> 
> - "Hello Mr. Mello, we'd like to offer you a free quote on 
> your basement
>   remodeling"
> 
> - Me: "Huh? Who told you I was working on my basement?"
> 
> - "Your building permit sir."
> 
> - Me: "Oh. No, thanks, I don't need a quote."
> 
> Call me naive but I didn't know a building permit for an amateur doing
> simple remodeling on his own house was public information. I 
> felt really
> violated by the city.
> 
> I jump on the 'net and find several companies who scour these building
> permit records and sell them to construction companies.
> 
> Today I started receiving spam on my mail from several different
> companies, from garage door sellers to bath tub installation people.
> 
> Anyone know what could I do about this with the city? I don't 
> think this
> should be public information.
> 
> -Roberto
> 
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