K-tron wrote:
On Mon, 24 Nov 2003 21:04:28 GMT, Gnarlodious
wrote:
I was flabbergasted at what happened today at a local Radio Shack store.
I was waiting in line with several others while the cashier interrogated a
customer.
1) Name, first and last
2) Telephone number
3) Address
4) Social security number
I interrupted his reciting his SS number, demanding loudly why the cashier
needed to collect this information in public. The cashier, who also is the
store owner got angry and told me it is Radio Shack policy to collect this
information as part of the "Contract" between seller and purchaser. I turned
to the line of waiting customers and began lecturing about invasion of
privacy and identity theft. The owner started yelling about how I had to
leave immediately or he would call the police. So I left.
Please register your dismay at your local Radio Shack store at this policy
which is an invasion of privacy and invites crime. Do not participate in
this "Marketing Strategy" which only serves to desensitize consumers as to
their personal rights.
Thank you & 73
--Rachel
http://www.qsl.net/k5zn/
Hmm, that DOES sound odd. Especially the SS number, the usual routine
is name, address and postal/zip code, UNLESS the customer is paying by
cheque in which case more info is required eg; phone number, drivers
license and a major credit card. How do I know this ? I worked for the
SHAFT many years ago.
TTFN
Kevin
formerly of 05-5602, 05-5619, ES23, 05-0732
Think you are wise to be concerned!
We 'signed up' with our Post Office system to NOT RECEIVE junk
(i.e. not specifically addressed) mail such as the weekly sales
brochure from several s.markets, cosmetic companies, you name it!
It worked; much less junk in the mail box!
However I found that once I had given my address and name to RS
they send me advertising brochures and other 'flyers', in others
words 'their junk mail'. Because I have made a purchase/contract
and they have specific information about me. They have never
asked for my SS number; it would be illegal btw.
I know one person who hardly ever gives a true address, anywhere;
judging by the amount of MY junk email he's smarter than I!
In this country it is 'supposed' to be illegal to use the SS
number for anything but government related communications and one
'does not' have to give it to anyone else. It doesn't really work
out that way; for example a bank has to send me a statement at
income tax time if I have earned interest on an account, under my
SS number. However they are not supposed to use that number if
they are contacting me to sell some other service, let's say
insurance or a credit card, which would not involve the
government.
SS numbers have been abused/misused; for example my employer and
my credit union at one time !15-20 years ago!) used Social
Insurance numbers to identify employees/clients accounts! They
were advised to stop and have since used a different system.
With the extensive use of credit cards and/bank debit cards these
days the use of cheques is now extremely rare. Many companies
will not accept personal cheques at all. Some will accept a
printed cheque that is obviously negotiable and valid such as a
government issued cheque. Even then there have been a few
forgeries of such cheques which has 'hardened' retailers attitude
towards accepting cheques at all. Quite apart from cheques any
way, direct deposit, usually electronically, to ones account, is
faster and accurate.
Terry. Small province in eastern Canada.
PS. We call them SIN (Social Insurance Numbers). Has a nice
sin-ful ring to it. Eh?