Social security numbers and iphones

Note it says, that while it's not required, they have no obligation for them to provide services.

That would have to be decided in a legal case - which I personally would not undertake. However, people used to believe if you owned a business you could serve or reserve the right not to serve, anyone. In civil rights court that was shown not to be the case.

Richard

"an implanted chip... when that happens we won't need a social security number anymore."

Wow, times they are a'changing.

When the social security law was passed, the law itself stated it could never be used for such purposes of identification. That part of the law is unchanged but now simply ignored. The reason these stipulations were included in the original law was governmental sensitivity for the preservation of integrity and esteem for the individual. It was a symbol of the American way, specifically our belief in the rights and privacy of the individual - versus the collective impersonalization. That was a main thrust of why America was always opposed to communist way of doing things.

When Americans went to the movies post WWII, they were repulsed by the Nazi's demand "Let me see your papers!" In 1964 in the movie Dr. Zhivago, Lara was lost, "a nameless number that simply disappeared in one of Stalin's concentration camps." Now we're talking about GPS numbers imbedded in American citizens's skin like the impersonal numbers tatooed on concentration camp victims.

No we won't need social security numbers when we're issued GPS tags.

Excuse me for being the one throwing the cold water wake-up call.

Richard

You wrote "But hey, there is like a %0.05 of the paranoid population who can't get an iPhone, it's ok. P.S. And yeah, keep telling Alltel that you got service without a SSN, get someone fired, someone who helped you out before, that's nice..."

I'm sure %0.05 is an accurate statistic. Where did you come up with that? Secondly, remember, paranoia is a good thing. Third, why would you helping me would get anyone fired? They didn't do anything wrong. They just researched deeper into their job and learned what was really possible.

Finally, remember company policy is not the same as "LAW". Company policy is just a prescribed way (let me parse that for you- prescribed = "written out ahead of time" so the person at the lowest level has a guideline). It is not the "only" way.

Richard

You wrote: "With 10 million iPhones sold (paraphrase, I doubt they care)

I wonder if that 10 million is in the U.S. or worldwide? If it is just the U.S. that means 29 out of 30 people in the U.S. do NOT own an iPhone (population 2006, 300 million).

If it is world wide then the concentration is absolutely pathetic.

In any event you've described in your reply an attitude that is the Achilles Hill of any corporation that becomes too large - lack of concern about the individual customer. I hope Apple has not become that large, yet.

Richard

You wrote "You can just pay a deposit"

Rep at AT&T store didn't know exactly how much the deposit would be but thought it was $500 or $750. Sorry, but just under $1,000 bucks to walk out of the store with an iPhone sounds a little unreasonable. (Also, by the way, the minutes are 25% higher than I'm currently paying and coverage area may not be as good). Especially, as a previous poster noted, AT&T can just cut you off if you don't pay your bill.

The whole situation just kind of burns me so I've now slipped into "won't do it for the principle of it" mode.

Richard

quasi-quote "anybody can cut you off for not paying your bills. It's not exclusive to AT&T"

I think you missed our point. Why does AT&T need such a large deposit if you won't give them your social security number? After all, they can simply cut you off if you don't pay.

I'm in my fifties and have excellent credit. AT&T doesn't need to spread my social security number around to find this out.

Richard

"if you don't want to give up your social security number, don't get an iPhone."

That is exactly my policy. I don't get the phone. AT&T and Apple don't get any money. Looks like a lose/lose situation to me. But that's the way its got to be.

Richard

"Just a guess, the number is probably even lower. You have a lot of b@lls fighting us here, if you're so smart and wise, why don't you do anything about it for real? We, users, don't really care if you get an iPhone or not, I don't."

I have no idea what any of the above means. As for your lack of caring, I don't care if you care or don't care... you have my permission not to read this thread further. I'm just voicing my dissatisfaction so that Apple and AT&T know their policy is unacceptable for some of us. Maybe they'll change it after getting my feedback. Probably not. So be it.

Richard