Data mystery:
1. Google's payment systems regularly require me to regularly re-identify myself to them at the "picture of passport" level. No other online payment provider has this problem with me.
.2 The passport office, on my last renewal, required surprising-to-the-clerk, mysterious, time-consuming, additional checks with a system in DC.
(🧵)
3. Two weeks ago, becoming a signer on a small business account at BMO: no problem. Yesterday, same at BOA: at great mystification to the bank's systems guy, my SSN was rejected repeatedly and eventually they said they couldn't put me on the account until they saw my actual SSN card.
Recurring pattern: unclear if the humans involved (bank clerks, Google folks, passport) can't tell me because it's secret in some way, or simply because it is so rare they don't know.
(🧵)
So: anyone have any theories on why this is happening?
@luis_in_brief
All these events suggest some kind of severe security threat flag. "Name matches known terrorist" kind of thing.
You could try signing up for TSA pre-check, and see if they tell you *why* your name is suddenly so hot.
Ultimately, the only way to find out is to put yourself through a government system and hope that someone actually tells you.
@katanova @luis_in_brief Could also try buying a firearm at a licensed dealer and seeing what that instant background check turns up.
@LouisIngenthron @katanova creative! Though my neighborhood gun shop closed a few years ago and I suspect the next one is a loooooong way away…
@luis_in_brief @katanova Ah, right. Here in Florida, most convenience stores have a gun aisle (not really).
@LouisIngenthron @katanova I miss home!
(narrator: he did not miss home, especially not the mosquitoes, humidity, and guns)