Cabelas Asks For Social Security #...

[WinThePennant]

I wish I could go without putting my SSN on gun paperwork, but wouldn't you know that a criminal with my EXACT name, approximate age, same city of birth, and approximate description pretty much screws things up if I do not include my SSN. One time I didn't include my SSN, and I thought the gun dealer was going to call the authorities.

 

[Birch Knoll]

And btw as a programmer who has to deal with ssns, legally I can't require you to provide SSN (as I don't write programs for govt but for a corporation).

As a software development manager who employs a bunch of programmers who have to deal with SSNs, I can tell you that it depends entirely on the situation. I can and do require SSNs for certain things, such as employment records, where the SSN is required for income tax withholding, FICA (imagine that!), perhaps a pre-employment or periodic background check. I'm certainly going to collect your SSN if I need to run a credit check on you.

And if cabela's program requires the field to be populated before you leave that screen, I'll bet you even money that 000-00-0000 or 999-99-9999 will satisfy their edit

It might indeed satisfy their edit. But the whole reason they're collecting it is to put it on the 4473 and pass it along to NICS; it could well cause NICS to reject you if you submit a false SSN. And if you sign that 4473 with a false SSN, now you've committed a crime.

 

[Matthew Courtney]

I have spent the better part of the day sorting this out with Cabelas. While their system has issues accepting 4473, Cabelas will not refuse sales to customers who wish to keep their personal financial information such as their SSN private.

While you may trust the .gov and the current employees of Cabelas not to get credit cards in your name, do you really trust everyone Cabelas may hire in the next 20 years?

Gun Department employees are trained to use paper 4473's whenever the computer system is down for some reason. Until the computer issue with 4473's and SSN's gets fixed, employees are to give paper 4473's to customers who do not wish to disclose their SSN. If you run into a Cabelas employee who has not yet been enlightened, have them pull customer care file # 1653236 which will explain the procedure to them. Gotta love Cabelas... they fixed the problem in less than a day. All we had to do was to let them know about the issue.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

are you sure?

Yes I am sure.Federal law require states to collect the SSN of license applicants. Under federal law 42 USC Chapter 7, Subchapter IV, Part D, Sec. 666(a)(13), enacted in 1996 to improve child support compliance, states must collect SSNs from license applicants. This law also requires other state agencies to collect SSNs from applicants for professional and occupational licenses and drivers' licenses, to help enforce child support laws. It also applies to recreation licenses.

 

[zoom6zoom]

And if cabela's program requires the field to be populated before you leave that screen, I'll bet you even money that 000-00-0000 or 999-99-9999 will satisfy their edit

But if it's the 4473 form, that is "making a false written statement"... and you've just committed a felony.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

And if cabela's program requires the field to be populated before you leave that screen, I'll bet you even money that 000-00-0000 or 999-99-9999 will satisfy their edit

We are talking about the 4473 form which is a Federal document. Signing it knowing it contains false information is purgery.

 

[Mr.Blue]

Thanks for the leg work, Matthew Courtney!

 

[kimbershot]

i use my carry permit and leave ss no. blank as it is optional on 4473 and ct transfer paperwork. don't give out more than you have to.

 

[Matthew Courtney]

Sometimes the highroad requires that we take a few extra steps, but the view from here is worth it!

 

[Salty1]

We give our customers the option of putting their SS# on the forms, if they do then immediatly after the check is completed we black it out with a Sharpie, we prefer not to have that information once the custommer leaves......

 

[Birch Knoll]

We give our customers the option of putting their SS# on the forms, if they do then immediatly after the check is completed we black it out with a Sharpie, we prefer not to have that information once the custommer leaves......

Has your IOI ever had anything to say about those altered 4473's?

 

[OcelotZ3]

Good to know. I won't be buying from them.

 

[Birch Knoll]

Until the computer issue with 4473's and SSN's gets fixed, employees are to give paper 4473's to customers who do not wish to disclose their SSN.

Good to know. I won't be buying from them.

Er... you won't be buying from them because they don't make you give your SSN?? Confused...

 

[dogtown tom]

Salty1 We give our customers the option of putting their SS# on the forms, if they do then immediatly after the check is completed we black it out with a Sharpie, we prefer not to have that information once the custommer leaves......

Uhhh..........thats a felony.

Where in the world did you get the idea that you could edit what a buyer writes on a 4473?

 

[NOLAEMT]

Yep...

Have you read the 4473? It planly says that only the TRANSFEREE is to write or mark in section A of the 4473, with the exception of writing in a hard to read name above the first three sections.

I would stop that if I were you.

 

[orionengnr]

Well...since my state allows me to use my CHL in lieu of the background check, whether I fill in my SSN or not, they are not going to call it in. So if I wanted to, I could fill in RST-UV-WXYZ or 987-65-4321 as my SSN and nobody would be the wiser.

Or really much care.

Get your CHL.

 

[hermannr]

If it is a required entry computer generated field, I would put 999-99-9999. As it is actually an optional field on the real form, I do not think that all 9s would be considered criminally evasive by the ATF.

When I went to college they asked for your SS# on your application. If you did not have a SS#, or did not want to give it out, they just back filled the space in with 999-99-9999. The computer program was happy, and the student was happy. I'm not sure all "0"s would work, and I am pretty sure alpha would not work. If the field is required, I sure the program would also test for neumeric only, and probably for zero fill too.

I also would complain to Cabela's Corporate and tell them I am not purchasing any firearms from them untill they change the program and make the field optional (that would take a good programmer less than a minute to accomplish)

 

[Birch Knoll]

I also would complain to Cabela's Corporate and tell them I am not purchasing any firearms from them untill they change the program and make the field optional (that would take a good programmer less than a minute to accomplish)

Considering that they've already been made aware of the problem, are addressing it, and have put in place a procedure to deal with the problem until it is corrected, there does not seem to be any need to complain or boycott.

 

[SorenityNow]

I called Cabelas last night and was on hold for over 10 min. I just wanted to know if a Glock 26 was in stock and how much $$$. I have never shopped there before for guns and i dont think im going too leave my regular gun shop anytime soon. I was thinkin that if I had to wait that pong for a price check, then to make a purchase would be an all day affair. But on the plus side they do have a 90 day lay away

 

[Bubbles]

If it is a required entry computer generated field, I would put 999-99-9999. As it is actually an optional field on the real form, I do not think that all 9s would be considered criminally evasive by the ATF.

Ummmmmmmmm...... I wouldn't do it. The SSN info does get transmitted to the FBI NICS division, and then you sign that:

I certify that my answers to Section A are true, correct, and complete. I have read and understand the Notices, Instructions, and Definitions
on ATF Form 4473. I understand that answering "yes" to question 11.a. if I am not the actual buyer is a crime punishable as a felony under
Federal law, and may also violate State and/or local law. I understand that a person who answers "yes" to any of the questions 1.b. through
11.k. is prohibited from purchasing or receiving a firearm. I understand that a person who answers "yes" to question 11.1. is prohibited from
purchasing or receiving a firearm, unless the person also answers "yes" to question 12. I also understand that making any false oral or
written statement, or exhibiting any false or misrepresented identification with respect to this transaction, is a crime punishable as a felony
under Federal law, and may also violate State and/or local law. I further understand that the repetitive purchase of firearms for the purpose
of resale for livelihood and profit without a Federal firearms license is a violation of law.