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Old 09-28-2009, 04:14 PM
 
851 posts, read 3,625,620 times
Reputation: 455

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This drives me nuts. When I called in for electricity service, Gexa wants SSN to check my credit. I said no, and I would like to pay $400 deposit. Then they still want my SSN or Driver's License # and birthday for "security and identification purpose."

Well, this is electricity service. If I paid deposit, why would they still care who I am? I asked them why they needed my SSN/DL and what they intended to use them for, they gave me this "security and identification purpose." answer. We were going back and forth on this for a few times and I gave up.

It gets even worse if I want to set up an online account with City Water. They want SSN too!!!
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Old 09-28-2009, 04:38 PM
 
Location: spring tx
7,912 posts, read 10,082,871 times
Reputation: 1990
yeah things are nuts these days, i get calls all the time at my company of people asking to speak to me directly, i always play like i am not me until i know who they are. when you ask "who may i say is calling" i get "bob" (or what ever), "and who are you with bob", "that is a private mater", "well i cant put you through until i know who you are with", bob "well it is a private mater", me well icant let you through until i know who you are with", bob "we will try back later", me "i will not let you through later unless i know who you are with". bob click...

sales people are NUTS, and i know it is someone who just got my name off some contacts list because they ask for my under my 1st name and i do not EVER use my 1st name for anything.

the best one, i get calls from guys who say "ALFREDO!!" (my partners name), me "um no", them, "is alfredo around", me "no he lives in another country", them "NO HE DOESNT, i just met with him last week", me "really? how did you do that, he lives about 2000 miles away IN ANOTHER COUNTRY", them "bullsh** i just met with him", me "dont cuss at me", them "f**k you" click
thats about once every week or two.
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Old 09-28-2009, 05:06 PM
 
958 posts, read 2,572,994 times
Reputation: 827
Yeah I do agree the use of the SSN number was never intended to be used on so many transactions.

But look on the bright side. At least you don't need an ID to vote =p
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Old 09-28-2009, 05:14 PM
 
851 posts, read 3,625,620 times
Reputation: 455
I just too stupid to understand all these.
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Old 09-28-2009, 05:18 PM
 
Location: Houston
3,565 posts, read 4,863,814 times
Reputation: 931
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheStupid View Post
This drives me nuts. When I called in for electricity service, Gexa wants SSN to check my credit. I said no, and I would like to pay $400 deposit. Then they still want my SSN or Driver's License # and birthday for "security and identification purpose."

Well, this is electricity service. If I paid deposit, why would they still care who I am? I asked them why they needed my SSN/DL and what they intended to use them for, they gave me this "security and identification purpose." answer. We were going back and forth on this for a few times and I gave up.

It gets even worse if I want to set up an online account with City Water. They want SSN too!!!
Hell yeah, they do care! They just can not demand a 1000 Dollars or more deposit, because electricity is a "basic need" service. It does not mean you will not go over 400 Dollars. You could easily run up 2000 Dollars and just don't pay it. There are people like this who do that.
Btw, did you know you wouldn't qualify for "no deposit down"? I had to put down a deposit once and it took me 1 month to get my money back. They sent it to the wrong address, then had to wait XX days before they could issue a new check etc. I think it was even close to 2 months. You don't want that to happen.
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Old 09-28-2009, 05:19 PM
 
851 posts, read 3,625,620 times
Reputation: 455
Quote:
Originally Posted by XodoX View Post
Hell yeah, they do care! They just can not demand a 1000 Dollars or more deposit, because electricity is a "basic need" service. It does not mean you will not go over 400 Dollars. You could easily run up 2000 Dollars and just don't pay it. There are people like this who do that.
Btw, did you know you wouldn't qualify for "no deposit down"? I had to put down a deposit once and it took me 1 month to get my money back. They sent it to the wrong address, then had to wait XX days before they could issue a new check etc. I think it was even close to 2 months. You don't want that to happen.

They can simply credit the deposit back towards your next payment.
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Old 09-28-2009, 05:24 PM
 
Location: Houston
3,565 posts, read 4,863,814 times
Reputation: 931
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheStupid View Post
They can simply credit the deposit back towards your next payment.

Well, they wouldn't do it. Mine is usually around 55-60 a month and it was a 500 $ deposit. I didn't want them to make interests off my money. That's why I would have demanded it back, anyway.
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Old 09-28-2009, 05:44 PM
 
Location: Charleston Sc and Western NC
9,273 posts, read 26,486,142 times
Reputation: 4741
I've pretty much refused the whole SSN the past 5 years. I will give the TX DL, but that's it. It really hasn't affected anything by standing my ground on the issue. Just go straight to the manager, pitch a fit, you win and your number is semi-safe.
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Old 09-28-2009, 06:44 PM
 
1,164 posts, read 2,058,429 times
Reputation: 819
If they want your SSN, you should probably insist they give you their EIN for 'security and identification purposes.'
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Old 09-28-2009, 07:10 PM
 
627 posts, read 1,621,107 times
Reputation: 121
Quote:
Originally Posted by rigas View Post
yeah things are nuts these days, i get calls all the time at my company of people asking to speak to me directly, i always play like i am not me until i know who they are. when you ask "who may i say is calling" i get "bob" (or what ever), "and who are you with bob", "that is a private mater", "well i cant put you through until i know who you are with", bob "well it is a private mater", me well icant let you through until i know who you are with", bob "we will try back later", me "i will not let you through later unless i know who you are with". bob click...

sales people are NUTS, and i know it is someone who just got my name off some contacts list because they ask for my under my 1st name and i do not EVER use my 1st name for anything.

the best one, i get calls from guys who say "ALFREDO!!" (my partners name), me "um no", them, "is alfredo around", me "no he lives in another country", them "NO HE DOESNT, i just met with him last week", me "really? how did you do that, he lives about 2000 miles away IN ANOTHER COUNTRY", them "bullsh** i just met with him", me "dont cuss at me", them "f**k you" click
thats about once every week or two.



I have so many comments on this, but the mods are on my tail, so, I'll pass.

lol at "ALFREDO" and then "bullsh**" then "f**k you"
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