Try Not to Give Out Your SSN

Before Christmas, I received a letter from my mortgage provider saying that DHL lost one of their mainframe tapes that had my records on it. I was none too happy since just about everything needed to steal my identity was on that tape. The mortgage company offered to provide free credit checks for six or nine months (can't remember which) but that really didn't offer any sense of relief.

Just after New Year's, I received a letter saying they recovered the tape. Think I'll use DHL for shipping? There was definitely a sigh of relief.

If you are going to have any sort of New Year resolutions, make two to buy a shredder and shred confidential documents and resist requests for your Social Security Number.

This is no easy task. Chris Hibbert at totse.com offers some suggestions:

The guidelines for dealing with non-governmental institutions are much more tenuous. Most of the time private organizations that request your Social Security Number can get by quite well without your number, and if you can find the right person to negotiate with, they'll willingly admit it. The problem is finding that right person. The person behind the counter is often told no more than "get the customers to fill out the form completely."

Most of the time, you can convince them to use some other number. Usually the simplest way to refuse to give your Social Security Number is simply to leave the appropriate space blank. One of the times when this isn't a strong enough statement of your desire to conceal your number is when dealing with institutions which have direct contact with your employer. Most employers have no policy against revealing your Social Security Number; they apparently believe that it must have been an unintentional slip that you didn't give out your SSN.

Public utilities (gas, electric, phone, etc.) are considered to be private organizations under the laws regulating SSNs. Most of the time they ask for an SSN, and aren't prohibited from asking for it, but they'll usually relent if you insist. Ask to speak to a supervisor, insist that they document a corporate policy requiring it, ask about alternatives, ask why they need it and suggest alternatives.

There's much more at their website.