Why does everyone want your S.S.#

Just wondering why my car insurance co. now wants my SS# after I have been with the same co. for 21 years. I called them to question a rate hike and she said in order to adjust it I had to give my ss# because this space was blank on the computer. First of all, I don't know why the need it. Secondly they have adjusted rates before without it, and Thirdly I don't like giving this info over the phone. She wants me to come in and give it to her in person. Has anyone had a problem like this?

They cannot legally ask for it. They have you drivers liscense # and your address. That is all they need. TELL THEM TO POUND SAND! ( and call the insurance commissioner if all else fails.)

There is enough problem with identity theft without giving companies you ss#. They can and do sell your information to other companies despite telling you that they don't and won't.

Most companies want your SS# as a secondary identifier. There is legislation pending to prevent retailers from requiring it for credit applications, as it is very often used in identity theft. It sounds as though the computer system your auto insurer is using requires this field to be filled in. I would protest, and ask to speak to someone with more authority in that office. When I am requested to fill in the number, I protest, and if they tell me that their "system" requires it, I tell them to fill in the spaces with 9s, which takes care of the electronic requirement that a number be filled in. A business you have dealt with for 21 years, and has prossessed adjustments without the SS# in the past, should not need your number to know who you are. Be assertive.

I agree, one other thing that insurance companies use your SS# for is to ck the BMV for traffic violations as you have to give your SS# to get a license here in Indiana. I tried to refuse and they said it was their requirement to get a license. I did not have time to argue. So I gave it up. They say it is illegal to require it, however what recourse do we have when refusing?

In some states your SS# IS your driver's licence number.

I came across a website a couple of months ago about this very thing. Poor guy has quite a story to tell:

http://cjmciver.org/

Some employers also use your SSN as your health insurance account number, mine has just recently eliminated it. The only thing an individual can do it to fight it incident by incident. I don't know what states use it, but in our state your driver's license number is coded to reveal additional information about the driver..perhaps to corroborate your age, residence, etc. In any case, when it is requested, refuse to give it. If it is a business offering credit, tell them you will take your business elsewhere. If it is insurance, the Insurance Commissioner is a good place to protest. Identity theft is rampant, and we need to do everything we can to protect ourselves from this invasion of privacy.

In case it hasn't crossed anyone mind, I think all servicemen & women use the SS# as their ID #. Unless it has changed since I was on active duty during VN.
I thought it would be a good way to register voters by SS# also. Wouldn't have to worry about somebody voting twice!
Just thoughts,
Bernie

Bernie, you are a more trusting soul than I. As far as I know, military ID is still SS#. One can only hope that the Armed forces does not sell the names and addresses of those enlisted like prIvate industry does.

Heck, the Poll folks do not even ask for ID to make me prove who I am when I vote. All I have to do is sign on the dotted line.

My daughter was "required" to do an essay for Met Life for social studies. A required field was SS#. Now Met Life was not hiding anything. It said right in the fine print on fthe form that they were going to hand out your child's personal information to all of their affiliates.

So now they have name, address, SS#, e-mail, of a minor and permission to pass it along. I DO NOT THINK SO. I was in the Principal's office first thing. This is absolutely not acceptable.

Many many insurance companies, Allstate in particular, base your car and home insurance rates on your credit report. I saved several hundred per year by putting my homeowners in Dad's name when we bought this property. Even though I hold the mortgage, his credit was higher, and it got us a much better price on the same property!

Colorado tried to make this illegal a couple of years ago, but it didn't pass. Two people with identical driving records, living in the same house will get different rates based on credit. The insurance companies have stated that people with poor credit are more likely to file claims and more likely to try to defraud.

Good luck fighting it. Once it is programed into their " computer system" it is doubtful that you can get around it.


This message was edited Nov 13, 2004 1:12 PM

Let's face it, this is a dual edged sword. You=your SS#. It is the only ID I can think of that every person has (not every body has a CC or a DL) and it never changes (like CC and DL can). So on the one hand, you may be reluctant to give it out because it is one more number that can be used for identity fraud, but on the other hand it is the only number by which you can be conclusively identified as you.

Ok guys, I figure the only person needing your ss# is your employer. I think they do go by your credit rating here. Which is still a crock. How they have rated me for the last 21 years without it is anyones guesss. A few weeks ago my DH was in the hospital and just about every form filled out had to have ss#. Now those forms sit at the nurses station for any passer by to see. It didn't dawn on me they don't need it either. All the info the need is your insurance card.

When Social Security was first inacted, the public was told they would never have to share the number with anyone except their employer who took Social Security payments out of their paychecks.
When my first husband was in the Air Force, his service number was different from the Social Security number. It finally occured to someone that if they used the Social Security number for both, there would less mistakes and less trouble instead of keeping up with 2 numbers. I thought it was a good idea at the time......

"Usually you are not legally compelled to provide your Social Security number to private businesses -- including private health care providers and insurers -- unless you are involved in a transaction in which the Internal Revenue Service requires notification. (MediCal and Medicare are government health plans and can require a Social Security number.)

There is no law, however, that prevents businesses from requesting your SSN, and there are few restrictions on what businesses can do with it. But even though you are not required to disclose your SSN, the business does not have to provide you with service if you refuse to release it.

If a business insists on knowing your Social Security number when you cannot see a reason for it, speak to an administrator who may be authorized to make an exception or who may know that company policy does not require it. If the company will not allow you to use an alternate number, you may want to take your business elsewhere.

Credit card applications usually request Social Security numbers. Your number is used primarily to verify your identity in situations where you have the same or a similar name to others. Although most credit grantors will insist on having your SSN, you may be able to find a credit grantor who will provide you credit without knowing your SSN, especially if you are persistent and can provide other forms of identification. But such instances are rare."

more info at http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs10-ssn.htm

Also, if you or anyone insured under your car insurance policy is eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or any other government subsidized insurance, that insurance is a co-insurer and might be the primary insurer in the event of bodily injury covered by your car insurance. See paragraph 1 of post above.

That's an interesting concept, Pville

Yep....I agree darius.....but my DH is retired military (TriCare, what use to be Champus) and Medicare eligible. Any time there is any kind of claim, even for routine medical care, all the insurance companies get together to negotiate who pays what and the single common element among them is SS#.

They are all welcome to my thumbprint!

Primarily .. merely to update their records ..
Along with the fact, that having your SS # will more easily enable them to 'do' that recently
enacted law 'thing' .. of now having the legal right to run a credit check on you .. and adjusting your policy premiums as necessary .. based upon your credit and/or consumer report/ratings.

I beleive that all of this, started with Senate Bill 144 .. that was made law, a year or so ago now.

But I do believe that (they) can do this, legally .. every 6 months .. or, upon re-newal or new issue of policies.

Your automobile and homeowner insurance rates can be increased, coverages
can be limited .. and, your policies can certainly be cancelled!

I'm sure some of you can pull up the necessary info, far quicker than I .. For, it is certainly worth a refreshening enlightenin' ... no doubt !!

- Magpye

According to the Library of Congress Senate bill144 was to require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program to provide assistance to eligible weed management entities to control or eradicate noxious weeds on public and private land.
Sponsor: Sen Craig, Larry E. [ID] (introduced 1/13/2003) Cosponsors (12)
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 108-412

Like since when do those bills ever actually do in the end what they were written for in the beginning and I don't even want to think about between the lines.

You are right Sidney, that is often the case. But in this one at least the title of the PL and the original S bill are the same. I didn't read the entire 5 pages of the PL text but in scanning it quickly I didn't see anything related to SS, credit checks, or insurance companies.

I have been asked at puter stores and the like, for the warranty...give me a break. Same with my phone number. I dont have one is a great answer.

Exactly Sidney. That is why they most often as for SS#. If you are a US citizen or legal alien over the age of 1, you are required to have an SS# so "I don't have one" as the answer won't work. It's true you may not have to give you SS#, but if you don't they many not have to honor the warranty either. Not defending it, just the way it is. From industry's standpoint, their desire to get your SS# is for the exact same reason most consumer's don't want to provide it. It is the single most effective way to prove you are who you say you are.

And for someone slick to know every purchase I make, every contribution I make, etc. Original SS card said "Not to be used for identification", when did this stipulation get changed?

Initially in 1961 when the IRS began using SS# as a taxpayer ID, and again in 1974 when the Privacy Act and FERPA were enacted.

sugar, that's the one that gets me, I still have my original card and that's what it says on it.

I just looked at mine that was reissued 8 years ago when I had a name change. It does not say anything about not using it for identification.

I know they quit printing it in the past 20-30 years. I got my SS# after 1961 and it said that. I just wish I understood what FERPA stood for. Although malignant apathy is rampant, alot of it is due to us just not being able to process but a smidgen of what is changed everyday affecting our lives.
I have discovered the disappearance of protection and increased inspection of our lives. I just dont give out my SS # at a cash register and with the liberation of Menopause, I can get down right testy when some 19year old feels he or she actually has to have it. They have my Fla drivers liscense. I've lived here 8 years. When they have that and ask for more, I can't remember my SS# and I dont have a phone. I'm a little freer with my zip code. LOL

FERPA=Family Eduational Relief and Privacy Act (or something close to that). It set up student loans and subsidized scholarships based on financial need and stuff like that.

Actually of the info we routinely provide, SS# is probably among the most innocuous in terms of identity theft. A would be hacker can get way more information from access to an email account or your snail mail address (especially if you own it instead of rent it). If you do on-line business with bank accounts, credit cards, etc., a good idea is to have an email address only for that. Do not give it out to friends or family or use it for non financial transaction purposes. And use a PC based email client rather than one that stores your email address, password, and email content on line.

I hope you t y p e d that slow enough for me.Sidney

LOL Sidney....well seeing as I typed it at 12:30 in the morning I'm pretty sure it was r e a l l y s l o w

I forgot to say thank you. What are examples of PC based email clients and do I have access to that with my 9 mo old computer already? I swear I'll get signed up for a PC class soon.
Just pondering and watching Sunday Morning. Life moves so fast. After re-reading last night, I'm sure FERPA, if closely inspected, probably limited things for more, than it helped.
A lot of its about getting "a hold" on matters. Like women like me. I would surely have been drowned as a witch when I aced an aptitude test that only men were supposed to have a propensity for.
I had alot more protection for my work 20 years ago.
If they hire one female, and don't hire me, I'm not being d/a.
If they hire one older person, I'm not being d/a.
If they hire me after an EEO and then fire me for an infraction that is not enforced against anyone else, that's not retaliation.
When it says required by federal law, that's a maybe, after all its "That Woman" complaining.
d/a= discriminated against. Sidney

Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, etc. A PC based client is one that dowloads your email from your ISP (Internet Service Provider) server to your PC rather than storing it on a public Internet server. Internet based email services are ones like Yahoo, MSN, etc.

Outlook or Outlook Express typically come with any preloaded Windows PC. Eudora is available for download at http://www.eudora.com/

Thanks again.

PvillePlanter .. I do believe my comment, was .. that it started there, with that particular Senate bill ...

However, I may very well have the info incorrect .. for, I am no whiz .. by a long shot! .. ha

Altho' my knowledge and terminology fails me far too often these days - it most definitely pays to research the entirety of the wording of a bill that is being presented, to be made 'law'! And there can be vast differences encompassed between each State also. It's been far too long since Civics. But, it's due time I took a bit of my own advice ... just somewhat more difficult, for me .. to retain the info! .. hee

Most often, there are virtually tons of pages of info. The aspects of these bills are broken down further (sub-divided). On my first seach .. I too, had pulled up a mere few of the many segments of this bill ..

I honestly believe our law makers plan these such things, to appear so daunting .. so the general populace will gracefully 'bow' out and remain uninterested. Matter of fact, I sincerely think [they] count on it !!! ..

Each state my have opted to alter some of the underwriting requirments; lessening/softening the harsh effects it would present for some. There are even restrictions written in, that limit the use of certain aspects of a credit report .. that an insurance company can use! So, (we) supposedly have some protection ...

A simple search within an engine will sometimes only display the smaller 'portions' .. One needs to acquire the 'big picture' in its entirety ..

See if this may help out a bit .. http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/creditscoring/ .. from the Insurance Information Institute.

Believe it even states that insurance companies have long been using our credit/consumer reports/scores - but companies decided, that it needed to be made written law - in order to more legally 'cover' their hind-ends!! .. ha ..

- Magpye

I agree magpye. I only posted the info that I found on that bill because in your pevious post you said: "I'm sure some of you can pull up the necessary info, far quicker than I" so I tried to do that based on your suggestion and the most tangible info I had to search on was the bill number.:-)

I've not had time to read through this whole thread yet but had a similar beef---I DO NOT like everyone and their brother thinking they need my SS# for their records! I especially hate doctors offices always requiring it, since they are the biggest offenders in asking. But was recently VERY dismayed to have an ONLINE BABY GOODS CO even ask for part of it.

They had my cc info in their records because I'd bought in the past and said it was good to go BUT they needed "AUTHORIZATION" and thus asked for the last 4 digits of my ss# AND my year of birth. A new policy.

Um, what's that got to do with anything? How does that "authorize" anything, even my cc company does not have that info?

So I played along. Entered a bogus 4 digits and then the wrong birth year. It booted me out, said invalid! I emailed the co and they emailed back that they do not overlook this policy for ANYONE and yes it is their legal right to ask this info (huh???) and they've canceled my order since I don't want to provide that info---that they do it to protect customers against identity theft---and "he" personally had 3 customers this month that thanked him for this.