Privacy Gripe

[Sammie]

Originally posted by msdis
That's nothing, I made ressies for 7 additional family members and they are all still under my "profile" and they "cannot" remove them. None of them live with me and I will probably never pay for another trip for any of them so the likelyhood of them ever going again is probably never. But I get the same questions and answers every time I call CRO. And they say they cannot remove them.

I agree, this part is annoying.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by Muushka
I agree. I know that my name, address and phone number are all info for public record. I have no problem giving that info. But my SSN is not public information and everyone does not have access to it. My DVC membership number is not availible to just anyone, only DVC, so I have no problem with them using that number as a unique ID (with DVC).

But it is the combination of someone having your name, address, phone number and SSN that is not good. It can be used in ID theft. And I think we have all heard the horror stories of people that have used that information to steal IDs.

I am glad that for those who have given their SSN that they only have the last 4 digits (or at least I hope that MS only has that info and not the whole number).

I am not paranoid. It is just that all of these people are out to get me .

Believe me I know all there is to know about ID theft. I was a victim. I worked with local authorities, the FBI and Secret Service on mine.

I also know that your SS is public knowledge whether you give it out or not. Mainly because it is required on public records.

You have reason for concern and safe guarding your info is a good idea, but there is only so much you can do.

 

[Muushka]

Originally posted by Sammie
Snip...

I also know that your SS is public knowledge whether you give it out or not. Mainly because it is required on public records.

Gosh, if it is public record, where do you go to get that info? That is very upsetting to me. I know that after my dad passed away I found a website that listed people who had died, name, address, DOB and SSN. But I didn't know that they made that info available to the public for the living.

I'm sorry that your ID was stolen. That happened to a friend of mine and it was and still is a nightmare.

Still, I believe that people's private info is asked for and given out way too freely. I will do all that I can to protect myself.

 

[Chuck S]

And you know, a lot of states use the SSN as the Drivers License number...

Every time you show ID to write a check or use a credit card your SSN/DL is out there.

 

[ErinC]

Chuck, I think a lot of states are getting away from that. I know that when I attended college in Arkansas, they did use you SSN as your Drivers license #.(Don't know if they still do) Recently, we got new cards from Blue Cross with new ID #'s because before, our ID # was DH's SSN. I think more companies are trying to get away from using the # as much. Frankly, I'm getting more paranoid the older I get, and start to get really snippy with folks that In my opinion, ask too many personal questions. I think it is okay for MS to ask one question to verify who you are. They don't need to ask five or six at one time. In this day and age of cel and cordless phones, you don't need to give out your life history in one conversation, so that anyone that might be listening could gather that much info. Paranoid? Maybe, but I seen and heard about it happening.

 

[crisi]

We are so funny....

We want better discounts, but we balk at giving DVC the sort of information they need to target them.

I agree about SSN, they shouldn't be asking, and even the last four digits shouldn't be showing up on the screen - unless perhaps your address doesn't match your member number - requiring some sort of identifying information to change your profile makes sense.

But they are asking your and your kids ages for marketing reasons....do people sell DVC when their kids leave home? Do they have a lot of empty nesters? Grandparents? Young singles? Should they market the next member event with events for toddlers and preschoolers? (A big gripe for me with the last one - we wouldn't have gone, but would some event starting before 9 killed them! - How about a special DVC character breakfast or lunch? How about an extra EE in Fantasyland? My preschoolers really aren't interested in fancy desserts at 9pm. But if there were a lot of young childless DVCers and DVC night at PI or the Boardwalk might have been fun.) When you bring guests, do you bring childless adults or adults with children? This lets them target marketing (which I don't completely approve of - spend your birthday in WDW! And we know when that is!), as well as discounts and events (which are the useful part of marketing).

And because families in this day and age are (unfortunately and fortunately) not completely stagnant, they ask each time. Maybe that five year old who lived with you last year went to live with her dad now? Maybe you've added a six year old grandchild that your daughter can't parent? Or stepkids? Maybe you've added or subtracted foster kids?

(Chuck, my DL nor SSN isn't on my checks. And I seldom write them, so there isn't any reason for anyone to write it down. I'm truly evil, I "help" them write my dl down on the check if they must, scrambling some of the numbers as I "recite" it. Also, when they ask for "a phone number," I give them exactly that - a phone number, not necessarily MY phone number, mind you.)

 

[Chuck S]

Originally posted by crisi
(Chuck, my DL nor SSN isn't on my checks. And I seldom write them, so there isn't any reason for anyone to write it down. I'm truly evil, I "help" them write my dl down on the check if they must, scrambling some of the numbers as I "recite" it. Also, when they ask for "a phone number," I give them exactly that - a phone number, not necessarily MY phone number, mind you.)

Interesting, as seeing a lot of check verification services use DL numbers. It would be interesting if a business refused to take your check because there was a history of "hot checks" on the DL number you "helped" them write down.

You also realize in some states, giving false info like that, if there is even a mixup at the bank and the check is not processed for some reason, would indicate to the District Attorney "intent to defraud."

 

[carone0318]

Maybe MS should come up with a password system. When you call, instead of asking all these other questions, they just ask for your password. If it's right then you move on. Then after you have given your password correctly then have MS just ask if all information is current or do you have and changes to make (sort of like when you go to the doctor's office.

Just food for thought......

 

[crisi]

Originally posted by Chuck S
Interesting, as seeing a lot of check verification services use DL numbers. It would be interesting if a business refused to take your check because there was a history of "hot checks" on the DL number you "helped" them write down.

You also realize in some states, giving false info like that, if there is even a mixup at the bank and the check is not processed for some reason, would indicate to the District Attorney "intent to defraud."

Never had a problem. They want to arrest me for trying to defraud them writing good checks, they can be my guest. The only problem with the "bad" drivers license number would be if I wrote bad checks - since I've never written a bad check in my life, I don't think there is much of a case.

But its pretty moot now a days. I haven't written a check in maybe two years. Cash card, online transactions, credit cards.