legalized identity theft

your credit card company might be selling your identity right now and you'd had to read the fine print in their privacy policy to find out what they are doing and that you must call and tell them you don't want them to because they automatically do it unless you find out how to stop them...

of course they are not making it easy for you and they are not advertising what they are doing, but you can read one of the ways your identity can be stolen or sold in the privacy policy for Paypal and their bank, GE Money Bank... I emphasized the potential for identity theft, or at least for SPAM that you might never connect with Paypal or GE, and we can note that the state of Vermont has a law that does not allow Paypal or GE to do what they do... too bad other states aren't protecting your consumer rights and privacy and money the way Vermont is...

take this:

"Third Parties, Who are Interested in Offering Special Products or Services to You"

in other words, SPAM... Paypal and GE team up to sell your personal information, interests, buying habits, financial worth, credit information, and who knows what else to people/companies that want to sell you stuff unless you tell them not to... don't take my word for it, read their words:

"For example, we may disclose information to financial services providers offering products such as insurance, mortgages or loans, and nonfinancial companies offering consumer products and services. We may disclose name, address and telephone numbers, as well as Credit Card Account purchase and performance history."

and can you really opt-out once you've given your presonal information to Paypal?... well, here's what they say:

Please understand that, even if you opt out as described above, we will continue to share information with PayPal, Inc. and its affiliates, joint marketing partners and service providers as described in this policy, and as otherwise permitted by law. And we will continue to share information that identifies you, and about your transactions and experiences with us, with companies within the GE Family.

• We will process your request promptly. However, it may take us several weeks to ensure that all records are updated with your preference. In the interim, you may continue to be included in programs as described above. Also, after your request is processed, you may still be contacted by our affiliates and/or other companies based on their own information.

in other words, they will continue using the information they have to send you SPAM and they are not responsible for the other companies who use the information they sold during the several weeks it takes for them to comply with your request that they stop selling your information for profit to SPAMMERS...

it does get worse...

If you decide to close your Credit Card Account or become an inactive customer, or if we close or suspend your Credit Card Account, we will continue to adhere to the privacy policies and practices described in this notice to the extent we retain information about you.

in other words, you can opt-out, cancel your account, and they will continue doing what they do... retain information about you and share it with GE affiliates who will continue to SPAM you...

read the entire "privacy" policy here