On Sun, Nov 27, 2011 at 9:31 AM, Binand Sethumadhavan binand@gmail.com wrote:
Well, the US laws are clear on this point. If an agency (govt. or private) asks for your SSN for identification purposes, you have the *right* to ask back why your number is needed, how it will be used and
Yes laws allow one to deny disclosure of SSN. But law also allows denial of service in such case.
So, you go to rent an apartment, company that owns the building would ask for SSN to run a credit and bankruptcy check. You are within your right to deny giving out SSN, And company is also within their right to deny apartment to you.
All they need to do in case of SSN being compromised is to pay for 2 years of credit monitoring service.
I have rented in three states (NY/NJ/CA) and every state's model agreement clearly states this fact.
Similarly, employer would not give you a job unless he can report earnings to IRS.