If you pay down debt and you could find Homeland Security on your ass.

[Blue Belle]

Via Raw Story:

Pay Too Much and You Could Raise the Alarm

http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=RAISEALARM-02-28-06

<SNIP>"We're a product of the '60s," he said. "We believe government should be way away from us in that regard."

He was referring to the recent decision by him and his wife to be responsible, to do the kind of thing that just about anyone would say makes good, solid financial sense.

They paid down some debt. The balance on their JCPenney Platinum MasterCard had gotten to an unhealthy level. So they sent in a large payment, a check for $6,522.

<SNIP>After sending in the check, they checked online to see if their account had been duly credited. They learned that the check had arrived, but the amount available for credit on their account hadn't changed.They both learned the same astounding piece of information about the little things that can set the threat sensors to beeping and blinking.

They were told, as they moved up the managerial ladder at the call center, that the amount they had sent in was much larger than their normal monthly payment. And if the increase hits a certain percentage higher than that normal payment, Homeland Security has to be notified. And the money doesn't move until the threat alert is lifted.

The moral of the story kids: pay down debt... get put on Homeland Security Watch List. Makes you wonder how many Terrorists are buying munitions with their JC Penny Cards.

[momster]

1. Try transferring $10,000

or more from one account to another. That will also raise the red flag. They put that one into effect a dozen years ago, ostensibly to catch drug traffickers. Now who knows who'll come knocking on the door.

[Bobbieo]

2. Pay too Much

What would happen if I tried to pay off the balance on my mortgage I'm thinking of it.

[Warpy]

10. The bank will submit paperwork to the Feds.

In my case, it'll be a brokerage house, because I'm going to do just that in the next couple of months.

They're really going to shit themselves, too, because I'll also be self paying for some surgery.

[mark11727]

3. Oh crap...!

Four years ago, we refinanced the house, which has appreciated considerably in the past ten years... and either had the bank pay off several credit cards directly, or we moved money around to and from different credit card accounts, depending on their APR's.

Last year I cashed in some old stock options (due to expire in another couple of years) and put the money toward a new car (replacing the old 1988 car).

And we're constantly closing old accounts with zero balances that have accumulated over the years, just to keep things tidy.

Helluva dossier they must have by now, eh?

[schmuls]

4. Eek! I was planning on putting a large chunk toward my cc debt!

I'm probably slated for the detention camp by now anyway.

[Blue Belle]

5. I'm right there with ya!!

We should just rent "The Great Escape" now and start planning... :)

[LSK]

6. K&R

This disgusts me. We are loosing all our freedoms. How long till a total police state????? :grr:

[Sequoia]

7. Guess I won't be spending my tax return on depts then.

Anyone watch "Earl" last night on TV where he tried to pay the government back but they refused his money. Heh,heh...too funny.

[Yavin4]

8. As DUers, We Have Nothing To Fear About This

We're already red flagged a million times because we post on DU. What's one more red flag?

[Beelzebud]

9. Welcome to the Land of Freedom! May I see your papers?

[Kansas Wyatt]

11. Seems like 'Cash & Carry' is becoming a more attractive option

As opposed to the Government crawling up your ass, because you would like to exit the Corporate Government Store (formerly known as the Company Store).

[acmavm]

12. See, this is why Rush cashed all those checks for under

10 grand. He didn't want to end up on a list somewhere. (Lot of good it did him, eh?)

[Blue Belle]

13. Shows you how much pull MBNA has...

How dare the Soehnges have a JC Penny MasterCard!! Traitors!!