It’s really lame that companies like AT&T even need your SSN. Why do they need that to set up a phone line or an internet connection? There’s gotta be a better way.
You can identify by other means. Or at least give the opportunity to use other means. If you can’t keep my personal information safe, you shouldn’t be allowed to collect it.
If only there were some sort of moniker you went by other than a SSN. That coupled with some sort of location data could narrow you down to, ooh, one person I suppose.
In the UK we have NI number, which is used by my employer, pension provider, the tax services, the benefits office, and that’s pretty much it. It’s not used as a general source of ID by corporations.
From an outside point of view, the US system looks crazy. And that’s coming from somebody who’s country has a TV license.
It’s really lame that companies like AT&T even need your SSN. Why do they need that to set up a phone line or an internet connection? There’s gotta be a better way.
To identity you
Edit: I’m not defending the system. I’m just stating the fact
You can identify by other means. Or at least give the opportunity to use other means. If you can’t keep my personal information safe, you shouldn’t be allowed to collect it.
Agreed
okay but then they wouldn’t have as much data to sell and re-sell and corellate, and couldn’t ask as high a price.
do you just hate business?
They make it too easy, it’s hard not to hate them.
— AT&T
The ad campaign basically just writes itself.
Then why can I buy a prepaid SIM with cash and no ID? I do this when travelling to the US because it’s cheaper than international roaming.
MI6 agents get special privileges. Some are even issued a license to text
If only there were some sort of moniker you went by other than a SSN. That coupled with some sort of location data could narrow you down to, ooh, one person I suppose.
In the UK we have NI number, which is used by my employer, pension provider, the tax services, the benefits office, and that’s pretty much it. It’s not used as a general source of ID by corporations.
From an outside point of view, the US system looks crazy. And that’s coming from somebody who’s country has a TV license.
Then why do our ISPs in Germany at best just need our contract confirmation and maybe a SEPA entry?
Even my bank I opened an account with just wanted to get my tax-id and my ID-number (wich changes with every re-issue).
Even if there were no other way, why store it? How often do they need to re-identify you?
“I’m the guy at the address you’ve been sending bills to”
there is no damn reason for them to identify any of their customers other than the idiots with contract phones
Something of a joke that, since the SSN is an identifier, the identity tool quickly becomes an identity theft tool once it’s been pilfered.
With humans increasingly pushed out of the customer service loop, these security scams get easier every day.