Credit checks are becoming a bit too pervasive, I think

[Anonymous]

I don't remember credit checks to transfer service, but it's been a few years since I've worked for AT&T/SBC/Illions Bell. It's most likely for ID verification. You would believe how many deadbeat phone customers there are. The number of people that steal identities and make up SSN's just to run up a cell phone bill is amazing. I guess when your "baby daddy" is in prison, you'll do what it takes.

Also, since they sell DSL, Dish and wireless service, they obviously want to determine your creditworthiness for other products. The environment in those call centers is very pushy for sales. The pay is outstanding, but they push you to wits end for it.

[Booner72]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I don't remember credit checks to transfer service, but it's been a few years since I've worked for AT&T/SBC/Illions Bell. It's most likely for ID verification. You would believe how many deadbeat phone customers there are. The number of people that steal identities and make up SSN's just to run up a cell phone bill is amazing. I guess when your "baby daddy" is in prison, you'll do what it takes.

Also, since they sell DSL, Dish and wireless service, they obviously want to determine your creditworthiness for other products. The environment in those call centers is very pushy for sales. The pay is outstanding, but they push you to wits end for it.

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[RiseandShine7907]

stanggt03: I was calling to get my AT&T Uverse tv service transferred, not phone service. While I get the need to verify customers identity, running credit checks doesn't seem like the way to go. I thought that was the purpose of having passwords/codes when you call in, by the way the rep did ask for mine. I was kinda pi***d when the rep said that they would run a check so I tuned him out a bit until he finished talking. He did say that they would run the check to see if I owed any other AT&T businesses(wireless, internet, phone ???) money, which I don't, and if I did I would have to put a cc on file. IMO it's a bunch of "you know what" because they can search their own system to see if I owe them money instead of running a credit check on a customer simply wanting to transfer service.

[daylove]

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@Anonymous wrote:

This is just another card to add to the pile of evidence that one really has to keep excellent credit.  Jobs, phone service, TV service, it all requires credit checks now.  Sooner or later, you'll have to get your credit checked before you get a check up at the doctor's office - I swear, we're not far from that point.

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We should fight for our privacy like they do in Europe where companies cannot ask your SS#  or equivalent. I rather pay the deposit that give them my #.

[Anonymous]

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@daylove wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

This is just another card to add to the pile of evidence that one really has to keep excellent credit.  Jobs, phone service, TV service, it all requires credit checks now.  Sooner or later, you'll have to get your credit checked before you get a check up at the doctor's office - I swear, we're not far from that point.

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We should fight for our privacy like they do in Europe where companies cannot ask your SS#  or equivalent. I rather pay the deposit that give them my #.

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And you can do just that.  You don't have to give any utility company your SSN as long as you are willing to pay a deposit.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@daylove wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

This is just another card to add to the pile of evidence that one really has to keep excellent credit.  Jobs, phone service, TV service, it all requires credit checks now.  Sooner or later, you'll have to get your credit checked before you get a check up at the doctor's office - I swear, we're not far from that point.

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We should fight for our privacy like they do in Europe where companies cannot ask your SS#  or equivalent. I rather pay the deposit that give them my #.

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And you can do just that.  You don't have to give any utility company your SSN as long as you are willing to pay a deposit.

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Yep. You won't get any digital services with a provider by doing so, but you can refuse and pay a deposit.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@daylove wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

This is just another card to add to the pile of evidence that one really has to keep excellent credit.  Jobs, phone service, TV service, it all requires credit checks now.  Sooner or later, you'll have to get your credit checked before you get a check up at the doctor's office - I swear, we're not far from that point.

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We should fight for our privacy like they do in Europe where companies cannot ask your SS#  or equivalent. I rather pay the deposit that give them my #.

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And you can do just that.  You don't have to give any utility company your SSN as long as you are willing to pay a deposit.

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Yep. You won't get any digital services with a provider by doing so, but you can refuse and pay a deposit.

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Yeah.  Personally, I think it's quite absurd to believe any company is going to go out on a limb with a customer for several hundred dollars without either verifying their creditworthiness or getting a deposit.  Kind of stupid to think that a CC company or even a car rental agency won't go out on a limb for $500 without a credit check, yet a phone company should risk a couple of thousand $$ in IDD calls without knowing anything about you. 

[daylove]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@daylove wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

This is just another card to add to the pile of evidence that one really has to keep excellent credit.  Jobs, phone service, TV service, it all requires credit checks now.  Sooner or later, you'll have to get your credit checked before you get a check up at the doctor's office - I swear, we're not far from that point.

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We should fight for our privacy like they do in Europe where companies cannot ask your SS#  or equivalent. I rather pay the deposit that give them my #.

---

And you can do just that.  You don't have to give any utility company your SSN as long as you are willing to pay a deposit.

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Yep. You won't get any digital services with a provider by doing so, but you can refuse and pay a deposit.

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Yeah.  Personally, I think it's quite absurd to believe any company is going to go out on a limb with a customer for several hundred dollars without either verifying their creditworthiness or getting a deposit.  Kind of stupid to think that a CC company or even a car rental agency won't go out on a limb for $500 without a credit check, yet a phone company should risk a couple of thousand $$ in IDD calls without knowing anything about you. 

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A car rental does not ask you for the SS#. BTW, I have digital & Satellite services...

[Anonymous]

If you use a debit card, most car rental agencies will run a credit check. If your information doesn't fully match your report, you will be asked for your SSN.

[Anonymous]

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@daylove wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@daylove wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

This is just another card to add to the pile of evidence that one really has to keep excellent credit.  Jobs, phone service, TV service, it all requires credit checks now.  Sooner or later, you'll have to get your credit checked before you get a check up at the doctor's office - I swear, we're not far from that point.

---

We should fight for our privacy like they do in Europe where companies cannot ask your SS#  or equivalent. I rather pay the deposit that give them my #.

---

And you can do just that.  You don't have to give any utility company your SSN as long as you are willing to pay a deposit.

---

Yep. You won't get any digital services with a provider by doing so, but you can refuse and pay a deposit.

---

Yeah.  Personally, I think it's quite absurd to believe any company is going to go out on a limb with a customer for several hundred dollars without either verifying their creditworthiness or getting a deposit.  Kind of stupid to think that a CC company or even a car rental agency won't go out on a limb for $500 without a credit check, yet a phone company should risk a couple of thousand $$ in IDD calls without knowing anything about you. 

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A car rental does not ask you for the SS#. BTW, I have digital & Satellite services...

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A car rental agency most certainly does run your credit if you are attempting to rent with a debit card.  If you use a credit card, they have you pegged as already credit qualified.  If not, they run your credit and if it is not good they refuse to rent to you.