[OFB Cafe] My first post (here)

[Rick Bowers]

At Wednesday 7/9/2008 09:40, you wrote:
>On Wed, Jul 9, 2008 at 8:03 AM, Peter Hollings
><PeterHollings at comcast.net> wrote:
> >  "They need your SSN because AT&T requires an SSN for new service
> > activation (for a credit check, I'm fairly certain)."  Naw! The SSN is
> > the key in the gubbermint's database, so they need it to link up your
> > calls with all the other info.  Don't believe me? See if you can open an
> > account without a SSN. Offer to make a big deposit, etc.
>
>You can get a cell phone (even an iPhone) from AT&T without giving
>them your SSN;  they simply treat you as if you failed their credit
>check.  Since payments for cell usage are paid in arrears, they either
>need to be sure of your ability to pay the bill (via a credit check),
>or you need to guarantee the payments with a sizable deposit.    So,
>you can walk into an Apple store without an SSN, just be sure you've
>got an extra $250 to lend them for the term of your contract.
>
>-Fred

Well, okay. I guess I read it wrong, although I don't remember 
needing to supply an SSN before to sign up for new cellular service 
-- just a credit card.

I'm already an AT&T customer, so I guess that all shouldn't matter.

~Rick

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