I don't know when or how the idea that it's illegal for non-government agencies to require your Social Security number got planted in my head, but the ring count suggests it's been rooted there for a long time. And so, when a Home Depot drone offered me a free Mag-Lite-- the very item I'd come into the store to purchase-- if I signed up for a store credit card, I happily signed on the dotted line. But I left my SSN number blank.
With identity theft rampant I've stopped giving out my SSN. Scanning for icebergs after the ship's already taking on water? Maybe. But unless your job description includes the word "audit," you'll have to make do with nine zeroes. The drone returned to me apologetically-- the computer wouldn't let him process my application without a legitimate SSN. Company policy. I righteously informed him that his company was breaking the law-- that they had to provide an alternate application process which required no SSN. He called his manager. His manager called his manager, who called an hourly worker at the credit bureau who pulled the weekend shift. With nothing more than "I just work here," the mighty bureaucracy withstood my puny attack.
A little Googling later, I find that I'm wrong. I can't be compelled to disclose my SSN to a private business, but neither can that business be compelled to provide me with their service. Stalemate.
As for the Mag-Lite, I went across the street and bought a 2-pack from Costco for twice the price. In your face, Home Depot!
Posted by Peter at October 13, 2003 6:22 PM