Automation and Information are great... to a point!
- Thread starter JohnWPB
- Start date
nightwalker
Active Member
At first i got a chuckle out of that, then the more i thought about it the more i realized that we're closer to that scenario than i thought.
Exactly, its just good for a laugh to start with, till you really start to think about it.
upstatemike
Senior Member
Two simple steps come to mind... Pay for more things in cash so you don't generate so much personal information in the first place; and don't give the pizza guy and cell phone guy your social security number (or universal ID or whatever). They don't need that information to make you a pizza or provide you with phone service.
felixrosbergen
Senior Member
Hey Mike,
actually the wireless phone subscribers require your social security number when you sign up because they do a credit check...
It really sucks...i have been considering for a long time how to 'reduce' my 'profile' out there...
The other day i get my hair cut and the lade wanted my phone number. I told her no, she said she needed that information for the computer. I told her no again. She said there was no need for me to be an ass. I told her there was no need for her to need my phonenumber to cut my hair.
Essentially almost anybody you have a commercial relation with (cable company, whoever) needs your social so that they can come after your record when you don't pay your bills. Good luck trying to sign up for cable without giving them your social.
What kills me is that they ask 'for security purposes, please give me the last 4 digits of your social'. I can't tell you how many people that i don't even know the name of i have given these 4 digits over the phone. How can this be considered a security method?
So in order to sign up to cable i had to give my name, social, mothers maiden name, etc to some punk in india. What is to stop them from calling AMEX (hey, what are the odds of and american having an AMEX card right??) and request an additional card in their name. They have ALL the information they need.
At least at the bank, the employees actually can't even see what your PIN is.
Enough ranting i guess...STOP THE MADDNESS
The funny thing is that in other countries (e.g. the netherlands) nobody asks for your social for any reason. Based on your adress and name they can locate you.
actually the wireless phone subscribers require your social security number when you sign up because they do a credit check...
It really sucks...i have been considering for a long time how to 'reduce' my 'profile' out there...
The other day i get my hair cut and the lade wanted my phone number. I told her no, she said she needed that information for the computer. I told her no again. She said there was no need for me to be an ass. I told her there was no need for her to need my phonenumber to cut my hair.
Essentially almost anybody you have a commercial relation with (cable company, whoever) needs your social so that they can come after your record when you don't pay your bills. Good luck trying to sign up for cable without giving them your social.
What kills me is that they ask 'for security purposes, please give me the last 4 digits of your social'. I can't tell you how many people that i don't even know the name of i have given these 4 digits over the phone. How can this be considered a security method?
So in order to sign up to cable i had to give my name, social, mothers maiden name, etc to some punk in india. What is to stop them from calling AMEX (hey, what are the odds of and american having an AMEX card right??) and request an additional card in their name. They have ALL the information they need.
At least at the bank, the employees actually can't even see what your PIN is.
Enough ranting i guess...STOP THE MADDNESS
The funny thing is that in other countries (e.g. the netherlands) nobody asks for your social for any reason. Based on your adress and name they can locate you.
upstatemike
Senior Member
Well I guess you could use prepaid cell service to get around the credit requirement there. I wonder if there will eventually be prepaid cable? Perhaps a card you load up at the convenience store and then plug in to your set top box to get 30 days of premium channels?
For situations like the haircut lady it is not worth arguing. Just make up a fake phone number and be done with it. You are not asking for credit so there is no legal obligation to give accurate information in that situation.
For situations like the haircut lady it is not worth arguing. Just make up a fake phone number and be done with it. You are not asking for credit so there is no legal obligation to give accurate information in that situation.
dkemme
Member
Here is a blog of a guy living without a number. I hope I don't ruin it for anyone, but the final chapter is a bit ironic.
http://www.cjmciver.org/
http://www.cjmciver.org/
Similar threads
- Question
