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The Dunedan · Dec 29, 2004, 01:50 pm

I just did something I havn't done in over 3 years.
I gave someone my Socialist Security Number.

I just moved into a 1-bed apartment. Previously, the telephone has been in someone else's name: one of my housemates. However, I'm now living by myself, so I needed to secure communication.

I spent the last 3 days looking for someplace, anyplace, that would give me a phone without either an SSN or a huge deposit. I couldn't find one. Verizon wanted $1,000 without an SSN. Cingular wouldn't even consider it, neither would Carolina West Wireless. Bellsouth, the local phone utility, wanted $100 non-refundable!

Granted, $100 doesn't sound like a lot, but I'm a college student, out of work, living on a VERY tight budget. $100, to me, is the difference between decent food and Top Ramen for a week, and between sitting at home and putting gas in my car to drive to the job I start on Monday.

So, just a little while ago, I broke down. For the first time in several years, I provided my SSN. I can't help feeling defeated, and more than a little violated, by this. I AM NOT A NUMBER, GODDAMN IT. These assholes are violating Federal law by doing this. But I don't have the money for a court fight to prove it. And after three days of speaking to everyone I can find about the illegality of this, I am out of energy on this particular debate.

I just wanted a motherfucking cellphone, goddamn their eyes and cods. Why in God's name do they need my SSN for that?
"We have to do a credit-check, sir."
A credit-check? Is Cingular afraid that I'll default on a bill I told them I was willing to pay IN ADVANCE? Is Bellsouth THAT worried about an $8/month LOCAL ONLY phone bill?
For ID purposes, I was willing to give them my driving license, my passport, anything they wanted. But a credit-check? This is madness. Sheer, rank, beurocratic, Socialistic, Collectivist madness.

Pardon me, I think I'm going to go have a drink now. Maybe more than one.

Dieval · Dec 29, 2004, 02:33 pm

Why didn't you buy a prepaid cell phone?

Young · Dec 29, 2004, 02:36 pm

Prepaid cellular is the Drug dealer & Traffickers pick of the week, Dunedan, I'd greatly appreciatte people Not using the Lords name in that manner, but i feel your pain, on being turned into a #.

Gorgo · Dec 29, 2004, 02:42 pm

That's the system. You want to live in the jungle, go ahead.

Dieval · Dec 29, 2004, 02:56 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Young

Prepaid cellular is the Drug dealer & Traffickers pick of the week

That statement was quite a generalization...there are valid uses for those phones outside of the illegal drug industry.

moorecommission · Dec 29, 2004, 03:17 pm

do you use credit cards? Tou just another number there too. Only that number has direct monetary connections.

**Chris** · Dec 29, 2004, 03:39 pm

You can walk into a Target Store and pay cash for a prepaid phone no?

The Dunedan · Dec 29, 2004, 04:24 pm

Can, but you end up dumping some pretty serious $$.
Around here it's 60-ish for the phone, and about $1/minute to actually use the thing. This would be my primary means of communicating with family, so that's not exactly practical.

No credit-cards either.

**Chris** · Dec 29, 2004, 04:25 pm

Really?

hm m didnt know that

Dec 29, 2004, 01:50 pm	#1 (permalink) (top)
The Dunedan Hot Lava Posts: 925	Feeling Violated: Gave my SSN. I just did something I havn't done in over 3 years. I gave someone my Socialist Security Number. I just moved into a 1-bed apartment. Previously, the telephone has been in someone else's name: one of my housemates. However, I'm now living by myself, so I needed to secure communication. I spent the last 3 days looking for someplace, anyplace, that would give me a phone without either an SSN or a huge deposit. I couldn't find one. Verizon wanted $1,000 without an SSN. Cingular wouldn't even consider it, neither would Carolina West Wireless. Bellsouth, the local phone utility, wanted $100 non-refundable! Granted, $100 doesn't sound like a lot, but I'm a college student, out of work, living on a VERY tight budget. $100, to me, is the difference between decent food and Top Ramen for a week, and between sitting at home and putting gas in my car to drive to the job I start on Monday. So, just a little while ago, I broke down. For the first time in several years, I provided my SSN. I can't help feeling defeated, and more than a little violated, by this. *I AM NOT A NUMBER, GODDAMN IT.* These assholes are violating Federal law by doing this. But I don't have the money for a court fight to prove it. And after three days of speaking to everyone I can find about the illegality of this, I am out of energy on this particular debate. I just wanted a motherfucking cellphone, goddamn their eyes and cods. Why in God's name do they need my SSN for that? "We have to do a credit-check, sir." A credit-check? Is Cingular afraid that I'll default on a bill I told them I was willing to pay IN ADVANCE? Is Bellsouth THAT worried about an $8/month LOCAL ONLY phone bill? For ID purposes, I was willing to give them my driving license, my passport, anything they wanted. But a credit-check? This is madness. Sheer, rank, beurocratic, Socialistic, Collectivist madness. Pardon me, I think I'm going to go have a drink now. Maybe more than one.

Dec 29, 2004, 02:33 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
Dieval Right of Center Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,007	Why didn't you buy a prepaid cell phone? "You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." -- Winston Churchill

Dec 29, 2004, 02:36 pm	#3 (permalink) (top)
Young Hot Lava Location: western NC Posts: 1,088	Prepaid cellular is the Drug dealer & Traffickers pick of the week, Dunedan, I'd greatly appreciatte people Not using the Lords name in that manner, but i feel your pain, on being turned into a #. Young I guess all we've got Left......are these darned "Internets"

Dec 29, 2004, 03:17 pm	#6 (permalink) (top)
moorecommission Sedimentary Rock Posts: 24	do you use credit cards? Tou just another number there too. Only that number has direct monetary connections. www.moorecommission.8m.com

Dec 29, 2004, 02:42 pm	#4 (permalink) (top)
Gorgo BANNED-Warned multiple times about instigating. User then reported topics multiple times to mess with staff. Posts: 4,412	That's the system. You want to live in the jungle, go ahead.

Dec 29, 2004, 03:39 pm	#7 (permalink) (top)
Chris Gamma-ray burst Location: Nashville Posts: 6,403	You can walk into a Target Store and pay cash for a prepaid phone no?

Dec 29, 2004, 04:24 pm	#8 (permalink) (top)
The Dunedan Hot Lava Posts: 925	Can, but you end up dumping some pretty serious $$. Around here it's 60-ish for the phone, and about $1/minute to actually use the thing. This would be my primary means of communicating with family, so that's not exactly practical. No credit-cards either.

Dec 29, 2004, 04:25 pm	#9 (permalink) (top)
Chris Gamma-ray burst Location: Nashville Posts: 6,403	Really? hm m didnt know that