Tell them to pound sand. I don't give my number to anyone-Had a battle with SBC over "lifeline" rates because they wanted a copy of my most recent tas return. I told her that is between me, my CPA, and the IRS. NO one else gets a thing off that paperwork. I have to almost triple my phone basic charge, so there goes another bite into my soc sec of about $900/mo, but I don't let that info out.
TOO many people are asking for that info on a cavalier basis. They seem to think they are ENTITLED to have that info. I tell them to pound sand.
I've never heard of that. Is there another company you can get access through or is that the only one that services the area? (That might be the reason why they ask-no competition, so they do what they want).
Time Warner does this all the time. They are seeking three things when they ask for your SSN:
1. They want to run a credit check.
2. They want to make sure that you do not have an outstanding bill with TW someplace else (i.e you moved without paying your bill at the last address)
3. They are collecting demographic information on you in order to better "market" services tailored to what they believe your individual needs. They "assess" these needs based upon such factors as:
age
occupation
income level
credit history
level of education
home owner or renter?
And a host of others...
TW uses this information in their own marketing campaigns, and quite probably, sells this information to other people who might be interested in it as well.
You can refuse to hand that information out, but don't be surprised if the process of obtaining cable TV or broadband access just became a little tougher because the idiot on the phone doesn't know what to do when a customer doesn't answer a question.
Technically, it is not illegal to ask you for it and if you give it to them then you're stuck. But legally you don't have to give it to them and they are obligated to generate a unique ID for your account. SSN can only be used when federal money or taxes are involved, like if you use medical services under medicare. It also is not supposed to be used for driver's license IDs any longer. Some places like hospitals force the issue and demand the number or you don't get services (this is so they can rat you out to the feds if you skip on the bill). It is despicable, but you usually have a choice to take your business elsewhere.
Just don't give 'em yours.
Another unclear on the concept....
The request is to make sure the cable bill gets paid, not as a tool to control your "internet access".
You would be amazed at the number of flakes who don't pay their cable bill, and we all have to deal with the fallout.
Of course, it begs the question: how do illegals who "borrow" other people's SS number get away with it?
Send them a check for a year's service in advance and use a bogus SS number. I bet they cash the check and give you the internet service. Cable Companies are not in the habit of turning down checks.
It's all for a credit check to make sure you can pay your bills.
My cable company gives you two choices. Social Security number or Driver's License Number.
My stupid former bank took all the Homeland Security rules and ran with them. It was litterally impossible to do business with them. Probably a case of an idiot manager trying to be real through with governmental regs. Kinda like the school peoples filing sexual harassment against a 6 year old boy for putting his finger under the bracelet a little girl was wearing or filing charges against a 7 year old girl for bring a plastic knife to school to spread peanut butter on a sandwich, or ........... just idiot lefty looney losers who most likely vote just as ignorantly trying to show us their patriotism.
It's so that if you don't return the cable modem, they can AND WILL ding your credit.
Believe me, they dinged my credit when I trusted a former roommate to return the cable modem at the end of the month when I moved out mid-month.
If you can just pay a deposit in lieu of letting them run a credit report, do so.
Thought I'd do this privately. Welcome to WV. It's a great place to live. I want to alert you to something that happened to us when we moved here. We were "blindsided" when we went to license our vehicles. WV makes you pay sales tax on all your vehicles even though you paid it in the state where you bought them. If possible you should trade in your vehicles before you move and license the new ones in WV. It cost us $1,900 to license our cars (we had three). We did not know about this before we moved from VA. Hope you resolve the SS# requirement. I don't think we ever had to do that and we've had several different computer and cable services.
What part of WV are you moving too, if you don't mind saying? I'm on the Ohio River side. We have made a permanent home here and love it and love the people.
God bless,
Nan