On Thu, 9 Nov 2000, k.camplate wrote:
> Yet again I was awakened today by someone calling me trying to sell
> something. I have learned the best weapon for this was to tell the
> person "I want to be put on your 'Don't call' list and also on the
> don't call list of any other companies you are associated with" But
> after I hung up I laid there and thought about it. In my little city
> there are at least six phone calling/companies. Multiply that by a few
> hundred cities and it will still be a long time before they stop
> calling.
We have the problem that one of the companies providing the database based
on address look-up has our last name wrong. I think that from now on,
anyone asking for "Mr. or Mrs. Chadwick" is going to get the "put this
number on your do not call list", point-blank. I've found out how to do
something about the inaccuracy on-line today (and, in fact, who has the
inaccuracy in their database, if it's only one database with the problem),
but I'm not sure it's worth it.
> This is my point: I don't have an unlisted number and I've been pretty
> free about giving out my address and phone number when asked, even at
> Radio Shack, why they need it I don't know. My checks have my address
> and phone number on them. Why? That's what I've started to wonder
> about.
My husband is perfectly willing to provide a phone number. He just won't
necessarily provide an accurate phone number, and there's a little 3-digit
number that Southwestern Bell has reserved for a specific purpose, so
giving a number beginning with that string won't help anyone if they
actually try to call. At Radio Shack, I just look at them and ask them if
they really need it, and let them know I'd really rather not give it. (And
they're pretty nice about it, at least at the one I'm most likely to
frequent.) I use a credit card at most places these days. I occasionally
get carded for ID to make sure it matches my credit card. Heck, you
practically have to pass a background check to write a check at the mall
these days, so it's just easier to use the credit card there.
> Now if the whole country took this step I can understand that check
> cheats would rise but right now I'm being penalized for what the bad
> apples do. I figure computer wise they can find me, an honest citizen,
> from my SSN and driver's license number.
I never give out an SSN. They can have the driver's license number and
welcome, but I never, ever give out an SSN to anyone who's not paying me
money or storing my money for me and giving me some interest on it in the
bargain.
> In fact last month my brother, who's never been accused of being easy
> going, had filed out and was approved for check cashing privileges at
> a grocery market. Yesterday we were getting some food and he gives
> them his check and the plastic privilege card. The lady starts asking
> for a local phone number, his driver license number, his SSN. After
> the third question he said, quite loudly in the crowded store "Why the
> fuck do I have to give you all this info when I have a check cashing
> card?" He then walked out leaving all his stuff lying there. All I
> could do is shrug and walk out with him.
I don't blame him.
I have the local phone number printed on the check; the most I get asked
is if everything on the check is accurate. (If it isn't, due to a recent
move, I go through my checks, line out the address, and write the new one
in before I take the checkbook on a shopping trip.) There's only one
grocery store chain that asks for the driver's license number; I think the
other two chains I go to have some sort of computer database that includes
my checking account number, and as long as that's still OK in their
database, they don't hassle me for anything. The one that does ask for
the license number has a special card you can sign up for and not get
hassled for ID with (and you get discounts to boot), but I don't want to
pay for the priviledge with the information they want on the form. I may
change my mind at some future time, as they have special parking near the
store for pregnant women and you've got to sign up with them for that, but
I don't like dealing with the hassle there anyway, there are 4 grocery
stores in the other 2 chains that are closer to my house, and I'm leery of
getting onto anyone's list of expectant parents, having heard a nightmare
story regarding a miscarriage and telemarketers calling when the baby
would have been an infant, had it lived.
If I weren't so anal about keeping track of all the expenses, and the fact
that using checks and credit cards make that just so much easier, I might
just use cash for most of my purchasing in stores; it's nobody's damn
business what I'm buying but my own.
That's my thoughts on the subject. (Boy, you sure pressed a hot button on
me tonight!)
Julia
