Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!decwrl!fernwood!portal!sv!gundrum From: gundrum@svc.portal.com Subject: Re: Lifestyle Information ( was Re: Safeway Stores to Accept Charge Cards) Message-ID: <1991Apr12.221118.9547@svc.portal.com> Keywords: dba Organization: Software Ventures Corporation, Berkeley References: <9418@rsiatl.Dixie.Com> <6750019@hp-vcd.HP.COM> <17536@venera.isi.edu> Distribution: us Date: Fri, 12 Apr 91 22:11:18 GMT I was wondering if it would be possible/practical to play the corporate game to protect one's preferences. I am thinking of registering a DBA (doing-business-as) and using my DBA name for any transactions possible. I suspect this would be treated as a business, with it's own tax ID. Phone service would cost more, and medical service would probably have to really be me, but magazines and the like need never know. It might even be possible to get credit cards this way. Has anyone actually tryed this? Btw, I have found that you can refuse to give your SSN to various organizations and they will assing you a separate id number that looks like an SSN. However, sometimes you have to fight your way up the chain of command to get it. It may also be possible to just make up data if they insist. Beware that this could possibly be used as grounds to deny you service in the future. service in the future. -- _______________________________________________________________________ Any statements made by this account are strictly based on heresay and should be assumed to have no intelligence behind them. (No, that does not mean they have the approval of management.) gundrum@svc.portal.com