Why do TV operators ask for social security number ?

[SingSing]

I was, and also read that consumer were asked for their social security numbers when starting up their serives.
They include disk TV promotion, comcast, and ...

Are TV service providers now part of the FBI ?

[MOVIEGEEK]

Comcast asked for mine and they said it was for identification, I think they do a credit check to see if you owe them money or are a risk.

[johns0]

Here in canada companies can't ask for their social insurance number unless it is for government use by the government.Too much info can be obtained by dubious companies.

[redwudz]

I might give them my full name and my date of birth and tell them to find my SS number themselves. I wouldn't give it out to anyone other than a trusted bank/financial employee. If a 'TV operator' wants to do a credit check, let them do the paperwork. Unless you really, really trust them.

[cal_tony]

Well, they're not supposed to ask for your SS #. If I'm not mistaken, the old SS card actually said to safeguard the number and not to give it out.

Worse than asking for your # is the online banks that will only let you use your SS# for your account name at log on.
One of my online banks actually made me use my SS# backwards.

Even though they're not allowed to ask or use it, they do, and if you want the service they provide you don't have much choice.

Tony

[johns0]

Even though they're not allowed to ask or use it, they do, and if you want the service they provide you don't have much choice.

Tony

If its by law they cant ask for your ss then they have to use another source of id or you can bring them to court.

[redwudz]

Years ago, Arizona used your SS# for your drivers license number. They discontinued that practice.

[Noahtuck]

Years ago, Arizona used your SS# for your drivers license number. They discontinued that practice.

OMG!!


You're kidding ?!?!

But i have never had a cable (comcast) or any other business like that ask for my SS#
If they did i would have told them togo take a flying #@*&

[jagabo]

Our cable company asks for the last four digits of your social security number. Whenever you call to make a change of service or having a billing issue they ask for those digits to verify your id.

[edDV]

If you refuse (and you should) they will have an alternate way to verify your account.

Comcast has never asked me for SS#. It may be CA law. They verify from the phone number. The bank asks for the last four SSN digits.

I'd never give out my full SSN. I once refused to let a Motel 6 copy my drivers licence number into their database. They are entitled only to the vehicle license number, Visa card and verify the ID. My complaint got an apology from the President's office. I still carry that letter in my glove box in case I ever stay at another Motel 6.

[redwudz]

Along the same line, I showed a friend how much information is available on the net about him. I used one of those 'friend finder' sites and typed in his full name. They had his address, phone number, age, names of his relatives and their locations, and even a link to Google Earth that showed his house. Very scary.

A search for my name showed a apartment address and phone number from about 25 years ago when I stopped freely adding that info to applications that had no reason to ask for it. But they still had some relatives names and locations. There is way to much information out there about all of us.

A credit collection agency kept sending me letters looking for my brother. I put in his name at one of those sites and got his address and phone number in a few seconds. Makes you wonder how those collection agencies survive.

It's still not that hard to get a certified copy of a death or birth certificate, and along with a SS #, you have a good start for identity theft.

[zoobie]

Asking for your full SS# is illegal...doh

[lordsmurf]

For credit checks. If you refuse to give it, they can (and often do) refuse to sign you up for service.

[bendixG15]

Asking for your full SS# is illegal...doh

Where did that come from ?

Did you ever open a bank account ??

[SingSing]

Asking for your full SS# is illegal...doh

Where did that come from ?

Did you ever open a bank account ??

When Social Scurity Act was entacted. one of the rule is it cannot be used as identification.
This is not well known, just like U.S. don't have a national language.
This all about citizen right, and no big brother government, or company.

That is why there is a debate that U.S. lack of a national identification card, and want to have English as national language, and ...

[drjtech]

Here's what the Social Security Administration has to say:

Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html

Here's some additional information from Privacy Rights Clearinghouse:

Must I give my Social Security number to private businesses?
http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs10-ssn.htm#11

-drjtech

[tmw]

When extending credit, banks are allowed to use the SSN along with name and address to ensure they are looking at the correct applicant's credit history. People who are unwilling to provide their SSN are often less likely to pay back the loan (nothing personal, just a metric). Therefore, banks can justify not extending loans to people who don't provide their SSN.

I'm quite disappointed Virginia quit using the SSN as the driver's license number. Now it's still another number I have to look up, instead of the one I have memorized.

Years ago when I first had checks (remember, those pieces of paper people used to send money to other people), I actually had my SSN printed right below my name/address/phone #. People were a lot less paranoid back then. Check forgery was still a big crime back then (people would worry about losing a bunch of checks), but people were a lot less paranoid.

[bendixG15]

Here's what the Social Security Administration has to say:

Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html

Here's some additional information from Privacy Rights Clearinghouse:

Must I give my Social Security number to private businesses?
http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs10-ssn.htm#11

-drjtech

From link above ...........
SSN required by federal law. Federal law requires private businesses to collect your SSN when (1) you are involved in a transaction in which the Internal Revenue Service requires notification, or (2) you are engaged in a financial transaction subject to federal Customer Identification Program rules ..........

[edDV]

For credit checks. If you refuse to give it, they can (and often do) refuse to sign you up for service.

But that is different than verifying an existing account.

[zoobie]

Asking for your full SS# is illegal...doh

Where did that come from ?

Did you ever open a bank account ??

When Social Scurity Act was entacted. one of the rule is it cannot be used as identification.
This is not well known, just like U.S. don't have a national language.
This all about citizen right, and no big brother government, or company.

That is why there is a debate that U.S. lack of a national identification card, and want to have English as national language, and ...

ROTFLMAO
I think I saw it on Free Speech TV concerning the micro-chipped National I.D. Card which every American citizen was supposed to get in 2007. Legislation was proposed in 2006 and initially wanted to inject a chip under your skin just like your pet. This was all at the height of the illegal border crossings and seemed straight out of science fiction.
Needless to say, this whole concept has been delayed

[johns0]

Just read up both american and canadian social security/insurance and found that if a company asks for our ss and we refuse then they can refuse our service and its not against the law.