Mary Fisher wrote:

Wouldn't it be more convenient in some cases to have that information?

And in the case of the car reg. database, it has some medical information on
me and on Spouse and I'm sure we're not unique.What's more, it doesn't worry
us and that's the main basis for my lack of worry about an ID system, we
have nothing to hide. I know I've said it before but people do keep trying
to prove that we have - or might have. We don't. I have a personal attitude
to this, I know that it isn't shared by others, the same applies to all
sorts of other things I care about, don't care about oram neutral about.

Do you truly believe you have nothing to hide? Are you aware of the
implications of hiding nothing?

Given the content of the (proposed) information that would be held about
you in the ID database it would be possible (in fact easy) for those
with criminal intent to misappropriate your identity. From that starting
point, they could demolish many aspects of your life for their own
financial gain. This is not a pipe dream of my over active imagination,
it happens to thousands of people every year already.

You assume that for example your credit rating is of no relevance to you
because you don't seek credit. Do you realise that it will dictate
whether you are allowed to open an account at a bank or building
society, have a cheque book, take out life insurance etc. It will
dictate the terms and conditions under which many financial institutions
will deal with you. With a poor rating you become a second class citizen
in their eyes. So when someone uses your ID information to open
fraudulent bank accounts, store accounts, gain credit cards etc, then
runs up large debts they do not repay, it will be your rating that suffers.

Would you be concerned if a criminal impersonated you so as to empty
your bank and savings accounts, or perhaps even take out a mortgage
assured against your home?

How would you like to find that you have acquired a criminal record due
to someone's impersonation of your identity? Or perhaps an entry on the
sex offenders register?

What about if a "health tourist" used your details to obtain medical
care on the NHS? What if said care resulted in information being added
to your medical records that is completely incorrect (i.e. fora
different patient) and may result in incorrect treatments being offered
to you in the future?

Even if none of these things are of any concern to you personally, can
you understand why some people may be concerned about them?


--
Cheers,

John.

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