August 18, 2007

Dear Mr. Schell:

Several weeks ago, this writer received a post card from State Farm claiming "US Postal Service records indicate someone in your household has submitted a permanent mailing address change."

The Buchanan Dam Postmaster claims, to the best of his knowledge, the Post Office does not sell or give away mailing information. Also, none of State Farm Insurance correspondence to date contains "Address Correction Requested" on the envelope necessary to trigger such release of information by postal authorities.

-- If State Farm policy had indeed changed regarding address correction, it still made no sense since we are directly in the middle of the six-month billing period and no correspondence was expected anyway.

Contact was immediately made with the carrier, Atkinson State Farm Insurance, of Marble Falls. Office staff requested a copy of the post card so appropriate tracking could ensue. This writer quickly complied and was informed State Farm regional offices receive twice-yearly mailing list updates from the United States Postal Service (USPS.)

1) Is this true?
2) If so, is State Farm paying for this confidential information, or is it provided free of charge?
3) If so, are the State Farm CEO and Board aware of claimed twice-yearly mailing list updates by USPS?

While State Farm does not abuse customer information to the best of my knowledge, it is still quite disturbing if major corporations are now buying or given forced confidential mailing information by USPS. If the Postal Service is indeed doing this, the public must be made aware.

The readers of my unfunded non-profit publication would certainly be most interested if true. There are also serious national security implications. Regardless, careless disclosure and use of information by any parties are quite a problem due to identity theft. -- This writer is still personally dealing with the consequences four years after the fact.

… Particularly, why I’m so concerned when the local office includes a birth date on a renewal reminder, -- twice in the last couple of years. If the mail had indeed been stolen, the date, the name, and the mailing address are all that are needed to steal someone’s identity.

If State Farm is in fact receiving customer information from USPS, it could not be morally justified under any circumstances, and would be no more than an outrageous abrogation of policyholder privacy. -- Even if there are outrageously unconstitutional laws or regulations that "allow" it.

… Such as laws and/or regulations that permit abusive insurance companies to run "credit checks" on drivers mandated by state law to carry minimal liability coverage. Can only wonder how many millions were expended by the insurance lobby to legally bribe lawmakers to pass such highly-abusive legislation.

Legislation that is clearly not in the best interests of policyholders and is in no way a true, reliable measure of driver risk. … Despite phony claims to the contrary by lobbyists and their hopelessly avaricious sponsors in the insurance industry. No more than a false abuse of statistical information to the shameless advantage of insurers.

Sadly, in addition, no more than a convenient tool used by the insurance industry to unjustly discriminate and inappropriately increase insurance rates on those applying for state-mandated minimum coverage. Has certainly led to an egregious loss of credibility as well as the shameless looting of shafted policyholders.

If mailing information were indeed shared by USPS, it would be no more than another black eye for it and the insurance industry. If true, when did policyholders give their permission for this outrageous abrogation of privacy?

Was it hidden in the fine print somewhere, -- or written in "legalese" only understood by the legal community? Or dumped on us by an outrageously patronizing, condescending, hopelessly corrupt and abusive nanny state?

An amusing aside, the Pace Arrow, although idled periodically, has not been moved the last several years. Yet, this writer is paying dearly to keep it road-ready while the company truly has zero exposure. … Ironic, isn’t it? J

Thanks for your cooperation in the mailing list matter, as well as well as clear and responsive answers to the three carefully enumerated questions above. My readers will be most interested.

Interestingly, and although thoroughly cooperative in this matter, the local office was apparently reluctant to provide the name and address of the State Farm Chief Executive Officer, instead choosing to direct this writer’s attention to your office.

Whether or not the CEO and Board are aware of privacy issues and problems within State Farm, however, is key to determining whether the problems raised in this letter are top-down or bottom-up.

Please be advised an inquiry has also been made with the U.S. Postmaster General regarding the mailing list issue and response to a request for USPS privacy policy is expected.

Interestingly, the 1-800-ASK-USPS line hotly denies the Postal Service is selling or giving away customer information. The purpose of this correspondence is to determine the truth.

Respectfully,
 

Tim Chorney, Publisher
Liberty In Peril
Formerly, The Llano Ledger
P.O. Box 151
Buchanan Dam, Texas 78609

Cc: Mike Atkinson, Atkinson State Farm Insurance