Back in college I was looking for a nights-and-weekends job and one of the places I applied was at a Gateway computer store. I consented to a background check on the application. After I was called in for an interview, I decided the interviewer was a jerk and the job sounded terrible and I really didn't want to work there after all. A few days later I got a call from the background check company, saying they were having a hard time tracking down a previous boss (who had since quit working for the company we had worked together at), and they needed more detailed information on her. I told them don't worry about it, I wasn't going to take the job anyway. They kept insisting, until I said very clearly, "No. I want you to stop the background check on me; I am not going to work for this employer so I do not need a background check completed."

The next day they called again, a different person from the same company. And another two times after that, with increasing yelling from me, before they finally gave up.

And again, the issue comes down to "where does it end?" I think these personal stories show it can go pretty far.

These days, they could probably find a "reason" to monitor your phone calls.

I agree Shawnee - (hey that rhymes) Anyway, I really don't think things I did 25 years ago should have anything to do with my getting a job today. If I was incarcerated or did some terribly aweful things - perhaps I'd need to explain them, but not for the general public. Thats waayyyy over the line for me.

You should've posted it in spontaneous poems and dedicated it to me. :right:

:D