Craig..

Actually, no such law exists...at least, not in the way you think it does. The Privacy act of 1974 places some restrictions on Federal and some state/local organizations. If you look at SS cards that have been produced in recent years, they no longer contain the admonition that the number is not to be used as identification. Perhaps the most violated request in the world. There is no law that specically says that nobody can use the SS number as an identifer. The caveat is that it must be done with the consent of the person. Chances
are, when you signed up for an account, you gave your consent.

This, like the rule of thumb origin (that you could beat your wife with a rod, so long as it was no more thicker than your thumb) - is yet another urban myth that folks assume to be true...but in reality - is not.

There is no question that there are laws that protect against abuses, but a per se ban on using a Social Security #, no such law/regulation exists..



>>Unfortunately, it's not that easy. Here in the US, it's basically impossible to protect one's privacy. This fact became obvious very quickly to me. As a European, I was used to strictest privacy laws. Here, you can pay cash at Radio Shack and still get spammed with snail mail 3 days later.
>>
>>But heck, I've chosen to live here, so I agreed to that, I guess... ;-)
>
>You can choose not to give them your information. When I buy something at OfficeMax or Circuit City, they ask me to electronically sign my credit card receipt. I've refused to do this, so I just sign it normally. I also refuse to give my social security number unless its needed for tax purposes (per law). My bank currently uses it as my ID (in violation of the law). I'm in the process of changing banks because of this.