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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!rlgvax!cvl!umcp-cs!petec
From: petec@umcp-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: SS numbers
Message-ID: <2243@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 29-Aug-83 10:52:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.2243
Posted: Mon Aug 29 10:52:56 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 30-Aug-83 13:28:22 EDT
References: <5150@cornell.UUCP>
Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Dept.
Lines: 29


 The social security number is used for tax purposes, and as such, only
persons/institutions that must report these taxes need your number. This
means that your employer and bank may legally require it. However, since
it is a unique number, everyone has started using it as an identification
number. This works, because most people are sheep and will blindly give 
any information asked of them.
 I will not give my SS number, not for credit card applications, apartment
rental forms, or anything else. If I am asked for it, I tell the person that
it is against the law for them to require it of me; if they insist, I ask for
the manager or supervisor. I would rather take my business elsewhere than 
submit to this information over-load. Businesses simply do not need this
number, and most will back down at the threat of losing a sale or being
reported to the Better Business Bureau (I also threaten to call the credit
card company that the business is an agent for, if I am asked for the SS
number on a charge slip. This often means a lengthy review of procedures
of charge sales for the business, administered by the credit card company).
 Admittedly, it can be a real hassle. When my parents co-signed for an
apartment for my sister, the rental office called saying that the credit
bureau could not deliver a credit report without a SS number. This is pure
bullsh*t, and after several phone calls to supervisors at the rental office
and the bureau, the credit report was delivered, minus a SS number.
 Stand up for your rights!! Don't give in to these attacks on your privacy!!

-- 
Call-Me:   Pete Cottrell, Univ. of Md. Comp. Sci. Dept.
UUCP:	   {seismo,allegra,brl-bmd}!umcp-cs!petec
CSNet:	   petec@umcp-cs
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