topic Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin in Credit Cards

Amex spying on my Linkedin

toppers555 — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:04:42 GMT

So I requested a cli yesturday on my BCE. I got the will recieve written notice message so i figure Its a no go , and this morning I wake up to a notice that someone that a credit analyst at Amex looked at my profile.

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

Anonymous — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:38:26 GMT

wouldn't that be breaking some kind of privacy law, no?

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

ibmrad7 — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:40:47 GMT

Could have been a coincidence. They can't do this.

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

Anonymous — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:44:20 GMT

It was either a coincidence or the analyst was breaking some pretty major laws! Maybe call Amex back and ask for the name of the Analyst who helped you yesterday and see if it was the same person who looked at your linkedin?

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

CS800 — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:48:58 GMT

I would think AMEX cant do this. Too much of a coincidence I would say.

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

Anonymous — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:49:43 GMT

what laws exactly would amex be breaking? your linked in profile is public. amex claims to use all available internal and externa data they can to evaluate your creditworthiness.

This would not surprise me given their FR policy.

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

Anonymous — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:50:31 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
It was either a coincidence or the analyst was breaking some pretty major laws! Maybe call Amex back and ask for the name of the Analyst who helped you yesterday and see if it was the same person who looked at your linkedin?

Which laws do you imagine are being broken? Anyone can (try to) look up anyone on linkedin (or facebook etc) so there is no privacy issue. Only legal concerns would be if the credit decision was made using prohibited criteria based on linkedin profile (e.g. "Oh she's female/black/vet/old") etc, which would be almost impossible to prove

Edit: NJTurnpike beat me to it!

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

ibmrad7 — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:50:38 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
It was either a coincidence or the analyst was breaking some pretty major laws! Maybe call Amex back and ask for the name of the Analyst who helped you yesterday and see if it was the same person who looked at your linkedin?

This ^^^^^^

Absolutely make a fuss about it. He could have ran your name on his own but he is part of AMEX's domain.

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

Anonymous — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:53:41 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
It was either a coincidence or the analyst was breaking some pretty major laws! Maybe call Amex back and ask for the name of the Analyst who helped you yesterday and see if it was the same person who looked at your linkedin?
Which laws do you imagine are being broken? Anyone can (try to) look up anyone on linkedin (or facebook etc) so there is no privacy issue. Only legal concerns would be if the credit decision was made using prohibited criteria based on linkedin profile (e.g. "Oh she's female/black/vet/old") etc, which would be almost impossible to prove

Edit: NJTurnpike beat me to it!

I'm quick like that.

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

toppers555 — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:03:11 GMT

Doubt any laws were broken . More or less it is a thought of is it right? We are in the age of social media. I really dunno if I mind it or not.

@ibmrad7 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
It was either a coincidence or the analyst was breaking some pretty major laws! Maybe call Amex back and ask for the name of the Analyst who helped you yesterday and see if it was the same person who looked at your linkedin?
This ^^^^^^
Absolutely make a fuss about it. He could have ran your name on his own but he is part of AMEX's domain.

They searched privately. I only know it a credit analyst because with linkedin account I I have. Their name is withheld but position shows they have in their linkedin profile.

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

Anonymous — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:02:40 GMT

@ibmrad7 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
It was either a coincidence or the analyst was breaking some pretty major laws! Maybe call Amex back and ask for the name of the Analyst who helped you yesterday and see if it was the same person who looked at your linkedin?
This ^^^^^^
Absolutely make a fuss about it. He could have ran your name on his own but he is part of AMEX's domain.

This is exactly what I'm worried about. He saw the request on AMEX's system and one reason or another became interested in looking up your name. I imagine there is some kind of non-disclosure agreement between Amex and their employees who have access to SSN, DOB, name, address, etc of ccholders and if there is and if this was the case (looking up your name on his own time for his own interest) the analyst is breaking an agreement.

*But again this is just another possibility, it might just be a common practice by Amex to analyze credit risks.

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

Anonymous — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:11:29 GMT

I looked it up and the law isn't crystal clear on the matter but this what I found and hopefully will shed some light!

Apparently they can look at your social networking sites if they are marked public and use what they see to make a decision on your application. However, most companies have steered away from this as the creditor must be able to provide evidence that the "visit" was for business use only.. So, if a customer service rep gets Suzie Smith on the phone calling into make a phone payment and the rep thinks she sounds cute and goes to her facebook page to check out what she looks like, then the rep can be fired and the company can be sued for harassment.. BUT, if the she calls in for a CLI and the analyst goes to her page then that looks like a more legitimate reason for the company to be on her page since she is calling in for more credit.. So, if the person wanted to they could fight it.. but the company better have pretty good reason to be on her social networking page..

That’s the information that I came away with.. hope this helps!

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

Anonymous — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:43:35 GMT

Sounds a little 'stalkish' to me

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

09Lexie — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:24:09 GMT

A little creepy too I would think they have more tangible data to rely on then using social media.

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

Drew — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:50:47 GMT

What's your LinkedIn name op? I'll get to the bottom of this.

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

chan85 — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:52:32 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I looked it up and the law isn't crystal clear on the matter but this what I found and hopefully will shed some light!

Apparently they can look at your social networking sites if they are marked public and use what they see to make a decision on your application. However, most companies have steered away from this as the creditor must be able to provide evidence that the "visit" was for business use only.. So, if a customer service rep gets Suzie Smith on the phone calling into make a phone payment and the rep thinks she sounds cute and goes to her facebook page to check out what she looks like, then the rep can be fired and the company can be sued for harassment.. BUT, if the she calls in for a CLI and the analyst goes to her page then that looks like a more legitimate reason for the company to be on her page since she is calling in for more credit.. So, if the person wanted to they could fight it.. but the company better have pretty good reason to be on her social networking page..

That’s the information that I came away with.. hope this helps!

I work for a diff CC company, and I have seen where the credit analysts will go and check linked in when customers are requesting a CLI and document on our internal notes that based on linked in profile customer is a "insert profession here" and then "avg salary is typically x for this positions", and include whatever info they found on review of your credit file if they see fit, followed by approval or denial of CLI.

Basically it looks to me like they are making sure you are capable of handling the increase. So if you lie and say you make 200k a year and you are an astronaut, and then they look at your profile and it says you are "actively seeking employment" and your last job was the fry line guy at Wendy's, they probably won't give you that CLI.....

I think you are fine. I wouldn't sweat it. If I were you and that concerned about people or companies looking at my profile, maybe set it to private so they can only view it if you are connected?

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

thom02099 — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:03:23 GMT

Just one more reason NOT to use social media! What YOU don't know (about your privacy or lack thereof) CAN hurt you.

--Proud to NOT be a member of Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace,Twitter...whathaveyou...!

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

toppers555 — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:07:49 GMT

Nah I am not really that concerned. Was more or less just am interesting thing that happen. As a programmer I am use to having random ppl review my LinkedIn

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

ForumPheen — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:11:30 GMT

I don't see why Amex has the need to look at a person's profile for any given reason before giving a decision. They've operated for years without it before social networks were prevalent. So yes, should you get denied, I would look to that as part of the reason, regardless of what they say.

Re: Amex spying on my Linkedin

09Lexie — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:13:21 GMT

@thom02099

Count me in as a 'non-member too' !