Social Security Number

[jconn40]

I have a medical bill that I am negotiating…I had surgery and it is the deductible left over. Since I was out of work for the procedure and sometime after, I am applying to have the deductible waived. The billing dept. continues to ignore my requests to remove my social security number from any records and letters they send me. They claim the “need” it, but have not been able to say why…they have a medical record number and the account number they created. In my opinion, they have no need for my social security number. Do I have any legal recourse to get them to stop? Are there any letters, templates to send them to force them to stop?

Thanks,

Jerry

[Anonymous]

Check with the Social Security people. You know, that number was only meant to be used by the government so they could keep track of how much money you put in over your life time and so you could receive benefits when you retire or become unable to work. I bet you have something here.

How about this, I just received my report from TU and my bank has given them my auto info! YES! They reported (on my report for all to see) Year, Make, Model and get this, VIN number! WHAT!!! How is this relevant? Unbelievable. I should kick the a$$ of someone somewhere. Like all the many other personal information wasn't enough. GEEZ!

Good Luck!

[admin]

Cooper - that's frightening!

[Anonymous]

Tell me about it!

[ghacorp]

It's frightening, and it's reality. Some states even sell DMV records and any attorney or private investigator with a few bucks can obtain a persons SSI, DOB, place of employment, bank & brokerage account information and mostly all other assets in the US. Medical records can usually also be obtained, HIPAA or no HIPAA when claims have been submitted. People should know that they can opt out of public databases such as US Search, if they send letters to each vendor. Never reveal personal information on grocery store loyalty cards, warranty cards and the like as this is the source where much information is garnered.

[kimber6337]

Let me tell you what is frightening. Sometimes I am thankful for it and sometimes i'm not LOL

I am adopted - wanna know how my bio mom found me. She went to Austin, pulled all the births certificatedon X day, found name mismatches from her name to the childs name. Picked one of the three, drove up the street to DPS, and paid 3$ and was given a copy of my original permit to register for my DL. They blocked out medical info, but left the addy and phone number on there and she then picked up her cell phone and called my mom.

that is when I found my rock and hid under it.

[illegal_alien]

<blockquote>Originally posted by kimber6337

that is when I found my rock and hid under it.

</blockquote>

Kimber, wow..that sounds like a upcoming movie thriller script..maybe mystery thriller..LOL

[jconn40]

Well, to get back on topic...I contacted SSA today and they put me through to their fraud line 800-269-0271. They are sending me a letter about the law regarding the use of non-gov't personnel using my SSN as an ID#. I also reported this to the FTC on their recommendation. When I receive the letter with the references to the laws governing use of SSN I will post it. They were very helpful BTW.

Also, my health insurance co., Keystone Health Plan East, uses my SSN as my ID number. I had to contact the Administrator in charge of the group I purchase my health insurance through and they are having a "dummy" number assigned. Because it is done through the medical college I attend, they said they can do it. They do the same thing for foreign students who do not have a SSN.

I hope this information is helpful to others.

Jerry

[ghacorp]

In all honesty folks, in my personal opinion it's a waste of time getting all worked up over who may know or be using your SSI. A person's life is an open book and personal information is uncannily easy to obtain. Another idea is to register for an FEIN and use that number where appropriate. It's very legal as long as you're not using it for tax evasion or misrepresentation. To exemplify how easy it is to look people up; I simply went to the state of Delaware's beautiful new high rise court house in Wilmington and hit an open access DELJIS computer terminal and discovered the hidden truth of some friends and neighbors! Beside me were information bureau employees with lists looking people up for whatever reason. I think my friends would be horrified if they found out what I was able to walk in and dig up!

[jconn40]

<blockquote>Originally posted by ghacorp

In all honesty folks, in my personal opinion it's a waste of time getting all worked up over who may know or be using your SSI. A person's life is an open book and personal information is uncannily easy to obtain. Another idea is to register for an FEIN and use that number where appropriate. It's very legal as long as you're not using it for tax evasion or misrepresentation. To exemplify how easy it is to look people up; I simply went to the state of Delaware's beautiful new high rise court house in Wilmington and hit an open access DELJIS computer terminal and discovered the hidden truth of some friends and neighbors! Beside me were information bureau employees with lists looking people up for whatever reason. I think my friends would be horrified if they found out what I was able to walk in and dig up!

</blockquote>

If you had been through what I have been through in the last year over identity theft, you would be concerned as well. I would be carefull with the FEIN thing. There is a big scma telling people to get a EIN to use instead of a SSN. I believe it's a felony for getting one under false pretenses...like not having a business and employees. I dont know all the details, but I'm sure someone out there does. Your name address and telephone number are all anyone needs. Here are some federal regs regarding use of SSN...have fun

(CFR-Code of Federal Regs.http://www.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/index.html

USC United States Code http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/):

There is no law requiring an individual to obtain or use a social security number. Your requirement and/or demand that I provide a social security number to you is a violation of one or more of the following laws: 4 CFR 83.9; 5 USC Sec. 552a; 7 CFR 1.123; 7 USC Sec. 2204g; 14 CFR 1212.604; 17 CFR 249.501a; 19

CFR 118.11; 19 CFR 122.25; 19 CFR 24.5; 24 CFR 5.212; 28 CFR 16.53; 28 CFR 513.31; 28 CFR 700.25; 29 CFR 70a.10; 29 CFR 71.12; 31 CFR 1.32; 31 CFR 501.806; 32 CFR 270.19; 32 CFR 310.20; 32 CFR 311.5; 32 CFR 316.6; 32 CFR 317.20; 32 CFR 323.5; 32 CFR 505.2; 32 CFR 701.108; 32 CFR 806b.9; 38 CFR 1.575; 38 CFR 3.216; 38 USC Sec. 5101; 39 CFR 266.4; 45 CFR Part 801; 47 CFR 0.554; 49 CFR 10.29.

[LadynRed]

If there's no federal law in the CFR's requiring one to obtain an SSN, how in the world, then, did they get away with forcing parents to get SS#'s for their newborn infants ????? Its unreal !!

It always grinds me that so many institutions REQUIRE your SSN for identification and attach it to ALL your accounts and records. I heard once that Sen. Kennedy was leading a charge to stop this practice... too bad it didn't get very far If anyone asks for my SSN for some form of ID these days, I tell them they are not legally entitled to that information... it flummoxes them right off the bat !!!!

[georgiaboy]

Ok, Im beat, I admit when ive had enough, me brain hurts trying to figure this one out,, Whats a dang flummoxes,, can ya eat them?

On another note, many times your DL# and SS# are the same, I dont know about other states, but down here we can ask that are SS# not be placed on our DL for everyone to see.

[LadynRed]

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary:

Flummox - to bewilder, confuse

..ya can eat 'em ..

[jconn40]

Now, I might as well beat the dead horse- here are more references:

LIABILITY NOTICE of FEDERAL LAWS

Title 42 Chapter II subsection 408. Penalties (a) In General whoever ----

.(8) discloses, uses, or compels the disclosure of the social security number of any person in violation of the laws of the United States; shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both. AND Title 5 of the United States Code Annotated 552(a) is known as the Privacy Act:

"(a) (1) It shall be unlawful --- to deny to any individual any right, benefit, or privilege provided by law because of such individual's refusal to disclose his Social Security Account Number." AND "Right of privacy is a personal right designed to protect persons from unwanted disclosure of personal information --- ." CNA Financial Corp.V. Local 743, DC, ILL, 1981, 515 F. Supp. 942, ILL. AND The court held the Privacy Act, " ---- was enacted for (the) purpose of curtailing the expanding use of Social Security Numbers --- and to eliminate the threat to individual privacy and confidentiality of information posed by common numerical identifiers." And " --- any effort to compel disclosure of (SS) number

--- violated federal law, ---." Doyle v. Wilson, DC, DEL., 1982, 529 F. Supp. 1343. AND Title 18 USC Section 241 "Conspiracy against rights of citizen" is punishable up to $10,000 fine or ten years imprisoned or both. AND Title 18 USC Section 242 " Deprivation of rights under color of law" is punishable up to $1,000 fine or one year imprisoned or both. AND Title 42 USCS S1983 SS59 "Acts of Private Person --- will be deemed to have been done under "color of law" when the individuals were so significantly and substantially interwoven with state or local government that a symbiotic relationship existed between the two and --- the political state."

[ghacorp]

The idea is NOT to commit acts of false identity or tax evasion. Anyone can simply assert they're in business and apply for and use an FEIN. As to SSI numbers, when requested as an identifier for a non governmental reason, change the fourth and fifth numbers to zeros. (SSI does not issue zeros in the second sequence of numbers)Most computer systems will accept this entry.