InstantCheckmate

The title is the name of a service in the Internet that offers consumer access to data they gather from public sources. I never had any reason to use their service so I stayed away from them in spite of the numerous ads I get in my email to find out what the record has on me that is accessible to many who avail of their services, hinting that I might want to keep the record straight if there was something amiss.

Being still a slow day on island after Soudelor three months after its fury, I decided to check my record. I was amazed by the speed InstantCheckmate got to my file and before I knew it, it appeared like anything written on me was in a single file available for my viewing. I got curious so I finally asked the bottom line question: What was going to be the cost of the privilege?

It was a monthly subscription to the service that was offered, which, in the process of accessing my data, also included names of people closely associated to me either by kinship or marriage that I can access should I decide to subscribe. Nosy by nature, like every human being, I had difficulty resisting the temptation. But I did. Besides, the monthly subscription under sunnier clime might have been dismissible (NOT!), but I was sure the already strained credit card would prefer not to get the debit.

On the exit, the service came up with an introductory offer of $1 for five days. I resisted putting my credit card in the Internet but this time, cheap overrode common sense. So I sent them my card for a look-see on what they got on me. Before it can be shown, I was given the option to have a digitized copy of the material for another $1.99. “Why not?” I said. $2.99 was not going to break the bank. Of course, I should have known better.

The record came up—my name, places where I lived, and crimes I committed (none). Someone of my namesake not from my identified addresses had been to traffic court a few times, including a conviction for driving without a license.

That was it. Bummer! For the rest of the record, I would have to subscribe. The progressive access involved progressive charges. I declined and replied to their email that they were deceptive with their five-day trial offer so I immediately cancelled my five-day trial though I was assured I had the full five days to be offered again the option to fully subscribe. Neat trick.

I requested my bank that issued my credit card to refuse the charge. My bank wanted the details of the transaction although I already provided them the invoice number and the date processed.

Not unexpectedly, my email reply to InstantCheckmate to cancel was returned as not deliverable, and when I called their listed 1-800 number that was advertised to be open 24-hours, I was informed that I was out of their area of coverage. Bummer! I had no means of getting back to them.

I had hoped that the customer service of my credit card would track the invoice and stop the charges. Not only were the initial charges still on record, five days later my account was debited the cost of a monthly subscription.

This would have been a matter of inconvenient logistic, a trip to the bank and a huddle with the one of the ladies at the customer service desks, a rare but pleasant exercise but it got worse.

It was on a Sunday, the afternoon spent snorkeling at Wing Beach admiring the coral reef still looking good, though locals’ and tourists’ tramping showed telltale signs of broken coral stones, but nonetheless, we lingered for a beautiful sunset and on the way back, to relieve the chef of kitchen duty in our little menagerie, the wife in China attending to real estate, I decided to pick up six Big Macs and three large fries with a lot of ketchup for dinner. 

The card was embarrassingly declined at the drive-through. Fortunately, I was carrying enough cash and when I had time to check online, I discovered that InstantCheckmate charged a subscription while the bank also entered their interest charges and fees, pulling my available balance lower than McDo charges. We’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel!

The inconvenience will be monumental. Customer service will cancel the card, issue another but not due till three weeks later. Not that I will miss the services of a credit card but I have reasons to mosey over to China on occasion and with but one card, should a trip be called for within the next three weeks, I shall be grossly inconvenienced; meanwhile, InstantCheckmate will continue programmed behavior. Surprised? It is 30 years after 1984!

If you want to know what’s on public record, go directly to the source. They are not as fast or convenient as the online services, but they will not deceive you in the process. If you already know your record, spurious entries can be dealt with should they exist. 

Anxiety and pride tripped me on an online service. I was checkmated. Unfortunately, it is the legitimate business of business to scare us of our sense of surety. Welcome to the times!