Identity theft question...

[Anonymous]

This is a bit off topic but I thought people here might have some good references for me.  Tonight I was at a mandatory after hours meeting hosted by my employer.  This meeting was to tell us that their client is mandating that all people who use their software provide them with SSN's and names to be stored by a "third party".

This makes me uncomfortable.  Giving it to my employer for tax purposes is one thing.

Giving it to a company that pays them, to pay me, to take care of their customers makes me uncomfortable.  Especially since they aren't even going to be the ones storing the info.

Is there anything illegal or shady about this.  The company that's requesting (really demanding) the info is a big name brand company but it still makes me really really edgy thinking anyone could hack into whatever third party system and pull up my info.  Not that my credit scores would be any good to them lol

If this post is too off topic and needs to be deleted I understand

Thanks for any input that I do get though.

[Anonymous]

The first I have heard this one.

My question would be why? 

[Anonymous]

IMO storage of our personal information is an appropriate topic.

JMO - I left my previous broker because they wanted to store the CVV number on the back of my credit card --- not happening with my card (against MCV compliance regs). 

I would ask questions - you are entitled to know how your personal data will be handled and secured (and BTW, many companies are requiring info on contractors - helps if they ever do have a problem and also many contracting firms are desperate to fill positions and are not properly screening new employees - so I can 'understand' wanting to have the info)

If they are will to treat yu personal info with the same respect as that of their own employees (and off-site third pary may be a very good solution depending on the company) - then I would have fewer reservations.

[Anonymous]

We asked, repeatedly, and got brushed off.  They can't tell us why, yet they want us to agree to this on Thursday...

No one understands why.  We work for company A.  Company A pays our salary.  Company A has our SSN's, names, addresses, etc.

Company B pays Company A to handle their clients.  We handle the clients.  We have ID's that are distinct to each individual, everything we touch shows our ID.  Why isn't that sufficient?  They have no reason to need our SSN's but let's say they had a reason to want to track us.  They already can.  Use the ID and contact the company that pays us and they can give you whatever you need should some horrible act of misconduct/breech of ethics occur.

I just don't see why they suddenly want this, to be stored by yet another outside source... I've worked doing the same thing for 2.5 years btw, and this is out of no where.

[Anonymous]

We did ask questions, and were told they'd address our questions at another time.  Which since we're supposed to agree to this on Thursday seems a bit rushed to me.  They couldn't even tell us who/where this 3rd party was. 

Someone actually asked if it was stateside or not, and they said "we don't currently have that information".

[Anonymous]

I have always been a Saul Alinsky fan - as a group refuse to comply....

[Anonymous]

A lot of people at the meeting were displeased, however our jobs (as awful as they really are) are incredibly desirable to a lot of people, so I doubt it would make a difference.  We were told if we didn't agree "we could see about moving to another program however nothing could be guaranteed". 

I'll stand alone if I have to, but the idea of having to find a brand new job with no buffer period scares the heck out of me as a 21 year old single mother with bad credit, no car, and minimal savings.

A lot of employees will agree against their better judgement for similar reasons.  It's a work from home position with measly but better than minimum wage pay, that allows single mothers, people with disabilities, etc to work around their schedules/problems.

Hopefully they'll give us some very detailed info VERY soon.  I can't even research the third party company... because the man hosting the meeting was on his cell phone driving somewhere and "didn't know it off the top of his head".

[ngerasimatos]

I am not sure if you remember, but in the past 3 years Wells Fargo has lost computers due to theft and negligence about 4-5 times.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9000293

I would refuse to provide my data to this company unless it meant losing my job.

[Anonymous]

They won't straight fowardly say that we'll lose our job, the way it was phrased is that if we refuse, we will be removed from our program and can "apply for any other open positions, however nothing could be guaranteed." 

[ngerasimatos]

Well, if you like your position with your current employer I would say you have n o other option but to comply.... jsut as the good Germans were forced to do by the Nazi's.