The rep said it was a FCC policy. Considering it’s a “post 9/11″ policy, I think it’s more about getting the identity of WHO is viewing WHAT websites than running credit checks. I’ll have to remember not to visit bin laden’s myspace page…

Harry

That is not always true. I used to work for Bank One/First USA in the Credit Card dept. I have seen research into fraud go on for months and longer. If I am a Business owner, giving me your credit card # as collateral is not good enough. Credit cards can be canceled, and I would never know until you defaulted and never paid me again. How does that give my any security that you’ll pay me or return my hundreds if dollars of equipment? No one wants to pay a security deposit, but they don’t want to provide legitimate companies with other forms of security??? Hmmmmm. Doesn’t make sense to me.

You may not understand the risk difference between a SSN and a Credit Card, but I assure you they are 100% different.

Give someone your SSN, address, and name and you will no longer be you. It will take you years or longer to have your life back.

If your Credit Card number is stolen, your out $50 max. You put a stop on the card and have a new card issued. Your life goes on.

That is the difference.

After telling me I couldn’t get the fastest internet connection possible (8Mb service) cause I was not a Comcast Cable customer, I was then told that I needed to give them my SS# so they could run a credit check on me. That was the reps exact words. I laughed at him and said “are you crazy?” I don’t give my SS# out like that. He then said that I could drive to my local Comcast office and fill out the forms there. I asked if the forms required the SS# and he said “yes, I think so because they would still have to do the credit check on you”.

My god, I’m not buying a house or car here. I have no problem with giving my credit card info and they can hit me on that if I “jump ship” or don’t pay.

With the ID theft now a days I think this is a very poor business practice and I will just live without Comcast internet service and any other service they may offer.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2003/09/24/notes092403.DTL

BTW, the excuse I got was, we’re not using the SSN for a credit check, we want to catch people who have not paid past bills and who have moved.

http://gdaeman.blogspot.com/2006/12/comcast-demands-ssn-for-cable-service.html

US Senators
US Congressional Representative
Baltimore City Council President
Maryland General Assembly representatives
State Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Division
State Public Service Commission
Comcast Corporation Headquarters
Social Security Administration, Regulatory Policy
Federal Communications Commissioners: Martin, Copps and Adelstein
Electronic Frontier Foundation

Cut ‘n Paste this list and Hammer Away!

regulations@ssa.gov, Michael.Copps@fcc.gov, Jonathan.Adelstein@fcc.gov, KJMWEB@fcc.gov, information@eff.org, corporate_communications@comcast.com, eastern_press@cable.comcast.com

(You’ll have to write your own political representatives)

http://www.house.gov/writerep/
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

And Kori, they didn’t offer me the option of a PIN or a deposit. Which is why this household doesn’t pay Comcast anything.

I cannot vouch for all cable companies, but I can tell you that in the one I work for (Cox, now Suddenlink), I will never see your SS#, I will only see the last four digits for security purposes. That is for exactly the same reason you are stating, because no one should know that info but you!

If you are uncomfortable with verifying your SS# over the phone, have a PIN # added to your acct, or even a password. You CAN do this. Just a word of caution, if you have it placed on your acct that a PIN or password must be verified rather than a SS#, and then you forget it, you must go into the office with two forms of ID and get it changed before you can access your acct via phone.

You would not believe how many people become irate when they cannot recall the pin number on their acct and demand to speak to a supervisor (which does not happen, because if you cannot verify the acct supervisors will refuse to take the call).

Point is, no one should ever ask for your entire SS# over the phone, that is just crazy. There should always be an option for a PIN or password.

Karol>
Hello. Thank you for choosing Comcast. My name is Karol and I will be processing your order today. Please stay online while I create the work order for your request. It will take me just a few minutes to pull up your address in our system. Please hold for a moment.Hello. Thank you for choosing Comcast.

Karol>
Could you please supply us with your social security number? We require this for all new accounts and it will be used for security and identification purposes in the future. This is a new policy put in place. Comcast has secured this site

comcast_guest>
I just researched this and I understand that Comcast would be happy to use my Massachusetts license number: Sxxxxxxxxx (instead of my SSN). Would that be okay as I’d rather supply that number as opposed to my SSN (for obvious reasons).

Karol>
Currently I am unable to assist you via the chat forum without a social security number. Please visit one of our service centers and show two forms positive identification and the service center representative will be able to assist you. To find the service center closest to you, please visit the following web site:

https://www.comcast.com/Localization/default.asp?referer=/Membership/Locate_Payment_Center.asp

Karol>
You may use your License and another ID at our Comcast Service Center

comcast_guest>
Thanks… please know that Comcast is really upsetting people by requesting their SSN. I mean, I could provide a pass-phrase and that would be more secure than a ssn. “Humpty Dumpty sat on a ball”… how would someone guess that?

Karol>
I understand your position; however, this was only put in place after 9/11

comcast_guest>
Someone can pay for someone’s ssn today and it’s so easily stolen these days. Thanks carol… about the 9/11 comment: unfortunately everyone is using that excuse for stupid policies like this… sorry, but there’s other ways of proving who you are.

Karol>
That is probably so, however, when I think of all the years I filled out forms for Health Insurance, car purchases etc, I am aware, it is available

Karol>
Sorry, for these changes, Paul, Thank you for your interest. Bye

comcast_guest>
Thanks for your understanding, too bad the decision makers can’t come around to coming up with a better method. And, they get paid so much more money, for what? A teenager could come up with a better methodology. Oh well… I’ll be visiting the center close to me, but don’t appreciate the extra effort, please funnel that to management and while you’re at it, to Dilbert.

Karol>
I believe there should be some kind of cross reference number, but that is a work in progress, I guess George Orwell was right

comcast_guest>
Okay, thanks again Carol… have a pleasant day… and I’m not directing any of this at your personally, I know you only work there (not necessary your personal policy). Bye again.

Karol>
Bye, Paul,