I live in Louisville, KY. The power company is LG n E, an Eon company.

Here is what happened, I dont know where the conspiracy is, but this incident left me with a very bad taste in my mouth. It may be as base as two employees conspiring to milk their boss out of forty five minutes of their time on the clock.

Of course I am a conspiracy theorist, but I want to see how this situation would have made yall feel, and what your opinion is on this.

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It is approximately three thirty in the afternoon. I live in a condo, which is private property. I pay a lot of money in monthly fees for upkeep, which recently included repaving our drive, which I believe is why the rates went up this year. So I am pretty vigilant when it comes to watching who is driving through my lot. Our lot is posted NO PARKING to all but owners.

I have my windows open today, and hear the LG n E truck rumble into my driveway. Not only that but they place a bunch of orange cones around the truck like they have business here.

There are two men in this truck. One walks off around the back where construction is taking place on a new condo site. The other stays in the driver seat.

I decided to go ahead and get a picture of the vehicle, as if there is no legitimate business here, I might need the evidence. This is private property.




Anyway, the other guy returns and I have been on hold for several minutes, trying to get confirmation from LG n E customer service of legitimate business on my private property.

After several moments, a soft female voice introduced herself, and said,

Hi, LGnE, this is xxxxx, what is your SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER?

I answered,

EXCUSE ME?

Without missing a beat, the soft female voice asked,

What is your address?

As if the former question had never been asked.

Now, why is the first thing my power company's customer service lady asks for is my SS number?

I gave my address, and asked what business the semi and the bull dozer have on my private property.

The CS rep. informed me my address is not in the system. I told her I got a bill well enough, so look again. I also reminded her she needed no more invasive information from me to tell me what business this bulldozer hauling semi had on my private property.

Again she claimed my address was not in the system, and then she put me on hold.

When she came back, she asked me my apartment number, which meant of course she located my address on her computer map. Again I asked why she needed the invasive information to let me know the business of the two men on my private property.

She finally informed me there were no work orders for my adress. I asked her who could tell me why the two men have been sitting in my private property for HALF AN HOUR doing no work? She said she did not know. I asked her if I would have to go ask them myself, because I pay a lot for my pavement, and if they have no business here I am going to tell them to get lost.

I was put on hold again, then when she returned, she said maybe I should call the gas division.

That was the end of the conversation.

I called the gas division, who were closed for the day going straight to voice mail.

I had just dialed the original number again, when the truck started up and left my private property.

What a coincidence.

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So now I wonder, why would customer ask for a social security number as their greeting? That is very invasive!

And when you pay thousands a year for upkeep on property, have ten ton trucks and heavy equipment use your property like a public parking lot really steams your veggies. I am expected to pay for the gas/electric I use, but they can disregard posted signs on MY property and use my private drive to milk the clock for forty five minutes?

Like I said this left a bad taste in my mouth. I am unsure how I want to proceed, and will take advice. I am especially curious as to why a simple customer service call requires my private guarded SS# to help me? This is disturbing.

Not to mention, I dont like two men parking heavy equipment for no business on my private property.

So is this how it happens when you call your utility customer service? Anyone had similar happenings? Should I bother complaining or asking for clarification on the social security policy?

What do you think?

Thank you for your time.

I really see no conspiracy here at all.

Simply put...your social security number is the easiest form of identification and easiest way to index you in a computer system. Up until the past 5-10 years...no one cared about giving out their SSN. So lots of utility companies used that as your identification number. Look at your bill...I bet your customer number is your SSN. There are even states that have your SSN as your drivers license number.

So since that is the easiest way to look you up in the computer system...that is the first thing they ask for. And if you are calling "customer" service...they assume you are a customer and want to be able to pull up your information ASAP when you call.

Notice that she didn't force you into giving SSN...because most places now are instructed not to push for a SSN...only ask once and if they are willing to take it. So she asked for your address...which obviously wasn't a great way to look up your information. Why? Because it is text and people are stupid...spelling errors will kill any text search. There are also Courts, or Cts. or crts or Street or St. or Strt. or Drive or Dr or Drv. You get the picture...too many variables.

I don't know why you think it is invasive information when they already have your address stored in their system to deliver your service. They want to verify that you are an actual customer before they help you.

There is absolutely no conspiracy in that part.


I also don't think you have the right to demand them off the property...because it is not your property. You own the condo...you pay for upkeep of the grounds...but you don't own the grounds.

Did you consult with the owner of the condo property? They could of very well giving them permission to be there.

Sorry....I'm just really having a hard time as seeing this as anything other than any ordinary day in any ordinary city.

Yeah, what Outkast said.

Utility companies or banks asking for your SS # is an extremely widespread and common procedure.

I even had to use it for my college ID card to gain access to buildings on campus.

Kudos to you for questioning the need for your ss#. If you look at your ss card, it states this card is not to be used for identification. As the previous poster stated, up until 5 or 10 years ago, we didn't seem to care. But try to open a charge account without it.
I will give you a personal example.
About 3 years ago, my brother and I went to Sears to make a purchase. I had long since closed my Sears account, so my brother decided to open one. He gave them all the pertinent information without hesitation until they reached the point where they needed his ss#. He asked why they needed that? The salesman responded "that's how we know you are who you say you are."
I looked at the salesman and told him, in an extremely firm voice, "It's against the law to use a ss# for identification."
The salesmen replied, "well eveyone does it, so I guess that makes it legal."
Since we could have gotten by without the peice of equipment we were buying, I told my brother, "It's up to you, Bro." Since he already had other credit cards, he went ahead. But he told the salesman, "You better go home and read up on law, my man, 'cause one of these days they are gonna come for you, and I don't think you are gonna be ready."
When I'm ask for any part of my ss# now, I ask why they need it. It's amazing how often a phone # or and address will suffice.

i look at it this way...since a persons SS# is so readily available...you can argue in any court that you cannot be held responsible for anybody using your number illegally. so...who cares anymore..not the government or business, so why should you?

Thank you for your responses. I will admit I would rather over react then under react.

I dont like how companies use SS numbers for everything.

And for my question, all she needed was my address. The company is not on secret missions so I have a right to know why they are on my property.

Again thanks fore the other perspectives.

Sorry... I dont think so
there is no reason to give that to your utility
or anyone whom asks in that manor
IDENTITY THEFT...

OP I don't know why you wasted time on the phone.
Why didn't you go straight to the guy sitting in the truck and ask him?

On this SS# matter. The Vet I had been taking my dogs to for 20 years, one day had a form they wanted filled out for when we paid with a Check. One of the items asked for was the SS#. I didn't fill it out and made sure I had enough cash to pay them in any future visits.

OP, I agree it is invasive to ask you for your full social security number. Usually utility companies will ask for the last four digits, but not the full number for authentication purposes. Afterall, when you applied for services, you provided your social security number for a credit check. I would be taken aback myself if asked for the full number.

As for the truck being there, maybe there is a conspiracy. CIA, FBI or some kind of cover up sting. Ya never know. Just kidding, I don't want to get you paranoid.

I hope your pavement is in good condition.

Give the organization a SS# that is-not yours

sure, use the 'last four' (of your utility registered number)
but goof them on the true & accurate number,


gawd,
isn't it obvious (as i'm sire it is).... frig 'em

In Canada it is illegal for a compnay to even ask for your SSN.

I had this conversation with the phone company a few weeks ago. I was actually pretty surprised at how determined the agent was to get the number from me...especially after I had told him several times that I do not release that information over the phone.

He tried every possible excuse he could think of. What really got me was when he refused to tell me his employee number or name/location.

Under Federal Law in Canada call center employees MUST provide their first name & employee number or their full name and the center they work in.

Alright, as a Site Superintendent, what I am about to say is the truth as I know i, in regards to California regs so it may not be the same as in your location.

The power company, owns what are called right of ways or some other terminology I cannot recall at the moment.

Alright, when a place is built, gas lines, electric lines, cable, telephone, etc need to be attached to the buildings and get there. Also components like switch boxes, transformers and the like are placed where they are accessible. The location of these trenches/overhead lines and their equipment, they own. They do not pay for it, the builder does, but that is another conversation.

Since they own these things, they have the right to access them 24 hours a day. Anytime, anywhere. Period.

Now, if you think you have it bad with these people, you can imagine the arguments I have gotten in with them. Dealing with them in construction is a nightmare.

Pacific Gas & Electric. Talk about God Complexes. One example.

Got a call from the management company about a renter on a complex I built that got a 500$ electric bill and the previous month the bill for the EMPTY apartment was $1000. In reference, I went to all the apartments electric meters and checked kilowatt hours. 135 of them were within a range of not varying of 100 kilowatt hours. This meter, where no one had lived yet, except for the new tenants for one month, was over 5 times the amount of usage in units that had been occupied for 5 months or more. The owner of the electric contracting firm and I did a usage check on all of the electric appliances in the unit. We turned them on, all of them at full power and than used a current meter above the PG&E to check the power consumption. At full usage we determined the current draw to be around 23 amps. This by memory, but it is pretty accurate.

Now, he went to his office and so did I and we both did the calculations of possible power usage over a month and we both came to about the same number. I sent a letter to PG&E stating our observation that something was wrong with the meter. The stated usage the meter shown was over 3 times the usage if every electric device ran 24 hours a day every day of the month. I had also called them and told them the problem.

2 weeks later the management company gave me a call again that PG&E would not drop the charges. I went back and checked, lo and behold, a different meter. I had taken a picture of it and wrote down the meter ID number.

I called PG&E and asked them why they were not dropping the charges, there response was to tell me it was none of my business. I informed them I had taken the picture and had proof they had changed the defective meter. They would not confirm or deny this. I went and talked to both the management company and the renter and gave them the evidence and statement from the electrical contractor. PG&E told both the management company and the tenant that if either bill was not paid, the electric would be shut off until it was.

Utility companies and government are hand in hand and there is not much one can do to fight them. Heck, if you do not turn your power on and want to live without power, they can come and condemn your property.

As for the truck parking in your lot, it is even required, that if you live in a secure fenced in community, that the power company(among others) get your security codes to access the facility.

As for the SS number, it is against the law, for anyone besides the SS system or your employer to require the SS number. Even your state for Driver's License purposes. Anytime anyone asks for mine, I usually ask for whomever is asking, for theirs first. That usually ends that conversation.

In my opinion your SSN right now is the scariest number there is, comparable to an identification number in Auschwitz. I mean it tracks EVERYTHING you do from jobs, credit cards, driver's license, cell phones, utilities, loans, and housing. Even my local Library required my eight year old niece's SSN for her to apply for a card.

While I do not think there can be a large scale conspiracy surrounding it and any behavioral actions you may have (for instance tracking what books you check out), who knows. Keep the number tight and only use it if your life depends on it.

Again my thanks for all who took the time to reply.

I am going to try to find out why they asked for my social security number, since that seems to be an issue most agree is invasive.

If the power company has some kind of rights to my private property, then so be it, but I will continue to let them know I AM WATCHING AND RECORDING.

It may be innocent, they could just be working, who knows? They dont pay my maint. fees at this pad, and I resent them taking an obvious forty five minute break in my drive way.

These kind of people are the ones who flick butts out onto our property and are disrespectful of our place.

It was awfully funny they left not four minutes after my call.

Anyway, had they not left at that moment I would have had to confront them.

One day I ran off THREE tree company vehicles who were eating lunch on our property, and a different day I marched up to the construction site behind my place and told the foreman to make his crew leave our driveway. Both times the trucks left.

There is a park not half a minute up the road they can use, and two service stations. They should stay off private property.

Thanks again for the replies and advice and opinions.

I just wanted to chime back in to address the credit card application. I think in that scenario you either have to give your SSN or just accept the fact that you aren't going to get a credit card. I think the salesman was wrong in saying, or poor in explaining, that is how they identify you. I think what they mainly need it for is for the credit check to see if you qualify for the credit card and what credit limit you should have. As far as I know I don't think you can do a credit check without a SSN...I could be wrong...but I think that is the only way to identify you. Which is exactly why it is such a important piece of information that needs to be protected.

For the other issue of not wanting to give out your SSN and why certain places need it and why a bank account needs so much information to open an account. Well it is really a big catch-22. We demand that we want these accounts to be secure and don't want anyone to open an account in our name or SSN. So in order to provide that type of security...they have to ask for even more private information from you...which means even more of your private information is sitting in a system somewhere at risk of being stolen.

So I don't see it as a conspiracy when companies ask for a lot of information to open an account (utility, bank, credit card, etc.). I do see it as a big problem of people being afraid that their information is going to be used to open false accounts. And that puts companies in a hard situation, because if they don't have enough security in place to verify you are who you say you are...they may be sued for not having strong enough security. But when they put that security in place and ask for more personal information...it is seen as a security risk from the consumer to give out all that information. I don't really see a good solution to it either.

Most customer service reps will only ask for the last four digits of a person's social security number when verifying a person's identity. If someone asked for my full number that would certainly raise a red flag with me.