Apparently, when you call one lender to get a home mortgage loan, the three credit agencies will release this information to a bunch of other lenders.

You end up getting inundated by phone calls from competitors, trying to convince you to work with them instead of the lender you contacted first.

Sounds annoying, at best. At worst, a little sleezy?

So, some states want to limit or outlaw the selling of this information.

The states are looking out for consumers' best interests, right?

Oh, wait, who is sponsoring a lot of this legislation?

Banks.

Now, why would banks want to limit the number of lenders who contact you to get your business?

The proposed ban in Massachusetts ... was floated by the state bankers’ association.

"Why should a bank be in a situation where it invests millions of dollars in a branch network and advertising, if I can go out and just buy leads?" Kiley said.

Oh, right. Because banks lose deals if you find out you can get better rates, elsewhere.

Complete story: Complaints prompt hard look at mortgage telemarketing - By Associated Press, by way of The Boston Herald