I have been wondering when we as a society realize our stake on effective implementation of data quality assurance. We “the people” systematically learn to accept the consequences and fallacies in data and information mismanagement.

We learned to live within this system of errors, without even thinking much about how we can complain (let alone demand the organizations to take responsibility) for their data errors. The following scenario (which is still unresolved) can put our helplessness and/or stigma into a proper perspective.

Four years ago, someone I know got a call from a collection agency twice in a row for two days.  When he answered the call, they said he missed paying a hospital bill and his credit would be affected if he did not pay immediately. He paid the amount they said he owed and was told it would not hurt his credit scores. He was given very little information at that time.