For years, they have asked for me to disclose my telephone number, email address and my SS # to update my personal info on the file they have on all of us. I have always politely declined to divulge such information. I've explained to them that I do not wish to be contacted via phone calls and emails, I do not appreciate having my private unlisted phone number and private email address accessible to any one smart enough to know how to access their PUBLIC records. I have always refused to give out my SSN to anyone that is not my employer, or involved in my financial matters. It is my federal tax ID number, it is for SSA administration, it is for financial/credit confirmation. It is not to be used for general ID purposes.
After the 1st of the year, I went in to renew my hunting and fishing licenses. I had quite a discussion/debate with a temporary clerk working the front desk. She printed off a sheet of paper that KDWP&T had prepared to give to outdoors people like myself that refused to give up my SSN to obtain licensing. It stated a law had been passed by the legislature to require the SSN to buy licenses in an attempt to prevent dead beat parents from being able to buy hunting and fishing licenses when they owed back child support. She informed me that I would have to give up my SSN, because by Kansas law, it was required. I told her by Federal law, I was not required to give her my SSN, and that also by federal law, she was not able to deny me services by me refusing. She refused to accept the fact that Federal Law over rules State laws. I suggested she call Pratt or Topeka to see if that was right or not. Pratt licensing confirmed I did not have to give them my SSN.
Fast forward to this last week. I went in to the same office to buy a HIP stamp to be able to hunt doves on my days off. They had a new clerk working there, a sweet young lady that went to school with my kids. She asked for current license to access my account, then asked me for my phone number and my SSN to update my file. Again I declined to provide the information. She said the new licensing system required it to go further into the process. I explained to her why I would not submit the numbers. She asked an experienced clerk for direction on the matter. She too went the printer to print off the sheet of paper explaining the newer Kansas law, I told them I had seen the print out to save a tree and not waste the paper to print another. I suggested they call Pratt again, I was not budging on the matter. Again Pratt told them how to proceed without obtaining the info. The experienced clerk stated everyone has a SSN and it was common practice to use it as an ID#. I reminded her how identity theft didn't use to be issue and how common it is these days, that I did not trust them to keep my information secure especially when the folks Walmart and other department stores had working for them had access to their system.
Just so you know- "Section 7 of the Privacy Act (found at 5 U.S.C. § 552a note (Disclosure of Social Security Number)) provides that: “It shall be unlawful for any Federal, State or local government agency to deny to any individual any right, benefit, or privilege provided by law because of such individual’s refusal to disclose his social security account number.” Sec. 7(a)(1).
Thanks.
Do you know who they talked to in Pratt?
I went to the Emporia office yesterday and apparently the same young lady waited on me (she was obviously new). I purchased my $42.50 combo hunting and fishing license (I turned 65 last week), my "Archery" permit, an antlerless tag, Prairie Chicken stamp, and Hip stamp. I was not ask any of those questions. Perhaps it was because of your earlier contact with the office, or perhaps they already have this information of file and choose not to try and update it.
Expected a response from a member of the herd, it did not take long.
I recently had to get a new debit/credit card from my bank. My card provider security company actually called me to inquire about several purchases.. somehow, someone in vegas was able to make 3 purchases with my card number. They started with a small test for about $25 ..once it went thru, they made 2 other transactions for cash totalling about $500. I was reimbursed, the card frozen, had to wait nearly 2 weeks to get a new card and pin id. Identity theft is real..i have no idea if the bank tried to catch the perp, via cameras in the store where the transactions took place.. when talking to my bank,..i was told that they had lost over $30k to date due to the same fraud. I have no idea how or who might have got my cc number.. was it due to an online purchase, an over the phone purchase, or did someone here steal my number when i payed with my card?? Some kind of scanner?
I dont even give my zipcode to someone since...
z hunter's Link
I'm not saying identity theft isn't real, but the "sweet young lady" who was hassled and made to call Pratt probably isn't a threat. Chances are she's just trying to make some extra money for bills. She probably has one kid with soccer practice at six, one with football at seven, a PTO meeting at seven thirty, a husband who drinks too much, and no clue what's for supper tonight. She doesn't give two $hits about your social number.
Our social security numbers are all over out there.. every account we pay online has our social. My wife and I pay everything either online or over the phone. I literally can't remember the last time I wrote a check. It's convenient but yes it has risks, the lady at Walmart just trying to get through her shift is not a threat. Arguing how federal law trumps state law is pointless. Technically it does, but the feds aren't arresting anyone in CO for selling or possessing weed are they? States have the right to make their own laws and regulations.
You obviously failed to comprehend that I gave the KDWPT staff my KDWPT ID#, not a lady at Walmart. That account has all they need to know about me, name, address, and that I have completed the Kansas Hunter Safety program when I was in 5th grade.
The sweet young lady will tell you she wasn't hassled, doesn't think any less of me, and that she fully understands why I would not give her the number. I never said she was threat, I have no worries about either of the ladies working at the Emporia office using my SSN illegally. I do have a problem with KDWP&T wanting or having my SSN used as an ID # on their web system. The real threat is from the thieves that are constantly looking for access to such websites, they can and will get by any security measure installed, have proven time and time again they can do so.
How many laws does it take to track down dead beat parents? Is it not against the law to fail to abide by the orders of the court? Are they not issuing arrest warrants for those that fail to pay, arresting them, and putting people in jail for failing to pay child support? Do Kansas courts garnish wages of deadbeat parents at their jobs? Do you really believe KDWP&T asking for your SSN was started to address back child support? If you work in Kansas, the State of Kansas already has all your personal information including where you live and work (unless you are working tax free illegally). The Court Systems that would deem a parent a deadbeat are run by the State of Kansas. The State already has access to all the additional information being requested to "update your KDWP&T acct. to keep deadbeat parents from being able to purchase hunting and fishing licenses".
I hope for your family's sake you don't lose everything being so blasé about protecting your credit and finances.
The mag strip on your credit or debit cards contains your name, address, dob, and ss# as well as various other info. That information travels across the country every time you swipe. Just FYI.
Trebarker I used Walmart as an example, don't bash my reading comprehension when you can't even do it yourself. It doesn't matter if you drive to Pratt or the nearest Walmart, it's the same system on every computer. I gave my social probably twenty years ago to them and haven't had to give it since. They have no way to see my number once in the system. And those that owe child support aren't always arrested. Sure they'll garnish wages if the person gets a job but a lot of these people work odd jobs for cash and don't report it. These people should not be spending money on expensive tags and permits. I work closely with a lady who's baby daddy owes over 20k in support and the court system does nothing about it. She's spent thousands on getting him to pay up and finally gave up because it was costing her so much. This guy should not be out there hunting and fishing. Its one more way to try and get these guys to pay up and I think it's great.
I'm 42 years old and have had a credit card since I was 18. I now have probably six cards and pay literally everything electronically.. utility bills, truck payments, mortgage, everything. I buy things online all the time, Amazon, ebay, numerous websites, I even buy Bitcoin from my checking account and pay that way too. Do you even know what that is? I didn't think so. Never had a problem. You guys probably spend money on Lifelock too don't you?
http://ksoutdoors.com/License-Permits/About-Social-Security-Number
BeardsAndBones's Link
