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Social security numbers and iphones

Folks,
Looks like I will be permanently iPhoneless. With all the identity fraud going around I'm certainly not going to give out my SS number just to get a phone. But the AT&T store and iPhone store require it. Any way around this?

Richard
... and poof, he's gone. It's all done with mirrors.

2X1gigMirror door, 1.25 gigram, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on Dec 15, 2008 2:05 PM

Reply
43 replies

Dec 15, 2008 2:19 PM in response to Richard Davis6

If anyone fails to make their payments on time the bank, credit agency, and so on reports it using name, address, drivers license etc. There is no reason AT&T, Apple or anyone else can't do a credit check without a social security number.

Any knowledgeable person will tell you not to give out Social Security number except for the purpose it was designed for (that is, to give it to your employer so they can pay their Social Security tax to your account).

Richard

Dec 15, 2008 2:28 PM in response to roaminggnome

Why would a social security number be necessary to check your credit history? Is there no other way to identify a person... of course there is.

By the way, I've been through this before with Alltel. However, when I told them I would not give out my social security number they found another way to get me a phone. A few minutes ago a girl at the Alltel store told me they had to have SS number also, until I explained I've been their customer for 15 years without ever giving that number to them. She was surprised. But she reckoned, well yes, if I was already their customer (and have been for 15 years) then maybe I could get a new phone without giving them SS number.

I didn't get one though. I guess I'm still hoping I'll find a way to get a phone I like.

Richard

Dec 15, 2008 2:59 PM in response to Richard Davis6

From the Social Security Website:

"If a business or other enterprise asks you for your number, you can refuse to give it. However, that may mean doing without the purchase or service for which your number was requested. For example, utility companies and other services ask for a Social Security number, but do not need it; they can do a credit check or identify the person in their records by alternative means."

Dec 15, 2008 4:42 PM in response to Richard Davis6

AT&T uses a single method, a social security number. They can because they are large enough to not need the small number of people who flat out refuse to give it.

The likes of Alltell need all the customers they can, so they are more flexible.

You must also remember, not giving out your social security number doesn't prevent your identity being stolen. They can steal your identity with as little as a name and an address. You give over your driver's license, it can also be used to steal your identity.

Rather than that, if you're so worried, get ID theft protection insurance which keeps an eye on your report for you.

Dec 15, 2008 4:44 PM in response to Jim VanLeeuwen

Jim VanLeeuwen wrote:
From the Social Security Website:

"If a business or other enterprise asks you for your number, you can refuse to give it. *However, that may mean doing without the purchase or service for which your number was requested.* For example, utility companies and other services ask for a Social Security number, but do not need it; they can do a credit check or identify the person in their records by alternative means."



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

Dec 15, 2008 7:26 PM in response to Richard Davis6

Well you have a valid argument. When I got my SS card back in the early 70's it says right on the card "not for ID purposes." But as you know, the world has changed an awful lot since then. There is no law that requires you to give your SSN for credit or utility bills or anything else. However, if you don't then those companies don't have to extend credit to you. Laws need to be changed and they might soon because the U.S government is pushing a national ID card for everyone and later an implanted chip. So when that happens we won't need SSN anymore. But for now it is a **** if you do - **** if you don't issue.

Dec 15, 2008 8:43 PM in response to Richard Davis6

Why are you so paranoid in first place? AT&T will never give out your personal information to anyone. And they need your SSN not only to perform a credit check, but also to verify YOUR identity later on to make sure that you is you, and not a someone stillin' your identity, because this is the only way to be sure when you call a customer care, guess why, cause no one will know you SSN while you already gave out all your other info to whoever possible. 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...

Social security numbers and iphones

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