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LabRat wrote:

Abraham wrote:LabRat,

One of the times I couldn't refuse to give out my SSN was when renting a safe deposit box at a bank.

I balked at the request, but the nice lady renting the safe deposit box politely informed me, no SSN, no safe deposit box.

I sighed, and informed her about my misgivings regarding my concerns about how well my information/SSN would be safeguarded.

At this point, she rather huffily informed me: SIR, be ASSURED, as a banking institution we protect your confidential information with the utmost care.

Her desk was situated just to the left of the entrance. Out in the open. No private office for her.

I reluctantly filled out the paper work to rent the box. I handed it to her. She, said O.K. let's walk to the safe deposit box area and as we walked to it, I said STOP!

She'd left my paperwork, face up on her desk for all the world to see who happened to walk by.

I inquired if this was she could "ASSURE ME" my confidential information would be safeguarded?

Red faced, she said not a word.

I grabbed my paper work and walked out...

Abraham,
Amen, walk out.
I could see using an SSN for a safety deposit box due to possible wills and estate concerns if you passed away.
But not safeguarding your information is deal-breaker - especially after she dressed you down like she did....I think you did well. I would have done the same.

LabRat

Let me share something about that. In Texas they have something called an unincorporated non-profit professional association. You can go to the Texas Secretary of State site and find sample language for the ONLY document you need to create one. And you do not file paperwork to create it. And you can use your favorite UPS store address if you just get a box with them. But no other filings with the state, not with your local government. And then you go to the IRS site and request a taxpayer identification number for your new association, listing the purpose as for banking records only. Then they give you a number. Then you take your paperwork to the bank, along with the printout that you get from the IRS with your address and your taxpayer number, and use that to get a safe deposit box, or even to open a bank account if you wish (and they often have special rates or fees waived for non-profits). So go create a professional association for whatever purpose, and you are set. I have done it, no problems other than the bank branch needing to talk to someone internally as they may have never heard of this, but I just bring a copy of the state web site showing it is legitimate, along with my paperwork. Easy.

Good to know that I'm not the only one who does these kind of things! This has been one of my pet peeves for years and years, along with stores that want me to give them my telephone number and zip code when checking out. And when I ask why they would need it, they of course then will always say that they'll go ahead and finish without it, as if they're doing me some kind of a favor or something. But it is amazing to me to stand there and watch the sheeple just go ahead and comply.

And same for SSN. As for banks - I myself like to remind them that under the law they can only request your SSN for any transaction that is required by law to be reported to the IRS. That does NOT include a safe deposit box. However, in Texas they can then simply decline to rent you a box as Texas is not one of the five states that prohibit denying goods and services to an individual who declines to give an SSN.

But a doctors office, nope, not happening and I tell them point blank that it is not legal for them to request it or to use it for identification as per Privacy Act of 1974 and HIPPA.

According to the SSA site you aren't legally required to provide your SSN to businesses unless one of the following is true:

• You'll be engaging in a transaction that requires notification to the Internal Revenue Service; or

• You're initiating a financial transaction subject to federal Customer Identification Program rules.

And that's it.