Intrusive questions when using DB or CR Cards

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by RightHand, Mar 5, 2010.


  1. RightHand

    RightHand Been There, Done That RIP 4/15/21 Moderator Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    There is a gas station/convenience mart/Subway counter/Dunkin Donut combo store not far from me. About a month ago they began asking for a date of birth when the customer uses a debit or credit card. The register is programmed to require the entry before processing payment. Huh - pretty odd and being a slightly argumentative sort of broad, I challenge their right to require that information. The cashier (they're all about 15 y/o) is no help so I get the manager who says it's a corporate requirement. Now I usually stop at that station a couple times a week usually after a 12 hr day and I'm a little too tired to argue so I change my birthdate every time I stop. Once I told them it was 09/29/1900 but the girl wouldn't enter it so I said it was really 09/29/1915 - that she believed - small consolation ! ! !

    Today I gave them 09/29/1985 and they never questioned it - must have been that facial I game myself last night.

    It's gotten to be a game for me. How much can I push the limit, or, how stupid can they be, or, how intelligent are they to recognize the stupidity of the requirement.

    It's the only gas station within 15 miles so I put up with it and have my fun.
     
  2. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    Re: Intrusive questions when using DR or CR Cards

    DOB is a sneaky piece of info and most don't think much about it.

    How many Mark Smiths live in your state? I bet hundreds.
    How many Mark Smiths live in your state with a DOB of 09/29/85? 1. maybe 2.

    It's a definite marker and that's why i don't mind that The Birthday Fairy sends me B-day wishes on not my birthday.
     
  3. fireplaceguy

    fireplaceguy Monkey+

    Re: Intrusive questions when using DR or CR Cards

    Ran into a similar situation at the Local version of Kroger known as King Soopers. I was running late so I bought a six pack of cold beer there instead of my usual liquor store, and the checker asked to see my drivers license.

    I'm 51, and haven't heard that in a while, but I obliged. She didn't even glance at it, but swiped it through a reader! I took it back from her and demanded to see the manager. They sent the head clerk. I again demanded to see the manager. They sent an assistant. I told them to call corporate headquarters immediately.

    Ended up talking with a VP and let him know in no uncertain terms that 1) the clerk only asked to see my license, and had not disclosed her intent to swipe my license and capture all my identity info, and that 2) company had no legal right to do anything more than verify I was 21. He agreed, and admitted that he could tell that I was over 21 on the phone. He was very apologetic.

    Everywhere you go now they encroach on our private info, which can be used for identity theft. No corporate computer system is secure enough to entrust that to them, and it's none of their business anyway.
     
  4. RightHand

    RightHand Been There, Done That RIP 4/15/21 Moderator Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Re: Intrusive questions when using DR or CR Cards

    I was a nightmare to the local stores back in the 1960's and 70's when I would refuse to provide my SS# when issuing a check in payment for goods. There wasn't a store manager in the area with whom I didn't have a heated discussion. I usually won but not always. When I lost, the store lost my business, that day and every day after. Similarly, when I was asked to provide a CC# when cashing a check I would only allow the last 4 digits. The same managers who knew me from the SSN arguments came to know me for my fuss over the CC #. A lot of people don't know that the first 6 digits of your CC number are the identifier of the bank issuing the credit card. TMI to be passed around.
     
  5. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    These days, they program the mindless Point Of Sale terminals to ask all sorts of silly things - it's not the poor dumb kid's fault - he/she is a drone doing what they've been taught.
    But sometimes, the stupidity is truly transcendent. I stopped into a Burger King last year, asked for a burger meal and was paying with CASH. The kid behind the counter asks to see my Driver's License! Now, I am 52 years old, graying, and was literally 'twice the man he was' physically. Why the heck would he ask that?
    I asked him if the Cheese Burger was now a 'controlled substance'? He got that precious "Deer in the headlights" look on his face. Hehehe!
    I got my meal, he did NOT get my DL.

    I haven't been back since. I don't deal well with utter stupidity. maddd
     
  6. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    I give out so much false information when asked that I can barely remember my legite info.
     
  7. Old Sarge

    Old Sarge Old Sarge

    Years ago, when we were in a fuel shortage, and I was driving an over the road semi, there was a fuel stop in Pennsylvania, that always asked the stupid questions, BEFORE they'd fuel you up. I guess they were trying to prevent "drive-offs".
    Every time I went in there, which was a couple times a week, a snot nosed kid fuel attendant would ask my name. I gave George Washington, Abe Lincoln, and a rash of other ficticious names, and they were never the wiser. ha ha, it was always good for a laugh.
     
  8. Minuteman

    Minuteman Chaplain Moderator Founding Member

    This is probably more ino than you ever wanted but here are some good articles and discussions on the SSN. My daughter does not have one, never has. You would be surprised how many sheeple are incredulous when they ask or it.

    http://www.apfn.org/apfn/ssn.htm

     
    1. Question: Do I have to get my newborn child a social security number?
    Answer: No. There is no law that requires parents to get a social security number for their newborn children. The Social Security Administration was recently asked this very question. In their response the Assistant Commissioner of Social Security stated:
     
    3. Question: Can I give some other number when I am asked to provide an SSN?
    Answer: Yes, with caveats.

    Government Agencies:
    Giving ANY false information to a government agency for any reason may result in prosecution, fines, and even imprisonment. Title 42 U.S. Code, section 408 imposes fines and penalties for misuse of social security numbers. Title 18 U.S.
    Code, section 1028 imposes criminal penalties and fines for misuse of government documents. It is a violation of one or more federal laws to make a misrepresentation to a federal agency.

    Private Businesses:
    A person may arrange by agreement with a private concern, business, or enterprise to use a substitute number other than a social security number, but it should be made clear that the number being used is not an SSN.

     
    3. Do I have to give the State my SSN to get a driver's license?
    (The answers addressed in this section apply equally to State "Voter Registration" and "Blood Banks," in that the same sections of law reviewed herein are worded similarly for these two additional State administered functions.)

    Answer: No, but you may be unlawfully denied the license depending on the particular State you live in. Driver licensing, voter registration, and blood donation laws vary from state to state. Federal, state, and local laws regulate what information may or may not obtained from individuals by governmental agencies. These laws govern how and when information may be requested as well as what uses may or may not be made of the personal information collected by government agencies.
     
    4.Do I have to give banks and non-governmental entities a social security number?
    Answer: No (For the purpose of this FAQ, entities such as banks and utility companies are classified as "quasi-governmental" entities. Public schools and universities, banks, utility companies, libraries, and even airlines are also grouped in this class. All of these entities generally provide social services and are typically regulated by federal, state, or local laws. The Postal Service is also classified in this group because they are regulated under the banking laws when issuing postal money orders.)
    As publicly regulated entities these "quasi-governmental" entities must also comply with the requirements and prohibitions of the Privacy Act. However, here again, not all of them do. (See "Yeager v. Hackensack under "Social Security Number Related Court Cases" in the FAQ Addendum.) Each "misuse" of a social security number by one of these entities must be challenged on a case-by case basis. This may necessitate a lawsuit.


    More;
    http://fly.hiwaay.net/~becraft/ssn.html
     
  9. RightHand

    RightHand Been There, Done That RIP 4/15/21 Moderator Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Great info MM - Thanks
     
  10. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    My 3 yr old has a passport but no SSN. The SSN given at the time of Passport Application was 000-00-0000.
     
  11. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    The SSN was NEVER supposed to be used for ID purposes, but it IS. In my Department at work (Fla. Dept. of Education), we maintain programs dealing with various educational programs and funding systems. In addition to the teacher's, employee's or student's name, their SSN is also part of the usual sort key fileds. We do encounter people with same name and even SSN - some parents will use ONE SSN for two or more kids! This plays Old Harry with our computer programs....... :rolleyes:
    Employees aren't so bad - we can include the Position Number to narrow things down - but students are always full of wildcards.
    This gets dicey when having the wrong or a duplicate number can mean the student NOT getting the aid or class they need.
     
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