Guarding those precious digits... Posted by Michelle at 06/08/07 01:33 PM

And I'm not talking about a phone number (which I also hesitate to give out to avoid annoying telemarketing calls), but rather my social security number. Who has it? Who's asking for it? What do they do with it? Why do people aside from my tax collectors, creditors, investment brokers or employer need it?

Various forms often ask you to provide your SSN, but do you think twice about putting it down? For instance, I had to temporarily store some of my things during a remodel and the storage company's registration form asked for my SSN. Why on earth would this storage company need my SSN? So, I called them to ask why they would need my SSN. They had no idea. I got them to take this off their registration form.

Which got me thinking...how many other businesses collect SSNs for no reason? What's been your experience?

comments (6)

1 Posted by Amy at 06/15/07 12:42 PM

Here's an example that resulted in an identity theft.

From San Francisco Chronicle:

...Using the stolen keys, Lodrick believes, Nelson made off with an unsolicited mailing from the bank. Lodrick said it contained two debit/credit cards she had not requested and, worse, a statement for a certificate of deposit that included her Social Security number. Personal identification numbers for the cards were in a separate envelope.

It took only three days for Nelson to raid the accounts for about $9,000 through withdrawals and purchases, bank records show.

What reason did the bank have to put the SS# on the certification of deposit statement?

Full story at
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/06/15/MNG77QG0G11.DTL

2 Posted by Eugene at 06/17/07 06:07 PM

So true. Just about everybody and everyone wants your SSN. Even at Doctors offices. I leave that blank on everything I fill out. Usually nobody says anything. A few times I have had someone say "you didn't fill in your SSN. I say "I know" and most of the time it works. Some will say "why didn't you put your SSN down" to which I say "It's personal and confidental and choose not to" then they leave me alone.

3 Posted by Amanda at 07/16/07 04:07 PM

one of the worst ones is at college. every form has my SS# on it. every piece of mail they send me has it too. I am not sure why they don't go with a student id number instead.

4 Posted by Michelle at 07/19/07 05:17 PM

The good news is that Congress is really starting to pay attention. Just this week, the House Ways and Means committee passed H.R. 3046 which would limit the widespread sale, purchase and proliferation of the SSN. This means there will be limits on the use of the SSN, including allowing your SSN to be on your IDs, checks and on the Internet. To let your House member know you support this effort, you can take action at https://secure.npsite.org/cu/site/Advocacy?JServSessionIdr011=j2oavo2x71.app7a&cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1627

5 Posted by Frank at 08/28/08 09:06 PM

Bottom line - the only entities that actually need your SSN are: an actual (not prospective) employer, a legitimate investment group or creditor, or a bonafide taxing authority or its representatives - period. Anyone else is exercising pure unadulterated laziness. It's just that simple.

Rather than devote the time and expense necessary to work our their own unique system of identification, they opt to take the easy way out and damn the consequences - because the consequences will not harm them.

I believe it started at various universities and colleges. I think the practice was picked up by the military some time after 1965. I say that because when I was drafted that year, the Army, at least, was still using its own system - I can't speak for the other services. It's all gone down hill from there.

Check your card. I don't know how they read these days, but mine - Form OA-702. Rev. (4-56), issued in the 1950's - states clearly: "FOR SOCIAL SECURITY PURPOSES • NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION".

To my way of thinking, anyone not mentioned above who asks for your SSN is violating federal law.

Any time I'm told I must provide my SSN by someone other than folks in paragraph one, I tell them they don't need it. If they persist, I tell them they obviously don't need my business, because they won't get it. End of story.

6 Posted by Karen at 09/01/08 09:39 PM

It seems banks are overdoing it on the use of SS#'s and who they are available to at the banks.
Just how much protection do we have???