crossing the figgin border

[mustangjoe]

In late January I returned to Canada from a short holiday in Hawaii. Canada customs gave me a hard time on the way back into the country. I got the back room deal which includes a thorough searching of my person, all my luggage as well as a 20 minute interrogation. They asked obscure questions like when the last time I held a gun was, do I know any gang members, so on and so forth. I've been through the whole deal many times before so I'm some what familiar with their procedure. I just accept it as part of the hassle of travel.

However, what really got my goat this time is I just found out they pulled a credit check on me. I feel very violated by these clowns. I never agreed nor did they ask me permission to pull a credit report. I was under the impression that NO ONE had the right to pull my credit unless I agreed to it.

Has anyone else ever heard of this, been through this, or know if these clowns have the right to do this? Not much gets gets me pissed off, but I feel like my privacy has been envaded. I know those border clowns have a lot of power, but I think this is crossing the line. Is anything truly private anymore?

 

[noneasgood]

How did they manage to do that unless they had access to your SI number?

 

[mustangjoe]

How did they manage to do that unless they had access to your SI number?

It's the gov't, I'm sure they don't need me to give them my SI number to access it.

 

[expo joe]

I know for sure that private individuals and private entities do not have the right to perform a credit check on a person unless they have written consent in the form of a "authorization notice" with specific "legal wording" but.............they are the government.

 

[mustangjoe]

They do so..otherwise how do they know they have the right credit info?
Lot's of people have the same name. (ie John Smith)

I have accessed both my own credit and credit of my clients as recently as last month, and I can say beyond a doubt one needs at least a SI number to do this.

All I know is they never asked me for my SI # but they pulled my credit regardless. Under the inquiries section of my report it says 'canada customs' and the date matched the day I came back to YVR. What a joke.

 

[butter]

They do so..otherwise how do they know they have the right credit info?
Lot's of people have the same name. (ie John Smith)

I have accessed both my own credit and credit of my clients as recently as last month, and I can say beyond a doubt one needs at least a SI number to do this.

They don't need it. Yes there are many John Smith's but how many are currently residing at 4321 ABC Street as listed on your valid ID being used to reenter the country? With your name and address they can get your SI, not that they would need it.

 

[mustangjoe]

thanks for your replies gentlemen, but we're running off on a tangent here.

I'm not too concerned with HOW they got it, 'cause it's the gov't.. They can get anything..

I'm concerned with the legal aspects of getting it. I view my credit file as a very private thing and even tho I don't have anything to hide I feel very violated that they just helped themselves to it.

 

[American Male]

I don't know if there is a difference between the Canadian and American gov'ts in this regard, but I know that the US gov't has the ability to collect any information it wants on any of its citizens and justify anything they do in the name of "national security." This is how the US gov't tries to cover its own tracks in some obvious cases of invasion of privacy. I have not been here long enough to know if Canada pulls that same routine.

I hope and suspect that the Canadian gov't does not play that fast and loose with its citizens, with its own laws and with an individual's right to privacy as the US gov't does. I least, I hope this is true.

 

[Smoky]

I'm not allowed to cross the border

 

[noneasgood]

If you're concerned with the legal aspects, why not phone the credit agency and ask what there policy is regarding this type of enquiry. They may be able to provide you something in writing which states what the policy is. That's what I would probably try doing first.

 

[mustangjoe]

I'm not allowed to cross the border

If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

 

[mustangjoe]

If you're concerned with the legal aspects, why not phone the credit agency and ask what there policy is regarding this type of enquiry. They may be able to provide you something in writing which states what the policy is. That's what I would probably try doing first.

good idea. I'm on it.

 

[gravitas]

I'm concerned with the legal aspects of getting it

Agree with you that aside from criminal investigations the gov't shouldn't have carte blanche to look into your personal information.

Curious, and feel free not to share, but in what context did they disclose to you that they had your credit report? Have you ever imported/exported large volumes of merchandise, art, etc?

I'm not allowed to cross the border

No disrespect intended but I've got to agree with MJ. Prior to and even after 9/11 I think a lot of Canadians (and to a lesser extent Americans) viewed crossing the 49th as a non-event, didn't require much scrutiny and everyone could cross regardless of their past. I obviously don't know the specifics as to why you can't cross the border but I'd assume it was a result of a conviction that had you been prosecuted in the states it would have been a felony or somehow narcotics related. If thats the case my understanding is best of luck since even if you receive a pardon it can be problematic to get into the US as they're not obligated to purge their records once they have the information.

 

[mustangjoe]

Agree with you that aside from criminal investigations the gov't shouldn't have carte blanche to look into your personal information.

Curious, and feel free not to share, but in what context did they disclose to you that they had your credit report? Have you ever imported/exported large volumes of merchandise, art, etc?



.

They never did disclose that they had my credit report. I found out on my own just yesterday when I went to go pull my own file. Canada Customs did an enquiry on my file the same day I returned home. I have never imported anything from anywhere.

 

[gravitas]

I'd be placing a call to your MP and ask that he/she look into things

 

[ironchef]

i would assume that the Border Services have a bit more power now than the Revenue agency. Both do have quite a bit of power, they obviously suspected you of something, and based on that can look into your background as thoroughly as they want. your SIN number is pretty much standard, you wouldn't have to give it to them, they probably have quite a bit of info from your passport already. My opinion is that credit history isn't really something that they would need a court order or anything.

 

[MissingOne]

in what ways is MJ different from me?

My curiousity is aroused MJ. I cross the border quite frequently, mostly for business reasons. My passport contains visas and stamps from all sorts of odd places that might arouse the interest of the border authorities.

Yet, I almost always cruise through without more than the usual perfunctory questions. Last week, for the first time in years, I did get the second stage questioning, but they didn't even ask to look in my baggage.

Yet from what you say you frequently get your luggage and person searched.

I wonder what differentiates you and me? I'm a white-skinned anglo type. Are you by any chance brown-skinned? Is there something else that differentiates us?

I'm not wishing to pry into your private business, I'm just curious as to why the border folks do what they do.

 

[mustangjoe]

nope,

I'm not brown skinned. I'm a white guy.

I'm young, and I travel a lot. I look like a drug dealer, a criminal, a trouble maker up to no good. I don't wear a shirt and tie but I do have some expensive jewlerry, a fancy cell phone and shit like that. I realize it looks suspicious to the border folks, and this is why I understand why I constantly get stopped at the border. I can live with it as I never have anything to hide. I come to expect being hasseled, but a credit check crosses the line in my opinion.

 

[Buddha]

Mustang,

I travel back and forth over the Canada US border about 20 times a year for business, I usually cruise right throught as well, but when I came back from Hawaii in December I got pulled aside into the secondary too. The agent took my passport and left me alone on the inspection area for about 20 minutes, she came back asked me a bunch of bizzare questions then sent me on my way, I have no idea why they did this. Ever since that trip it seems that I'm constantly getting the second degree from both US and Canada agents.

 

[gravitas]

asked me a bunch of bizzare questions

define bizzare?