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Radio Shack® policy invites Identity Theft
I always give them a ficticious name and address. They have NEVER asked me for
an SS number, though..... rgds, Mark S. |
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gnarley posted:
I was flabbergasted at what happened today at a local Radio Shack store. I was waiting in line with several others while the cashier interrogated a customer. 1) Name, first and last 2) Telephone number 3) Address 4) Social security number I interrupted his reciting his SS number, demanding loudly why the cashier needed to collect this information in public. The cashier, who also is the store owner got angry and told me it is Radio Shack policy to collect this information as part of the "Contract" between seller and purchaser. I turned to the line of waiting customers and began lecturing about invasion of privacy and identity theft. The owner started yelling about how I had to leave immediately or he would call the police. So I left. Please register your dismay at your local Radio Shack store at this policy which is an invasion of privacy and invites crime. Do not participate in this "Marketing Strategy" which only serves to desensitize consumers as to their personal rights. On the other hand, when you are asked for this info, simply refuse to give it. RS has asked, for years, for a name and address. I always refuse, which lead to some hot discussions, but I always won because I was the guy spending my money and that's really what they want. Don |
On Mon, 24 Nov 2003 21:04:28 GMT, Gnarlodious
wrote: I was flabbergasted at what happened today at a local Radio Shack store. I was waiting in line with several others while the cashier interrogated a customer. 1) Name, first and last 2) Telephone number 3) Address 4) Social security number I interrupted his reciting his SS number, demanding loudly why the cashier needed to collect this information in public. The cashier, who also is the store owner got angry and told me it is Radio Shack policy to collect this information as part of the "Contract" between seller and purchaser. I turned to the line of waiting customers and began lecturing about invasion of privacy and identity theft. The owner started yelling about how I had to leave immediately or he would call the police. So I left. Please register your dismay at your local Radio Shack store at this policy which is an invasion of privacy and invites crime. Do not participate in this "Marketing Strategy" which only serves to desensitize consumers as to their personal rights. Thank you & 73 --Rachel http://www.qsl.net/k5zn/ Hmm, that DOES sound odd. Especially the SS number, the usual routine is name, address and postal/zip code, UNLESS the customer is paying by cheque in which case more info is required eg; phone number, drivers license and a major credit card. How do I know this ? I worked for the SHAFT many years ago. TTFN Kevin formerly of 05-5602, 05-5619, ES23, 05-0732 |
K-tron wrote:
On Mon, 24 Nov 2003 21:04:28 GMT, Gnarlodious wrote: I was flabbergasted at what happened today at a local Radio Shack store. I was waiting in line with several others while the cashier interrogated a customer. 1) Name, first and last 2) Telephone number 3) Address 4) Social security number I interrupted his reciting his SS number, demanding loudly why the cashier needed to collect this information in public. The cashier, who also is the store owner got angry and told me it is Radio Shack policy to collect this information as part of the "Contract" between seller and purchaser. I turned to the line of waiting customers and began lecturing about invasion of privacy and identity theft. The owner started yelling about how I had to leave immediately or he would call the police. So I left. Please register your dismay at your local Radio Shack store at this policy which is an invasion of privacy and invites crime. Do not participate in this "Marketing Strategy" which only serves to desensitize consumers as to their personal rights. Thank you & 73 --Rachel http://www.qsl.net/k5zn/ Hmm, that DOES sound odd. Especially the SS number, the usual routine is name, address and postal/zip code, UNLESS the customer is paying by cheque in which case more info is required eg; phone number, drivers license and a major credit card. How do I know this ? I worked for the SHAFT many years ago. TTFN Kevin formerly of 05-5602, 05-5619, ES23, 05-0732 Think you are wise to be concerned! We 'signed up' with our Post Office system to NOT RECEIVE junk (i.e. not specifically addressed) mail such as the weekly sales brochure from several s.markets, cosmetic companies, you name it! It worked; much less junk in the mail box! However I found that once I had given my address and name to RS they send me advertising brochures and other 'flyers', in others words 'their junk mail'. Because I have made a purchase/contract and they have specific information about me. They have never asked for my SS number; it would be illegal btw. I know one person who hardly ever gives a true address, anywhere; judging by the amount of MY junk email he's smarter than I! In this country it is 'supposed' to be illegal to use the SS number for anything but government related communications and one 'does not' have to give it to anyone else. It doesn't really work out that way; for example a bank has to send me a statement at income tax time if I have earned interest on an account, under my SS number. However they are not supposed to use that number if they are contacting me to sell some other service, let's say insurance or a credit card, which would not involve the government. SS numbers have been abused/misused; for example my employer and my credit union at one time !15-20 years ago!) used Social Insurance numbers to identify employees/clients accounts! They were advised to stop and have since used a different system. With the extensive use of credit cards and/bank debit cards these days the use of cheques is now extremely rare. Many companies will not accept personal cheques at all. Some will accept a printed cheque that is obviously negotiable and valid such as a government issued cheque. Even then there have been a few forgeries of such cheques which has 'hardened' retailers attitude towards accepting cheques at all. Quite apart from cheques any way, direct deposit, usually electronically, to ones account, is faster and accurate. Terry. Small province in eastern Canada. PS. We call them SIN (Social Insurance Numbers). Has a nice sin-ful ring to it. Eh? |
Terry wrote:
Think you are wise to be concerned! We 'signed up' with our Post Office system to NOT RECEIVE junk (i.e. not specifically addressed) mail such as the weekly sales brochure from several s.markets, cosmetic companies, you name it! It worked; much less junk in the mail box! However I found that once I had given my address and name to RS they send me advertising brochures and other 'flyers', in others words 'their junk mail'. Because I have made a purchase/contract and they have specific information about me. They have never asked for my SS number; it would be illegal btw. Yawn. I have actually given my 'real' name and address to RS over the years HOPING for some thrilling flyers or Heaven Forbid, a friggin catalog. No seegar. My 'friends', whose info I have borrowed for the address interrogation, haven't received these valuable flyers either...unless they are just lying to me and don't want to share. Seems to me that the whole RS outfit doesn't have a clue and all these ID steps are nothing more than warranty registration as a previous poster suggested. Its not like their little cashier computer is tied into some big Ashcroft-Federal database that may peg me as a terrorist and they should try to tackle and subdue me for trying to make a purchase. Fer Chrissake, these register kids are simply doing what "corporate" tells them to do to fill in the screen to earn their minimum wage. -Bill rts I know one person who hardly ever gives a true address, anywhere; judging by the amount of MY junk email he's smarter than I! In this country it is 'supposed' to be illegal to use the SS number for anything but government related communications and one 'does not' have to give it to anyone else. It doesn't really work out that way; for example a bank has to send me a statement at income tax time if I have earned interest on an account, under my SS number. However they are not supposed to use that number if they are contacting me to sell some other service, let's say insurance or a credit card, which would not involve the government. SS numbers have been abused/misused; for example my employer and my credit union at one time !15-20 years ago!) used Social Insurance numbers to identify employees/clients accounts! They were advised to stop and have since used a different system. With the extensive use of credit cards and/bank debit cards these days the use of cheques is now extremely rare. Many companies will not accept personal cheques at all. Some will accept a printed cheque that is obviously negotiable and valid such as a government issued cheque. Even then there have been a few forgeries of such cheques which has 'hardened' retailers attitude towards accepting cheques at all. Quite apart from cheques any way, direct deposit, usually electronically, to ones account, is faster and accurate. Terry. Small province in eastern Canada. PS. We call them SIN (Social Insurance Numbers). Has a nice sin-ful ring to it. Eh? |
K-tron wrote:
On Mon, 24 Nov 2003 21:04:28 GMT, Gnarlodious wrote: I was flabbergasted at what happened today at a local Radio Shack store. I was waiting in line with several others while the cashier interrogated a customer. 1) Name, first and last 2) Telephone number 3) Address 4) Social security number I interrupted his reciting his SS number, demanding loudly why the cashier needed to collect this information in public. The cashier, who also is the store owner got angry and told me it is Radio Shack policy to collect this information as part of the "Contract" between seller and purchaser. I turned to the line of waiting customers and began lecturing about invasion of privacy and identity theft. The owner started yelling about how I had to leave immediately or he would call the police. So I left. Please register your dismay at your local Radio Shack store at this policy which is an invasion of privacy and invites crime. Do not participate in this "Marketing Strategy" which only serves to desensitize consumers as to their personal rights. Thank you & 73 --Rachel http://www.qsl.net/k5zn/ Hmm, that DOES sound odd. Especially the SS number, the usual routine is name, address and postal/zip code, UNLESS the customer is paying by cheque in which case more info is required eg; phone number, drivers license and a major credit card. How do I know this ? I worked for the SHAFT many years ago. TTFN Kevin formerly of 05-5602, 05-5619, ES23, 05-0732 My sympathies, Kevin. I also worked there for twenty years, starting in 1972 !! |
On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 04:33:44 GMT, Roger Halstead
wrote: First, any cash transaction with a business or bank of more than several hundred dollars is supposed to be reported to the government as it's suspicious (money laundering among other little items brought that little problem about) $10,000.00 is many, many hundreds. -- Larry |
On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 17:34:24 -0500, pltrgyst
wrote: On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 04:33:44 GMT, Roger Halstead wrote: First, any cash transaction with a business or bank of more than several hundred dollars is supposed to be reported to the government as it's suspicious (money laundering among other little items brought that little problem about) $10,000.00 is many, many hundreds. I was given the figure of "several hundred", but even if it is 10,000 that would rule out purchasing cars, homes, boats, and lots of other stuff and services. Paying cash for $200 worth of gas will definately cause questions. Check or credit card doesn't even raise an eyebrow. You'll have to fix the return add due to dumb virus checkers, not spam Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member) (N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair?) www.rogerhalstead.com -- Larry |
Roger Halstead wrote:
On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 17:34:24 -0500, pltrgyst wrote: On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 04:33:44 GMT, Roger Halstead wrote: First, any cash transaction with a business or bank of more than several hundred dollars is supposed to be reported to the government as it's suspicious (money laundering among other little items brought that little problem about) $10,000.00 is many, many hundreds. I was given the figure of "several hundred", but even if it is 10,000 that would rule out purchasing cars, homes, boats, and lots of other stuff and services. Paying cash for $200 worth of gas will definately cause questions. Check or credit card doesn't even raise an eyebrow. You'll have to fix the return add due to dumb virus checkers, not spam Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member) (N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair?) www.rogerhalstead.com -- Larry It wasn't that long ago that I worked night shift in Cincinnati, and had a full hour drive home. I usually carried around $300 at all times, in case I broke down at night. It came in handy once, when I blew out a tire on the step van I drove, and the only mobile tire service I could get wouldn't take a check, or a credit card that didn't have a business account with their company. $185 for the tire, and another $50 for road service late I made it to work. By the time I filled the 30 gallon gas tank that night, I had spent well over 200 in cash. Several other times I stopped by the Sears, Wards or J.C. Penny outlet stores for something and found an expensive item I needed for my home, and for 75% off so I paid cash for it and took it with me. You should have seem me take a full size drafting table home, tied to the roof of a '70s Dodge Colt. I took the legs off and put them in the car, threw a blanked on the roof to protect the finish, and tied it down. -- 24 days! Michael A. Terrell Central Florida |
"Michael A. Terrell" wrote in message
... Roger Halstead wrote: On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 17:34:24 -0500, pltrgyst wrote: On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 04:33:44 GMT, Roger Halstead wrote: First, any cash transaction with a business or bank of more than several hundred dollars is supposed to be reported to the government as it's suspicious (money laundering among other little items brought that little problem about) $10,000.00 is many, many hundreds. I was given the figure of "several hundred", but even if it is 10,000 that would rule out purchasing cars, homes, boats, and lots of other stuff and services. Paying cash for $200 worth of gas will definately cause questions. Check or credit card doesn't even raise an eyebrow. You'll have to fix the return add due to dumb virus checkers, not spam Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member) (N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair?) www.rogerhalstead.com -- Larry It wasn't that long ago that I worked night shift in Cincinnati, and had a full hour drive home. I usually carried around $300 at all times, in case I broke down at night. It came in handy once, when I blew out a tire on the step van I drove, and the only mobile tire service I could get wouldn't take a check, or a credit card that didn't have a business account with their company. $185 for the tire, and another $50 for road service late I made it to work. By the time I filled the 30 gallon gas tank that night, I had spent well over 200 in cash. Several other times I stopped by the Sears, Wards or J.C. Penny outlet stores for something and found an expensive item I needed for my home, and for 75% off so I paid cash for it and took it with me. You should have seem me take a full size drafting table home, tied to the roof of a '70s Dodge Colt. I took the legs off and put them in the car, threw a blanked on the roof to protect the finish, and tied it down. -- 24 days! Michael A. Terrell Central Florida Roger, I believe it was ME who gave the figure of several hundred dollars. You have to be dreaming or something.. There are items costing several hundred dollars which don't require an investigation by the government even if paid by cash. Stereos, TVs, HAM radio, Furniture, large Appliances - those sorts of purchases. MANY of which can top the $600-$1000 or more - mark. NOT EVERYONE HAS or uses plastic. ALSO as to GAS, some of the newer vehicles can suck up a lot of gas, especially if the price is close to $2 per gallon and they have dual tanks AND EMPTY. A family going on vacation with no plastic might well blow $300 or more on gas, food, etc just to travel. It doesn't have to imply an illegal transaction. I've picked up patients in Emergencies as a medic who did NOT keep their cash in a bank, but rather ON THEM. WE've counted out THOUSANDS of dollars. Many homes today locally have been broken into (Home Invasions) - the elderly robbed of their cash - THOUSANDS. Many people simply do NOT trust banks OR don't believe in or have credit. It is NOT inconceivable for people to use cash rather than plastic. It was reported recently a guy took his penny collection to the bank. $10,000 worth to cash in. I don't know what he did with the cash in trade, but according to your term, he would be "laundering" the coins. Is that cause for investigation? NO. Many people save money as well and don't always run to the bank until such huge amounts build up. There is nothing relating to conspiracy about it. As another man above suggested, there are times, you get deals for paying CASH. CASH IS NOT DEAD YET! As to being reportable income...$600 OR MORE PAID IN PERSONAL INCOME is reportable AS INCOME at years end either by 1099 or other applicable forms. SALES IN ANY AMOUNT IS REPORTABLE AS WELL, IN A DIFFERENT SENSE - AS SALES. I report my sales every quarter. Be it $1 or $25,000. I pay the sales tax collected on it to the state, I pay a tax on the gross sales to our School District as required and at years end, I pay an INCOME TAX on ALL to the state and federal governments. I am lucky in that my community and county do NOT impose a business or sales tax. So, I've listed all my business tax liabilities per year - not counting my "personal" school tax and head tax here in borough. My accountant takes care of all of that. IT IS NOT AN EYEBROW RAISING EVENT. I OUGHT TO KNOW, I AM IN BUSINESS. Yes, there probably is shady crap going on. We're talking plastic here, which does NOT eliminate identity theft and the use of cash which is not a dead principle. The issue was about Radio Shacks practices and other shopping venues, not ENRON type deals. G.W. |
On Mon, 01 Dec 2003 07:28:19 GMT, Roger Halstead
wrote: I was given the figure of "several hundred", but even if it is 10,000 that would rule out purchasing cars, homes, boats, and lots of other stuff and services. That is the precise idea behind it... -- Larry |
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