I failed and feel humiliated

[MK]

I just took a poly for a top secret clearance FBI job.  When I was first told I would have to take one, I was ok with it, b/c I have nothing to hide, but then started worrying more and more since I've heard so much negative, and so went online to see what kinds of questions they would ask, etc.  That got me extremely nervous, and then I started questioning myself about some of the answers I'd filled in during the hiring process - minor stuff, but I started worrying myself into exhaustion.  Everybody told me I was overthinking everything, and I know I was, but I have a high guilt conscience thanks to strict parents. 

There was one question that has been bothering me the way I answered it, so when I went for the poly and was asked if there was anything I needed to say regarding my application process, I told him about it and he said that was something minor and nothing to worry about in regards to the poly. 

There were 2 parts to the test - #1 was the honesty questions and #2 was the top secret questions.  He told me that my background came up very clean and that there were no red flags in any areas, and then told me the common areas there usually are - that being alcohol, then drugs and credit issues.  No problems there with me.  The basic significant questions asked were:

Did I intend to answer all the questions honestly
Alcohol issues
Drug issues
Have I ever spread lies or vicious rumors about my close friends, co-workers or bosses
Did I intentionally not disclose something during the application process

Those were the basic questions, put to me in various ways.  After he stopped that part he told me the poly showed I was having trouble with the question about intentionally not disclosing something during the app process.  He then said I failed it, but he had the discretion with that question to pass me and let me continue on to top secret questions or to fail me right then. 

I absolutely did not intentionally leave anything off, and even feel like I put down more than was necessary during all the app processes.  He told me my answer would be the deciding factor about him passing me or not, so he asked me why that question bothered me.  I re-iterated to him about the answer I gave on one of the questions during the interview, and how that had really eaten at me, but I'd disclosed it to him before the poly.  We went over it several times, and I went more into depth, but he kept telling me that could not be the reason and wouldn't accept that answer as the real reason I was nervous about that question.  I have racked and racked my brain, and there is just nothing else but that one thing and it bothered me that I felt I should have answered it differently during the application interview.  He unhooked me, and anytime I tried to say something he would tell me this wasn't up for debate.  He got really ugly and accusatory.  He also told me that was the only question I'd "failed".  That meant that I passed the question that I intended to answer every question honestly and I started to bring that up, but that "wasn't up for debate".  He told me that lie dectors never lie.  Right. 

The job was a great opportunity and one I feel I would fit into so well, but not getting it doesn't bother me, I knew when I first applied it was a long shot, but to get this far and then be accused of lying.  There's such a stigma attached and it's quite embarrassing, and especially for those close family members who have been rooting me on. 

I'm going to try to appeal it if I can, I don't know how to do that, but if there's any way to right this, I want to.

[George W. Maschke]

MK,

Of course, strictly speaking, when your polygrapher told you that lie detectors never lie, he spoke the truth. They are inanimate objects incapable of lying. But the same cannot be said of the people who operate these devices. Polygraph "testing" depends in fundamental ways on the operator lying to and otherwise deceiving the person being "tested." You'll find these deceptions documented in Chapter 3 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector.

Sadly, there is no genuine prospect of successfully appealing your FBI polygraph failure. The FBI will often grant "re-tests" to those who request them. You should definitely contest the results of your polygraph examination in writing. You don't want the last thing in your FBI file to be your polygrapher's uncontested allegation that you lied. And you may request a second polygraph if you really want to.

But the results of such "re-tests" seem to be foreordained. Virtually everyone offered a "re-test" fails it, too. How could it be otherwise? Allowing any more than a handful of applicants to pass their "re-tests" would be a de facto admission that polygraphy is inherently unreliable. But the FBI's polygraph operators lack the fidelity, bravery, and integrity to do acknowledge this simple fact.

[imustbecrazy]

It amazes me how similar my story is to the many who post here. 

Does anyone know what the best address would be for contesting an FBI polygraph result?  I want the fact that I do NOT agree with the results to be part of any future records check.  Thanks.

[Chase2084]

I was advised to send a letter of appeal to "Bonnie Adams, Chief of Professional Support Clearance Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington D.C., 20535-0001.

I received a response stating an additional polygraph examination was not authorized and that I would not be afforded further consideration for employment.

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. My advice would be to write a letter of appeal and complete a FOIA request for your FBI file. 

[Softly1]

I have been reading this web for some time.

Some very good info on here . BUT folks there is

NO SUCH THING as a LIE DETECTOR

8-)