Comcast now requires the last 4 digits of your social security number to do anything. Even though it's not the whole thing, I'm extremely uncomfortable whenever I have to call them.
Are you actually required to give them your real social security number? Or can you give them a random string of digits that you would like to be identified by?
They require social for credit check when signing up, then they're now using the last 4 digits for account verification. It seems really awkward and forced. They then also have you provide address, name, phone number when speaking to the CSR, which seems redundant. If I have someone's social, I probably know where they live. And I certainly wouldn't be calling Comcast on their behalf.
They probably don't require your Social Security Number. I've avoided giving mine out by paying a deposit to my cable internet company, my electric company, and I use prepaid (which is cheaper than post-paid for the same service) to avoid giving it to a phone company. I also leave it blank on my doctor's forms and other forms. No one has ever hassled me about it.
They run a credit check on you beforehand, that's what the SSN is for. I'm sure you can ask to opt out of the credit check as long as you are willing to give them a hefty down payment.
Many times you can avoid the SSN by asking and being willing to jump though a couple extra hoops.
Interesting when I worked for the big telecom in the UK 20 years ago where give very strict instructions that NI numbers (uk' ss no) where NEVER to be used for any customer id purpose.
On pain of having the IB (Bt Security) jump up and down on you with size 9 boots - think the auditors in the laundry files but worse.
Comments
Comcast now requires the last 4 digits of your social security number to do anything. Even though it's not the whole thing, I'm extremely uncomfortable whenever I have to call them.
Are you actually required to give them your real social security number? Or can you give them a random string of digits that you would like to be identified by?
They require social for credit check when signing up, then they're now using the last 4 digits for account verification. It seems really awkward and forced. They then also have you provide address, name, phone number when speaking to the CSR, which seems redundant. If I have someone's social, I probably know where they live. And I certainly wouldn't be calling Comcast on their behalf.
They probably don't require your Social Security Number. I've avoided giving mine out by paying a deposit to my cable internet company, my electric company, and I use prepaid (which is cheaper than post-paid for the same service) to avoid giving it to a phone company. I also leave it blank on my doctor's forms and other forms. No one has ever hassled me about it.
They run a credit check on you beforehand, that's what the SSN is for. I'm sure you can ask to opt out of the credit check as long as you are willing to give them a hefty down payment.
Many times you can avoid the SSN by asking and being willing to jump though a couple extra hoops.
Interesting when I worked for the big telecom in the UK 20 years ago where give very strict instructions that NI numbers (uk' ss no) where NEVER to be used for any customer id purpose.
On pain of having the IB (Bt Security) jump up and down on you with size 9 boots - think the auditors in the laundry files but worse.