From: IN%"unicorn@schloss.li" "Black Unicorn" 15-MAY-1996 19:40:34.88

It means essentially the IRS and banks. Even banks have little recourse. They make you sign a piece of paper that says you gave them the right SSN, but practically speaking no one cares.

Equifax (a credit reporting agency) refuses to take bank records as evidence of SSN's because they KNOW the banks don't care or enforce and that people lie to or make mistakes to the bank on a daily basis.

Fascinating. I would think the IRS would care - that's how they know how to tax interest. They don't put any pressure on the banks to get the right one? I seem to recall showing the bank a driver's license or some such with a SSN on it the last time I opened an interest-bearing account. As I recall, government branches are authorized to get SSNs - if they show you the privacy act paperwork. If they forget, I would suppose that lying to them is perfectly permissible. What about if they do? -Allen