Posted on 02/17/2006 8:23:38 AM PST by Salgak
This is a wierd one. I'm about to move to West Virginia, and looking into getting broadband there.
And Time-Warner Cable claims they need my SOCIAL SECURITY number in order to apply for Internet Access. Anyone ever heard of such a requirement before ???
OR...
Find another provider....
IMHO...
Can't say that I have.
Verizon used to ask for your SSN when you tried to change your phone service. They stopped the practice after customer complaints.
Don't give it. Keep calling until you find someone who will take your monthly ripoff payment without it.
They use it run a credit check.
is there any chance it is a credity check, like with utilities?
Probably want to check your credit report to see if you pay your bills ... I don't care if your credit rating is the best in the world, this is BS and you should refuse.
Cox Communications requires an SSN for security purposes.....I did give it to them when I signed up for their cable/internet service.
Probably for credit though I can't imagine why.
Just give them a wrong number.
I don't know how much of a requirement it is. I do believe that legally speaking, the only people that can demand one's SS# as proof of identity are banks and the IRS. Everyone else just uses them because they are a convenient way to assign someone a unique "customer ID" (instead of generating their own, which I guess is a hassle).
At any rate, if you really didn't want to, then I believe you have the right to deny giving it to them, as they aren't a government entitity. But they may say it's "for a credit check" or something like that. If you stick to your guns though, you'll probably not have to at all.
In our area, there is only one provider. If they want your business, they'll find another 'tracking' number to use.
It is common as part of a credit check process. A SSN can be used to validate financial and educational information.
We do several things to protect your number from misuse. For example, we require and carefully inspect proof of identity from people who apply to replace lost or stolen Social Security cards, or for corrected cards. One reason we do this is to prevent people from fraudulently obtaining Social Security numbers to establish false identities. We maintain the privacy of Social Security records unless: The law requires us to disclose information to another government agency; or Your information is needed to conduct Social Security or other government health or welfare program business. You should be very careful about sharing your number and card to protect against misuse of your number. Giving your number is voluntary even when you are asked for the number directly. If requested, you should ask: Why your number is needed; How your number will be used; What happens if you refuse; and What law requires you to give your number. The answers to these questions can help you decide if you want to give your Social Security number. The decision is yours
Use 567-68-0515 or 409-52-2002.
Heck, I use my SS# as my logon password for everything--work and home 'puters, ebay and other online stores, my ATM PIN, etc.....;^)
The want it to report you to the credit bureau if you don't pay your bill.
When he got the license he looked at the long number they gave him, he asked the clerk why they didn't just use the driver's social security number instead.
Her answer:
It wouldn't work in California. There are too many people.
Bump!
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