4 ms·
Why is this not tied to a person's SSN (if possible)?
by navigate8310 3y ago
Why is this not tied to a person's SSN (if possible)?
- miki123211 3y agoWhy would it be? The point of that database is to display a recognizable name to the people you call, so that they know it's you. A recognizable name isn't always the one on your birth certificate (particularly in the US). There are also businesses, who want their business name there.
- evan_ 3y agoIs there an accessible database somewhere that would allow T-Mobile to get a name from an SSN (or verify that an SSN and a name match)?
- patmorgan23 3y agoYes, by running a credit check through one of the credit bureaus.
- b112 3y agoWhy would a phone company know a person's SSN?!
- Gh0stRAT 3y agoSo that they can seamlessly upsell you on upgrading to a new phone that you'll pay off in installments over the next couple years. Also, many postpaid plans (like my home ISP) require SSN because they are providing you service on credit. Postpaid cell paone plans have been the "default" in the US for a long time, though prepaid seems to be gaining market share.
- maxerickson 3y agoWe are kind of assuming a lot when a $100 a month account obviously requires a credit check. They require a SSN because people don't care and it makes it cheaper to offer the accounts, not because it would actually be a big problem to sell internet service without credit checks.
- xp84 3y agoThe credit checks, the carriers would tell you, are to try to protect them against people who sign up for service with a "free" phone on a 3 year commitment (phone paid for in part by 36 installments of credits) and then they stop paying the bill. Sure the phone will be blacklisted and remain SIM-locked, but could still be used on Wi-Fi and either way the carrier can't have it back and is therefore out their cost of the phone. Now, as for why they still do the same credit checks when you bring your own phone, I suspect "Because F you, that's why" is the gist of it.
- DaiPlusPlus 3y ago> Why would a phone company know a person's SSN?! As Brit-expat+US-resident (since 2012) T-Mobile got my SSN when I signed-up for my pre-paid first mobile phone plan in 2012. Paying $50/mo was quite a shock when equivalent (or rather: far superior) service was available in the UK on a PAYG (not even pre-paid!) basis for £10/mo. ...and now I'm on a $110/mo postpaid plan because eventually you get tired of the limitations and just grin-and-bear-it.
- nerdbert 3y agoWhen visiting the USA I have often bought prepaid T-Mobile SIM cards for cash without showing any ID.
- pyinstallwoes 3y agoThat’s pretty normal in the USA.
- hobofan 3y agoBecause regulators want to tie phone numbers to identities. It helps curb illegal activity, but of course also makes surveillance a lot easier.