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From: jim@ferkel.ucsb.edu (Jim Lick)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: Phone privacy question.
Message-ID: <7922@hub.ucsb.edu>
Date: 30 Dec 90 21:30:09 GMT
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Just thought I'd add a little to this conversation wrt how long info is kept
by long distance carriers, and who they are willing to give the information
to.  Last June I moved just around the corner.  I called up the phone
company about the change, and told them I wanted the same numbers, same
LD carrier (US Sprint), etc.  (As a side note, all they wanted to prove my
identity is my SSN.  Something not too difficult to find these days.  In
fact, a friend still has service in the name of a past roommate and only has
to remember the SSN to make any changes.  I'm fairly certain you could set
up service under a false name and SSN without anyone complaining.)

Anyways, all went fairly well, but GTE neglected to tell US Sprint about the
address change, and because the post office did it's usual lackluster job of
forwarding, I missed out on two months of bills.  Eventually US Sprint
called to find out why I wasn't paying, and I gave them my new address, and
all was set.  However, I still didn't have those two months of bills.  

My girlfriend is sure she made some calls during that billing period, and
insists on paying me back.  I kept telling her to just forget about it, but
a week or so ago she called up US Sprint without telling me and requested
copies of the bills.  She didn't have to provide any information at all
other than my name, and the phone number being billed.  They DID send it to
me, but I wouldn't doubt that someone could provide some other address
without too much trouble and get all kinds of billing information.  

Now, for all you 'the sky is falling' folk out there, please don't think
that this justifies your 'police state' tactics to control information.
Rather, I like Brad's approach with his classes of privacy.  I think that
those people who want a certain class of privacy should enforce this either
with legislation (but only that which doesn't affect my right to have less
privacy) or through contract.

It does go to show something that most people should come to realize.
Information is incredibly easy to get.  I'm not concerned about it.  I have
enough backbone to deal with people calling me on the phone, or getting mail
I didn't ask for.  But for those of you who are frightened by such things,
you should be aware about this.

                            Jim Lick		       
Work: University of California	| Home: 6657 El Colegio #24
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