Enough

These data losses, which will ruin thousands of people's credit histories, are getting real old real fast. I have an account with them.

My former employer also lost my employee data. A duh-rector had it on her PC in her unlocked car. I haven't been there for 5 years, but it was still laying around someone's portable system. And she became a director how?

Banks are trying to improve things, but for every step ahead in new technology, there's a major data loss or another company sending your data to India, Brazil, or even Egypt (pdf). Don't get me wrong: I love my fellow man, I just don't want him to have my credit history on his kitchen table at home.

So now I'm going to take all my credit card apps - reply to them with questions about the company's data security, and mail them back using the prepaid envelope. I'm also going to ask my lenders where my data is and if it is secure. I will also hassle any new telemarketing callers those same questions about their data security procedures.

I hope these people can take the hint.