I went to get a loan...

[milleson]

My mortgage loan application forms came in the mail recently. In reading the fine print, I discovered that they really did ask my race. I ordinarily check the box declining to provide such information.

Here comes the freaky part. The form reads: "If you do not wish to furnish ehtnicity, race, or sex, under Federal regulations, this lender is required to note the information on the basis of visual observation or surname."

What the hell? Why does the government, much less the bank, need to know my race and gender? If they can't discriminate based on such information, why bother to collect it?

I chose not to provide them with any clues regarding this issue. I'll let the bank decide for me.

Has anyone else had this come up?

[SobaViolence]

wow.



that's really uncool. (n)

[Justin]

i recently applied to transfer to another college for my graduate study, and they asked my race on the application. I never looked at it as a big deal, but thought "why do they need to know this"

Many job applications are the same way, sometimes your offered an option in whether or not to provide this information, but other times (such as mine) its a required field


Gender, race, and marrage status are 3 things that NEED to be optional

[Beth]

Why does the government, much less the bank, need to know my race and gender? If they can't discriminate based on such information, why bother to collect it?
I assume such information is collected to make sure that lending companies aren't violating various federal acts through a pattern or practice of discrimination. By forcing companies to collect such data, the government can presumably tell at a glance whether the company's approval/disapproval methods are non-discriminatory.

[Ali]

My mortgage loan application forms came in the mail recently. In reading the fine print, I discovered that they really did ask my race. I ordinarily check the box declining to provide such information.

Here comes the freaky part. The form reads: "If you do not wish to furnish ehtnicity, race, or sex, under Federal regulations, this lender is required to note the information on the basis of visual observation or surname."

What the hell? Why does the government, much less the bank, need to know my race and gender? If they can't discriminate based on such information, why bother to collect it?

I chose not to provide them with any clues regarding this issue. I'll let the bank decide for me.

Has anyone else had this come up? When you go to the US on a UK passport, you get this green form to fill in and on it, with a check box YES or NO is the question "are you or have you ever been a member of or affiliated with a terrorist organisation?" or words to that effect.

I wonder what happened to the people who said YES, like i wanted to...

[milleson]

How long until the government demands to know our "religious affiliation"? On the grounds of preventing discrimination of course.

[Ali]

How long until the government demands to know our "religious affiliation"? On the grounds of preventing discrimination of course. They tried that in the UK and people just took the pi$$! (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1589133.stm):D

[bdavid]

How long until the government demands to know our "religious affiliation"? On the grounds of preventing discrimination of course.


So your saying that the government is asking for that information in order to discriminate or something? I don't understand.

That information requested is gathered by affirmative action/EEO groups. I guarantee any employer would love to be able to take that off. It is unusual though for them to ask on the application, usually that info is asked on th loan papers themselves.

[Echewta]

I agree with what Beth said.

[pshabi]

That's fucked up.

So if I decline, their going to look at my last name of "Shabi" and probably mark down towel wearing, camel jockey dot head, right. Even though I sunburn in 10 minutes and I'm scandanavian as a mother fucker.

Discriminatory fucks.
My mortgage loan application forms came in the mail recently. In reading the fine print, I discovered that they really did ask my race. I ordinarily check the box declining to provide such information.

Here comes the freaky part. The form reads: "If you do not wish to furnish ehtnicity, race, or sex, under Federal regulations, this lender is required to note the information on the basis of visual observation or surname."

What the hell? Why does the government, much less the bank, need to know my race and gender? If they can't discriminate based on such information, why bother to collect it?

I chose not to provide them with any clues regarding this issue. I'll let the bank decide for me.

Has anyone else had this come up?

[milleson]

That's fucked up.

So if I decline, their going to look at my last name of "Shabi" and probably mark down towel wearing, camel jockey dot head, right. Even though I sunburn in 10 minutes and I'm scandanavian as a mother fucker.

Discriminatory fucks.

I do believe you are the first person to get my point. You win a cookie.

[DroppinScience]

Here comes the freaky part. The form reads: "If you do not wish to furnish ehtnicity, race, or sex, under Federal regulations, this lender is required to note the information on the basis of visual observation or surname."


Ahhh, so when they see you at the bank, they'll go: "Ok, whitey wants a loan" OR "Ok, darkie wants a loan" (depending on what you are :))

And surname isn't a surefire indication of race either. Aren't there lots of black people with the same last names as white people anyways (Smith, Williams, etc.)?

Unless you're Chinese and it's an obvious name like Wong, you can never tell for sure.

Either case, it is a tad odd they even ask for race. In Canada, I can't recall a single time where I've had to note my race when filling out forms. Why in America? :confused:

[Documad]

I assume such information is collected to make sure that lending companies aren't violating various federal acts through a pattern or practice of discrimination. By forcing companies to collect such data, the government can presumably tell at a glance whether the company's approval/disapproval methods are non-discriminatory.

I'm sure you're correct. With a home loan, the mortgage company is required by federal law to note the race of the applicant to prove it is not discriminating. I don't know whether it's required for all mortgage applications, or only ones involving a federal agency (i.e. HUD).

Makes me squirm that they're supposed to guess race based upon your last name. I feel bad for the mortgage company that's supposed to comply with this law.