Re: The Joys of Being Canadian
Cable Company Rep: "What's your Social Security number? Answer: "I don't have one. I'm Canadian."
For my cable company I asked why they wanted it. For a security check when you call in was the response. Does it need to be an actuall social security number? No, just something you can remember when you call up. 012-01-0123 I replied. They were quite happy to use that as my "Social Security Number" in their database. As far as cable goes they don't want your social security number. I wonder how many others would be happy to substitute something. Matt <mailto:melliott@itmail.ncsa.uiuc.edu>
At 8:54 PM -0700 12/15/97, Lynne L. Harrison wrote:
When my cable company asked for my SSN, I told them that I was not going to disclose it. Of course, the refusal sent the lame-brain into a brain-dead state. I finally volunteered that they could use my middle name for verification purposes. I could actually hear the "Thank you for solving this problem!" in the employee's voice....
When I told the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in California that I would not be providnig my SS number, either from the tattoo on my forarm or from the card which reads "Not to be used for identification," the droid said, "Fine, then you won't get a driver's license." (Not actually. In reality, I capitulated and gave my SS number, despite the inappropriateness of the SS number as any kind of identifier. Someday there will be a major court challenge to this practice of using the SS number as a universal identifier, but I didn't feel like committing a couple of hundred thousand dollars to fighting this for several years.) As to Duncan's frequent "I'm a Canadian" point, the foreigners I've known over the years have had to a) get an SS number, even if working for short periods, or b) have had to produce their foreign-country passport. So, Duncan, does this "But I'm Canadian, and I don't need to show you no steenking cards!" shtick really, actually, work, or is this just a nice theory? (If it _really_ works, I'll tell a friend of mine from Denmark that she can just tell all the SS number requesters that she's from Denmark.) --Tim May The Feds have shown their hand: they want a ban on domestic cryptography ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, ComSec 3DES: 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, Higher Power: 2^2,976,221 | black markets, collapse of governments. "National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."
On mar 16 déc 1997 à 07:13:44PM -0700, Tim May wrote:
As to Duncan's frequent "I'm a Canadian" point, the foreigners I've known over the years have had to a) get an SS number, even if working for short periods, or b) have had to produce their foreign-country passport.
Or both of them, actually (NJ...)
(If it _really_ works, I'll tell a friend of mine from Denmark that she can just tell all the SS number requesters that she's from Denmark.)
On a previous (shorter) stay in the US, I didn't have a SSN. Yet I got a DL (with my passport) (this was Missouri). And after a few long discussions on the phone on why I didn't have a SSN, I gave up the explanations and started giving my french SSN (after all, it was a valid answer to the question "what is your social security number"), actually a substring. Interestly enough, SSNs in France are not supposed to be used for identification or taxes purposes, just for medical purposes IIRC. A recent project by the government to link medical databases and tax database opened a controversial discussion... F. -- Fabrice Planchon (ph) 609/258-6495 Applied Math Program, 210 Fine Hall (fax) 609/258-1735
On a previous (shorter) stay in the US, I didn't have a SSN. Yet I got a DL (with my passport) (this was Missouri). And after a few long discussions on the phone on why I didn't have a SSN, I gave up the explanations and started giving my french SSN (after all, it was a valid answer to the question "what is your social security number"), actually a substring. Interestly enough, SSNs in France are not supposed to be used for identification or taxes purposes, just for medical purposes IIRC. A recent project by the government to link medical databases and tax database opened a controversial discussion...
It has not, until very recently, been common to use SSN or driver numbers in the UK as ID, I don`t know if they were or were not originally intended as ID in this country, I don`t think so, but was met with abusive argument and suspicion when I refused to give my SSN a few days ago as ID, look like the UK govt. is taking a leaf out of billy-bobs book, oh dear... Datacomms Technologies data security Paul Bradley, Paul@fatmans.demon.co.uk Paul@crypto.uk.eu.org, Paul@cryptography.uk.eu.org Http://www.cryptography.home.ml.org/ Email for PGP public key, ID: FC76DA85 "Don`t forget to mount a scratch monkey"
participants (4)
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Fabrice Planchon -
Matt Elliott -
Paul Bradley -
Tim May