"John Rumm" wrote in message
...
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
or am neutral about.

Do you truly believe you have nothing to hide?

Yes. What sort of thing do you think I might be hiding?

Are you aware of the implications of hiding nothing?

There haven't been any problems so far. In that historical context I'm happy
to continue.

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.

LOL! Who would want any aspect of my life?

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,

We already have those things but they're not essential.

take out life insurance etc.

Because I'm honest I couldn't get life insurance but I don't want it.

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 what?

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.

So what? I have a ridiculously high credit rating because, I suspect, I
don't use it. They keep raising it and I tell them I don't want or need it.
They still do it. If that's being a first class citizen I'll be happy going
down a notch or two.

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?

I would, but it could happen now so that's a red herring in terms of an ID
system.

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?

In my arrogance I believe that if that happened my powers of persuasion
would put it right.

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?

Look, what has all this to do with ID cards? Despite its imperfections there
are many (too many sometimes) enforced checks on health care for such things
to be extremely unlikely. If you tell me that they happen already I believe
you - but that means that it's not an argument against an ID system.

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

No. It really does seem to display paranoia at best, guilt at worst.

Mary