Private Information - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Corneo · 11-05-2006, 11:36 PM

I had a scare today that a fraudster opened a credit card with my name. Hopefully after speaking with the security department everything should be taken care of. I just want to know aside from employers, who needs to know my social security number? Doctors? Credit Card companies? If I simply refuse to give it will it cause some kind of inconvience for me?

trib767 · 11-06-2006, 04:22 AM

Well as far as I understand it no business has the right to ask you for your SSN. I know a lot use it to identify you but you can refuse. I also know some places (I seem to remember MCI was one) could not cope with not having a SSN.

I experienced this first hand as I never had a SSN when I frst arrived in the US and setting up accounts with banks, utilities, etc was a pain. With a bit of insistence it was still possible though...

ratbastid · 11-06-2006, 04:48 AM

Any company that requires a credit check will need your SSN. You have the right to refuse to give it to them, in which case they have the right to refuse to do business with you.

As far as using your SSN as an identification number, really only the Social Security Administration HAS to do that. Every other company should be able to take "123-45-6789" or something.

11-05-2006, 11:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Corneo Insane	Private Information I had a scare today that a fraudster opened a credit card with my name. Hopefully after speaking with the security department everything should be taken care of. I just want to know aside from employers, who needs to know my social security number? Doctors? Credit Card companies? If I simply refuse to give it will it cause some kind of inconvience for me?

11-06-2006, 04:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
trib767 Crazy Location: London, UK	Well as far as I understand it no business has the right to ask you for your SSN. I know a lot use it to identify you but you can refuse. I also know some places (I seem to remember MCI was one) could not cope with not having a SSN. I experienced this first hand as I never had a SSN when I frst arrived in the US and setting up accounts with banks, utilities, etc was a pain. With a bit of insistence it was still possible though...

11-06-2006, 04:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	Any company that requires a credit check will need your SSN. You have the right to refuse to give it to them, in which case they have the right to refuse to do business with you. As far as using your SSN as an identification number, really only the Social Security Administration HAS to do that. Every other company should be able to take "123-45-6789" or something.