Entry tags:
signing my life away
It occurs to me that, if you decided to become an identity thief, becoming a mobile phone salesman would be a really good start.
Got a new phone (an IPHONE) yesterday, and I had to give them:
- my driver's license
- my credit card
- my Medicare card
- my address
- how long I've lived there
- where I work
- my boss's name and contact number
- how long I've worked there
- my signature (three times)
- my bank account details
O.O
I'm going to wake up next week to discover that my bank account is empty and the guy who sold me my phone has moved to Hawaii, aren't I?
(And to prove, once again, that computers do indeed hate me, my phone decided not to connect to the network for three hours after it should have, and I had to talk to FOUR different customer help line guys before they could figure out what was wrong.)
Got a new phone (an IPHONE) yesterday, and I had to give them:
- my driver's license
- my credit card
- my Medicare card
- my address
- how long I've lived there
- where I work
- my boss's name and contact number
- how long I've worked there
- my signature (three times)
- my bank account details
O.O
I'm going to wake up next week to discover that my bank account is empty and the guy who sold me my phone has moved to Hawaii, aren't I?
(And to prove, once again, that computers do indeed hate me, my phone decided not to connect to the network for three hours after it should have, and I had to talk to FOUR different customer help line guys before they could figure out what was wrong.)
no subject
- my driver's license
I''ve never shown this to anybody, ever since acquiring it. (Then again, I don't own a car.)
- my credit card
Yes, if I'm paying for something with it. A couple of times I've used it as a form of identity, too.
- my Medicare card
The only people who've ever seen my NHS card are a doctor or two I registered with. I've given the numberon it to hospital receptionsits once or twice, but these days I generally say "Sorry, I can't remember what it is".
- my address
Pretty standard for expensive purchases.
- how long I've lived there
Never been asked this.
- where I work
Never been asked this, except as social small talk. Except maybe when I applied for a mortgage on my house.
- my boss's name and contact number
Never had to give this outside a work context.
- how long I've worked there
Never been asked this that I can remember.
- my signature (three times)
Given this.
- my bank account details
Given this when arranging to pay by direct debit.
When I got my mobile, as far as I remember all they wanted was my credit card and address. I've proven my identity by presenting an electricity, gas or telephone bill with my name and address on it often enough; that's pretty standard here. If anyone asked for photo ID I'd have to go and get my passport.
no subject
I''ve never shown this to anybody, ever since acquiring it. (Then again, I don't own a car.)
Really? I have to show it to all sorts of people - especially my bank, when I'm taking out large amounts of money. (Easiest form of photo ID.)
no subject
How large is a "large amount of money"? I think £250 is the daily withdrawal limit here but all you need for that is your debit card, no other ID. In fact, I don't think I've ever been asked to produce a photo ID as such - obviously I've been asked for my passport when going abroad, and I've worked for companies which issued photo-IDs to their employees, but they're specific-purpose IDs which just happen to have photos on them.
no subject