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From: spm2d@uvacs.cs.Virginia.EDU (Steven P. Miale)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk,alt.privacy
Subject: Re: Safeway Stores to Accept Charge Cards
Message-ID: <1991Apr6.191817.23675@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>
Date: 6 Apr 91 19:18:17 GMT
References: <13810@asylum.SF.CA.US> <14015@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU>
Sender: usenet@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU
Organization: University of Virginia Computer Science Department
Lines: 43

In article <14015@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU> petersja@debussy.cs.colostate.edu (james peterson) writes:
>In article <13810@asylum.SF.CA.US> langz@asylum.SF.CA.US (Lang Zerner) writes:
>
>Interesting.  Safeway is one store I will not shop at since they refused
>to issue me a check cashing card without knowing my Social Security number.
>This even after arguing four rungs up their corporate ladder.  They
>simply refused.  So I simply refuse to shop there.

Do what I do. I go to the bank next door and withdraw money, and then shop
at safeway. They don't know who I am.
I never use checks at a grocery store. Of course, it is practical for me,
because I rarely spend over $20.
I personally think the ability to use ATM cards at a grocery store is
great, and should be done IF privacy can be protected. It is extremely
simple for a computer to keep track of what is bought and to pass that on
to a company which collects marketing data.
The solution to the dilemna of our public society is to get the government
off the back of the people and get it monitoring the corporations instead.
I also believe we should be able to get our credit reports for free instead
of having to pay $X a month for them, but that is another topic.
 
>
>All part of the same pattern?   If they took a debit card and only
>recorded the total, my privacy would have been enhanced over providing
>them with my SS#...
>
The University of Virginia uses the SS# as the student ID. I don't like it.
I am going to contact some people to get my ID# changed.

And speaking of requiring SS#, I worked at a grocery store called Farm
Fresh last summer, and they required the SS# on EVERY check. I was a cashier,
and had to do it.

>
>-- 
>james lee peterson				petersja@CS.ColoState.edu
>dept. of computer science                       
>colorado state university		"Some ignorance is invincible."
>ft. collins, colorado  (voice:303/491-7137; fax:303/491-2293)

Steven Miale
University of Virginia