Who needs a national ID card when you have this!

[BlackArrow]

My wife and I have been discussing the use of our SSI number of late as an ID and are asking our insurance company to issue new ID numbers not using our SSI numbers. I'll let you know how that turns out. We recently went to the "frozen tundra" (Wisconsin) to visit relatives over the holiday. P.S. you can conceal carry if you don't make a big deal out of it there too! We went to the local Wally World to purchase additional gifts for relatives and my wife asked if she could write an out of state check. The lady said yes with ID. She then rung the total and stuck the check into the register and it approved the check within seconds without any ID. We just looked at each other. All we could say was "holy crap"! The cashier said, "you must have really good credit".... All I could think of is "geeze that 666 must be branded on my forehead"! Anyone have some suggestions for becomming a little less "ID'ed"? I'm really interested in any less obvious suggestions that will make a person a little more transparent. Obvious would be cash only purchases. Let's put a little grey matter into this one boy's and girl's.

 

[PATH]

Orwellian is it not. Your account number and your bank's number are on the bottom of your check. Credit card, written check, internet order, E-Z pass for tolls, credit agancies, and insurance agencies all have info on you which big brother can access.

You can be sure that from time to time this board will be watched by big brother. Try to conduct business without your social security number! Good luck!

 

[suvdrvr]

The wife went to return something to target and forgot the receipt. They said no problem, just give them the checking acct # and they looked up what she had bought and when, she then got her refund. By law, the SSN isn't to be used for identification purposes, but everyone has to have it to conduct business.

 

[Neal Bloom]

It is amazing what the database marketing companies can collect on you. Credit rating, propensity to buy, pet ownership, affiliations, charitable donations, ... etc. And its all for sale. Can only imagine what others collect and how it is used.

Write a check at one Wally World and it probably will be recognized at all Wally Worlds. PATH is correct about your bank and account number being on the check and the register can read both.

Hard to hide in todays world.

 

[dave]

Write a check at one Wally World and it probably will be recognized at all Wally Worlds.



Ther's your anwser. Wal-Mart keeps track of all checking accounts used at any of it's stores. They know if there is a problem with any account as soon as the check goes thru that little box. Sometimes, like during spring planting or Christmas, when I spend more than usual, they ask for my ID. It's to make sure someone hasb't stolen my checks (for their good I'm sure).

By using such a system it, amoung other things, allows one to write checks at any WM.

 

[MicroBalrog]

Actually, National ID is not all that bad, I live in Israel, and I know.

 

[dfrog]

By law, the SSN isn't to be used for identification purposes, but everyone has to have it to conduct business.

They changed that a while back. It is legal for banks and other businesses to require your social security number for their services.

Writing checks, using credit cards and those discount cards, retailers can keep a detailed record of your buying habits.

You really don't have to think hard on this one.....use cash! Unless you want to risk illegally using a false identification, cash is the best way. Cash, cash, cash. Of course you can have someone else purchase you gift certificates.

 

[BerettaNut92]

I spent the first 21 years of my life living very untactically. How do I erase my tracks?

SOmehow I still have lousy credit--I just got rejected by the NRA for their credit card, even my piles of HKs and other ubertactical black goodies won't convince them I can handle myself financially.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Yeah, WallyWorld uses a company called SCAN that is a database clearinghouse. If you EVER...and I mean ever...bounce a check or have one come back for any reason at a company that uses SCAN to clear checks through, you can just hang it up as far as getting another purchase with a check on that account at any WallyWorld.

Of course, we're all fine upstanding citizens and our checks are always met with smiles at the bank, right?

BTW, when I was working my way through college this last time I got to process all the returned checks when I worked for WallyWorld. It scarred me for life, of course. <G>

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[TomV]

If I use my AmEx at a WallyWorld out of my area, they always ask for my zip code, then it go thur.

 

[Seeker]

It is amazing what the database marketing companies can collect on you. Credit rating, propensity to buy, pet ownership, affiliations, charitable donations, ... etc. And its all for sale. Can only imagine what others collect and how it is used.

And now Poindexter gets access to it all so he and his cronies at the Total Information Ageny (or whatever they are calling it now)can sort through it anyway they like in search of the ambigous 'terrorist'.

 

[sm]

Good idea to check your credit report regular. Even if an acct not used it shows up. In writing get confirmation from CC co that acct is closed.

Pay cash!
I use to use my debit card to make gas purchases easy, re-thinking that one. Use credit /debit because here we have Regulation Z, also makes any return easier.

I actually was asked for ID and/or zip code for a large CASH purchase.
I purchased elsewhere.

 

[dave]

"I actually was asked for ID and/or zip code for a large CASH purchase." by re1973



DAYUM! That bites. It wasn't a purchase of $10,000.00 or more was it? I understand, but don't agree with, the rules on that. But for anything under 10K? Why on earth would they do that?

 

[Wylycoyte]

Skunk, get a copy of your credit report from the big 3 credit agencies: Experian, Equifax, and Transunion. Then have them investigate each and every item on the report. This means that the creditors have to follow up the request and prove that the information they have is correct in 30 days. When that comes back, you then deal with any creditors, ask them to remove negative items, cut deals with them for money owed, etc.

I'm in much the same boat. My credit is shoddy for things that have happened 5+ years ago, when I was fresh out of college and unemployed. One of the good things is that those items are dropping off now because of the time passage. Also, having older items investigated often leads to the creditor not having records available, which will force the credit agency to remove the ding from your record. If they can't prove it, it doesn't exist. The best times to launch an investigation are over the holidays and in late summer, when everyone and their mother takes vacation. The credit bureaus have 30 days to investigate your disputes whether half their departments are on leave or not, or even if the creditor's accounting department is on holiday.

After disputing everything possible and cleaning up whatever else you can, you can request notes be placed in your file as to why you were late- you were unemployed from such date to such date, etc. Alternately, you can just dispute the claim again in hopes that it will not be verified under 30 days.

You really should get a hold of your records just to see what's on there. I was listed as having a credit card (it wasn't ID theft...the bank had no record of me owning the card either. Somehow I was listed as owning someone else's card, and getting dinged for their late payments on my credit report.) I didn't own, having a spouse named Paul (never been married, am male, and am hetero...), and having lived in 2 places I've never been to.

 

[2nd Amendment]

An odd little aside: I'm thinking I may need to change banks. The last three digits of my banks routing number are...666...

 

[444]

I was once on a kick to quit giving out my SSN. When I went to get a drivers license they asked me if I wanted my SSN on it, or if I would like to have them issue me a number. I told them to issue me a number.
The next time I went to buy a car I was doing the loan paperwork at the bank. She asked for my SSN and I told her I didn't remember it. She said, no problem it is here on your drivers license. I said, no it isn't I told them specifically not to put it on there. She said, all you do is take this number, drop the last two digits which are your date of birth, add this, divide by that and voila; you SSN.

 

[mpthole]

BlackArrow

There are lots of good books on ways to quit using your SSN ...or at least limit its use. If you want a list, PM or e-mail me and I can tell you the ones I've read anyway.

P.S. you can conceal carry if you don't make a big deal out of it there too!

Just so there are no "urban legends" started, Wisconsin has NO provision for concealed carry. There are at least 2 state supreme court cases that I know of regarding this issue and we are anxiously awaiting the outcomes. Technically, WI is an open-carry state and the RKBA is in the state's constitution. Of course the reality is that if your in any sizable city, you may get a trip "downtown" for disturbing the peace or some-such nonsense.

Actually, I whole-heartedly agree with your statement. If one doesn't make a big deal out it (after all it is concealed carry), then its no - big - deal.

---------------

I also hate it when paying cash for something and get asked for my zip code. ***? So, I'm taken it upon myself to memorize a few from the larger cities. Chicago = 60601, Beverly Hills 90210 - that always gets 'em. I pay cash for everything possible. When its not, I buy a money order for 49 cents at Cub. Drives my GF and family crazy because I refuse to write them a check if I owe them money. They'll either get it in cash or a money order.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Actually, National ID is not all that bad, I live in Israel, and I know.

A national ID card in the USA is a bad idea.

1. Are Israeli national ID cards somehow un-forge-able?
2. We are supposed to have at least some semblance of states' rights in the USA
3. We do not need one more worthless federal bureaucracy

The rest of the world needs to emulate the USA’s open borders between states, our expectations for personal responsibility along with our 2nd Amendment to back it all up. Unfortunately, it’s the other way around. Many folks want us all to carry “zee papers†with more feelgood legislation. Larry Ellison is chomping at the bit to “donate†an Oracle database to track us all.

Just like the anti-gun movement, it’s a heck of a lot easier to track and regulate the law-abiding in a show of “doing something†than it is to really do something about the problem.