According to an article on CNET, there are currently several pieces of legislation in Congress that would place restrictions on and/or limit the use of a person's social security number. Now here's a law I think everyone can get behind.

Does anyone else find it ridiculous that you have to give away your SSN for nearly everything? I had to give my social security number to Time Warner cable for my internet service a few weeks ago. It's ridiculous. Sometimes I feel like asking these companies point blank, why they need my SSN? So you can lose it in some data snafu, putting my identity on the line? Fortunately, one of the laws proposed would make it illegal in some cases for companies to refuse to do business with you for refusing to provide your SSN. A great idea, I think.

About a year ago, I got a mysterious call from a collection agency. They were looking for someone with my name, but it was in regards to a debt with a company I'd never even heard of. Turns out it was a different person. They spelled the name differently and none of the addresses listed on the account were ones that I'd ever lived at. So the lady on the line says to me, "Ok, ma'am, if you'll just give me your social security number, I'll clear your number off of our list". I was stunned. "I certainly will not give you my social security number," I replied. "And you're going to take my number off your list anyways, or I'll be talking to an attorney". I never heard from them again. I still wonder if they were a legitimate debt collection agency that was using a bad practice, or whether it was a scam to get my SSN. (And yes, I've checked my credit report since then, I have no such outstanding debt).

If you want to know more about protecting your social security number, visit this page from the Social Security Administration.

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