Regret giving MS additional info

[OCDisney]

I made the mistake of giving MS the last 4 digits of my SSN and ever since I have been asked to verify it _IN_ADDITION_ to the already FAQs of name, mailing address and telephone number.

I've asked them not to ask me for my SSN any more and they keep doing it. It's ridiculous. I'm sorry but my member number alone should be sufficient security. Anyone who has my wallet has access to all the other information anyway so all they are accomplishing IMO is higher costs to operate MS.

There should be at least a way to ask them to quit verifying so darn much info _EVERY_ single time.

 

[Jillpie]

I agree. I wish they would just ask our number and perhaps my mother's maiden name. That would be sufficient. If I have a very quick question for them, I just state can I just ask you something quick and then just ask it. This saves time for both of us by not having to give all that info up front. Now if I have to make a ressie, thats a different story, I take the time to give all the info. They usually allow a quick question up front, but you have to speak up fast and get it out.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't have a problem with them verifying using the last 4 digits of the SSN. Almost every other company you deal with does the same thing, or asks for Mother's Maiden Name.

If the MS computer system is set up for it, maybe they could switch it to some other question of our choice, like some financial websites do now. But for phone conversations regarding specifics of our account, even the cell phone company asks for the last 4 digits.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I think verifying your address and phone number everytime you call is absurd. If they have verifited your last 4 digits of social, that should be enough. If someone else is called and pretending to be you and they have the social, then they have the address and phone number, too.

I have also called on occasion to just ask a points questions, not book anything, and you have to verify every thing to do that, too. Seems like it wastes everyones time.

 

[Towncrier]

I, for one, am glad that they ask all the questions. Several years back, someone gained access to our checking account without any information other than our name. They just wanted to deposit a check and "couldn't remember their account number". This seemingly innocent act (like asking for point balances, etc.) led to them eventually getting $1500 out of our checking account.

Can you imagine checking in at a DVC resort only to find that someone had cancelled your reservation? Unfortunately in this day and age of identity theft, all the added security questions are necessary in order for MS to make sure that they are talking to you and not an imposter.

Perhaps someday someone will come up with a foolproof method of identifying individuals over the phone or over the internet. But until then, we will have to put up with the extra questions.

Just my opinion. Take it or leave it.

 

[LeftCoaster]

I personally don't mind them asking the information to verify identity. Unfortunately, more and more safeguards are needed these days.
Now to flame you a bit..... Why are you carrying your social security card around with you? That's a very dangerous thing to do as the soc. sec. card is the key to your identity. If your wallet ever gets stolen, there goes your identity and you'll be spending the next few years trying to straighten things out.
People, please put those Soc. Security cards in a safety deposit box or someplace else. Whenever possible, do not carry around any type of cards that contain that information.

 

[DVCcollector2]

All we have ever been adked was name and address and member number never any other info.

 

[LTGRAMPS]

Other than making reservations, it is much easier asking questions through the e-mail link on the website. Enter your name, member # and ask the questions. I never waited more than 24 hours for a reply. Keeps the wait time down and the costs down for MS.

 

[kathleena]

I don't mind at all and I want them to do all they think is necessary to protect my account.

 

[dsmith]

Now to flame you a bit..... Why are you carrying your social security card around with you?

While I agree it's not a good idea to carry your Social Security card arround with you there's other ways to get that number. It's printed on both my Blue Cross/Shield card and my perscription insurance card. I'd never travel without them.

 

[slc224]

I don't see it as a big deal........It only takes about 10 seconds to verify.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Never give out your SSN or carry your Social Security card. *
2) As memtioned, it is YOUR identity.
3) Frequently it might be listed on
. . . insurance cards
. . . state driver's licenses
. . . company employee ID cards
. . . other health or membership cards
4) You can have the number deleted from each of these.
. . . most driver license bureaus give a choice for SSN listings
. . . insurance cards will reissue without SSN or give a different number
. . . if they refuse to delete SSN, ask for a manager or supervisor

* If you call the company unsolicited, then it is usually OK to identify yourself with SSN. If they called you or you are replying to a postcard or email, DO NOT give out your SSN.

 

[jarestel]

I agree that supplying the ID information doesn't actually guarantee the true identity of the caller. However, I think if they didn't ask for all of the qualifying info and someone's account was "hacked", we'd have a thread running here crucifying MS for giving out information to callers without proper verification. It's really a no-win situation for them. Perhaps a unique "PIN" for all members might be the way to go when requesting information.

 

[denecarter]

While I agree it's not a good idea to carry your Social Security card arround with you there's other ways to get that number. It's printed on both my Blue Cross/Shield card and my perscription insurance card. I'd never travel without them.

Not long ago, BCBS sent a new card for my daughter without her SSN. It was their idea.

Last year at school, we had to take up all of the new student id's because the SSN was on them. We have students use their SSN on scantron tests for identification... so later we have to shred them.

Remember in college when our grades would be posted by SSN? I'd guess they can't use the full number any more.

 

[manning]

let's see. A social security card has 9 digits. Each digit has 10 possible combinations. In other words any number from 0 to 9 can be put into each digit. For a hacker to figure out your social security number he would have to go thru a maximum of one Billion (1,000,000,000) combinations. 10x10x10x10x10x10x10x10x10 or 10 to the 9th power.

If he has the last 4 digits he would only have to go thru a maximum of one hundred thousand (100,000) combinations or 10 to the 5th.

He would need a database with both your name and social security number to know if he made a hit.

I have broken a combination of a lock with four digits manually. That is sitting there and clicking the tumblers. Of course that is only 10,000 maximum combinations. Took about two hours and it turned out the combination was 9999. By the way it was my lock I hadn't seen in 10 years.

Hmmmmm I think I will continue cleaning the basement. Never know what will be found.

How's that for a little trivia?

 

[Rombus]

A majority of colleges use SSN As the primary form of ID for students. However, anyone with access to personal student information has to sign confidentality agreements, and security is always pretty strict. We have a policy of strict passwords and montly PW changes in my department (ResNet). So far we have been lucky. I know the higherups are working on a switch to a universal student id, but thats still 5 years + off, and it isnet free to switch all our software off SSNs

 

[MDonley]

I must have an invalid SS# because "A social security card has 9 digits. Each digit has 10 possible combinations. In other words any number from 1 to 9 can be put into each digit." .... And my card has 2 zeros in it. At any rate, my DW knows the SS# by memory of everyone in the family ... and I can barely remember my own sometimes. I'd be happier if they asked for my DVCMember.com ID & password.

 

[jarestel]

let's see. A social security card has 9 digits. Each digit has 10 possible combinations. In other words any number from 1 to 9 can be put into each digit. For a hacker to figure out your social security number he would have to go thru a maximum of one Billion (1,000,000,000) combinations. 10x10x10x10x10x10x10x10x10 or 10 to the 9th power.

If he has the last 4 digits he would only have to go thru a maximum of one hundred thousand (100,000) combinations or 10 to the 5th.

He would need a database with both your name and social security number to know if he made a hit.

I have broken a combination of a lock with four digits manually. That is sitting there and clicking the tumblers. Of course that is only 10,000 maximum combinations. Took about two hours and it turned out the combination was 9999. By the way it was my lock I hadn't seen in 10 years.

Hmmmmm I think I will continue cleaning the basement. Never know what will be found.

How's that for a little trivia?

Nice mental exercise, but your assumptions are SLIGHTLY flawed. There is no reason a PIN has to have only 4 numbers and no reason it must contain all numbers. The reason the banking numbers do is because they are generally entered on a numeric keypad. By "hacked" I wasn't referring to someone calling 10,000 times and giving MS a different number each time, but rather someone who would know an address, phone number, etc. I don't have a problem giving out the last 4 digits of my SSN, but many do, so a PIN eliminates the uneasiness some have in giving this out.

 

[NMW]

In the past 6 months we have gotten new Health insurance, vision plan and Prescription cards that no longer have our ss#'s on them. The inserts said it was for privacy and to protect our identity and it also urged us not to carry our ss# cards with us.

 

[OneMoreTry]

While I agree it's not a good idea to carry your Social Security card arround with you there's other ways to get that number. It's printed on both my Blue Cross/Shield card and my perscription insurance card. I'd never travel without them.

Our BCBS has changed our member #'s. So now our SSN is not on the cards.