I've been through this with my attorney. There is nothing under the law to stop someone from using it as an identifier. However, if I refuse to give them my SSN, they can't deny service.

>Craig..
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>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.
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>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.
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>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..
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