On Wed, 07 Mar 2007 17:32:16 -0800, Sapphyre wrote:
> So when a person applies for an SSN and receives the card, the first
> thing they are told is to "not give this number out to anyone". One of
> my co-workers has family that recently landed in the US on a Visa, and
> recently received an SSN and verified this.
>
> So I ask the knowledgable posters of this group who live in the US,
> why is it everyone is busy asking for an SSN? I know there are things
> you don't need it for... like a bank account (your mileage may vary).
> And I also know someone who can get an SSN cannot get a Federal ITIN
> for tax reporting purposes. I read the forms for the ITIN since I will
> be needing to get that (to earn interest from US sources). I also do
> know that you need an SSN to work, and that's what it's provided for.
> If it was something a resident or non-resident needed for every single
> thing (like a national identity number for everyone who entered the US
> for any period of time), then anyone and everyone could apply.
> Snowbirds can't apply, because they're not allowed to work, but they
> live in the US for 4-6 months a year (that applies to many of my
> former customers).
>
> Why I'm asking... I'm working for a company preparing export
> documentation, that's my job. And I need the SSN or a Tax ID for a
> business for every single US customer that orders product. It does not
> matter what carrier I ship their merchandise (be it UPS, FedEx, etc).
> Because all these items are brokered, I need to ask all my customers
> for their SSN, and that's been handed down to me by the US Broker I
> use when I ship goods, and it's "required by DHS". It was the first
> thing explained to me, and it's right on the customs documentation.
>
> So you need an SSN to import goods, yet you're not supposed to tell
> anyone this number. Can you believe it? Need to provide an SSN to make
> a purchase just because my company is in Canada?
>
> Next, I filled in a security clearance some time ago, and on the forms
> it asks for an SSN. I'm not working, that's not what it was for. It
> was a clearance to be present in a restricted area. They were checking
> for felonies and criminal record, and because I live in Canada I was
> instructed to put in n/a under that field, and replace Driver's
> License info with Passport Info. But if it's not a number you're
> supposed to give out, except to your employer, why do they need it for
> a criminal records check? Oh, and the police ask for a person's SSN
> when they make an arrest. May not be true in all juristictions, but in
> some California juristictions it is true. I've seen blank paperwork,
> and files with public access containing felony records sometimes have
> the detainee's SSN. You can probably find that on the Internet if
> you're looking at Department of Correction's Database in certain
> states.
>
> I've heard other stories, like it being asked for when applying for
> credit cards, background checks for tenancy, and the like.
>
> So if it's so "required" that everyone have this number to identify
> you as a unique individual, why are the people who issue these cards
> telling them to keep it a secret? You know how much time we waste
> explaining to customers that "yes, we know you're not supposed to give
> it out, but your item can't be imported to the US without it." This
> requirement was passed after 9/11, the reason is to prevent someone
> from importing all kinds of components and building something illegal.
> DHS wants to track all these imports. Mail imports do not apply, but
> the goods I ship can weigh up to 600 lbs, and cost in excess of $4000,
> so it's not regular dinky mail stuff.
>
> Any insight is appreciated, because as far as I can see, this is all
> contradictory.
>
> S.
The social security account number was never intended to be used in this
fashion but a lot of financial/personal data has become indexed to it. Even
though the number was never intended to be used for identification
purposes, it has become an ID. A person can refuse to give the number but
then services can be refused (i.e. phone service). Until someone comes up
with a better idea, the use of the number will continue to be abused. |