Sunroom Desk

Mercedes called our home from a location in Idaho on behalf of Bernett Research. “This is not a sales call,” she assured me. She wished to conduct a survey on individuals’ “financial satisfaction” with their banking and financial services.

It was a slow news day, so I decided to participate.

Yes, I make financial decisions. Yes, I’m 18 years or older. No, I’m not employed by a financial firm.

Next, she asked at which bank I had a personal checking account. I told her I wasn’t going to answer that question. She proceeded to go through a list of banking institutions, asking the question a different way. I told her I wouldn’t answer any of those questions. Mercedes said if I didn’t answer I couldn’t participate in the survey. “I guess you’ll have to call someone else,” I concluded.

Bernett Research is a reputable firm (it didn’t take me long to find them online), but apparently not sensitive to the fact that people shouldn’t be encouraged to provide specific financial account information to a stranger who calls from Idaho.