Fed up with "Let me just verify . . . "
I have had it folks. I have been changing the mailing address on some utility accounts back to the address of service due to an impending move. (Yay! goin' home, even if the lights in so many of our states is dim)
So the electric company wanted the last 4 of my social (just a security check, you understand). I said nope just like I do to that question always. So then she wanted my DL number. I said, "Well, you know not everyone has one of those." So she asked for my passport number or my state ID. And I said. "Golly, not everyone has those either!" She pressed on the ID, telling me most people had it. And I told her that we are not yet required to carry ID in this country. Here is the irony: there has been continuous service at that physical property with this company in this name since 1962 when my parents bought the house. Yes, I got the address changed with all sorts of caveats about how they can't be responsible if someone tries to alter my account since they couldn't verify anything.
Note to WA patriots: apparently WAC 480-100-108 went into effect June 1, requiring all of this before the electric/gas companies can provide service. I suspect there are ways around it, such as affidavits and notarized letters verifying that you are who you say you are based on neighbour's testimony, etc.
Next stop, water utility. Simple. Request. Sure! Done.
Next stop, telephone. Same nonsense as with the electric/gas folks. Same routine on my part. Yes, they changed it, with the same caveats. (The telephone number has been the same there since 1962, too!)
This takes a little more time, and I know it is a teentsy chip at the massive wall we face, but I figure unless we ordinary folks start and keep standing up to this nonsense, which is also so very costly in time, materials, and manhours, it will never end!
That's my rant for the day. Hope it may have helped someone.
Further to the original post
Thanks for the encouraging comments.
Kelldor, I think I know who you are. :-)
So, along with my WA matters, I am setting up a new household in CA (I know, I know, but at least it is in that Jefferson area!) and tootled along to the online form for setting up utility service and ran into that blasted SS box.
Rang the offices. First clerk refused to actually listen long enough to know what I was trying to ask. Kept saying "you have to have an identifying number because we won't release any information about your account unless we can verify it is you." I pointed out if that were the case, they did not need said number to *set up* the account. We lost the connection (maybe she hung up!) and I tried again.
This time the woman listened and tried to work with me. It was the SS or the CA DL and I went through my spiel about not everybody having those things, which she knew from all the foreign students at a nearby seminary and college. She checked with a spvr and learned that the SS was no longer required, but some form of ID was. So I compromised and asked about an out of state (or country in our case) DL and she learned that was fine (it is going to expire and hubby has listened to me long enough he probably won't get a new one!).
This clerk was a gem. She made notes on the property's account so when they see this weird application they will understand the alternate info has been approved. And she thanked me for the education. :-) Interestingly, in the comments section it was possible to authorize me as a non-responsible agent so I can access an account I don't want my name on and one can provide only a DOB as an ID question. You could put anything down I think. No one ever said the gummint paper pushers are necessarily logical or very bright.
Keep fightin'!
me too
A fellow WA patriot here. I had to register with the Federal Government before I could receive mail at my new address. A form kept appearing in my mail box, and I would just throw it away, and during that time, I got none of my mail, including bills, etc. Just so I could get my utility bills, I filled out the form. I did not want to, and I know what they are doing is wrong, but I just filled the damn thing out because I didn't feel like enduring the hassle. Each person has to pick their battles, and in these troubled times where tyranny befallen us, I determined that I could not win this one.
Western Washington, at least in the greater Puget Sound area, has fallen to communism. We are screwed here! Economically speaking we are doing way better than most of the country because we still have jobs here, but that will come to an abrupt end when Kalifornia goes belly up, and mass northbound migration occurs. On Friday, I was made to remove my sunglasses and hat at the bank for "security reasons", along with another patron in front of me in line. The lady was seriously freaking out, and kept saying "security", so I said "liberty", and she scowled, LOL!
The form in your mailbox.
I deliver mail for a living and will deliver no mail to any address unless I know who is authorized to receive mail there. I then mark the box with those names so the numerous subs will make as few mistakes as possible. I am off this week and noted that there were 6 different people assigned to work on my route while gone. Without the regular carrier finding out who is authorized to get mail at a particular address, it makes it pretty much impossible to be even 50% accurate in delivery. Same thing when people move off my route. Without filling out the proper form, mail can not be forwarded. And no, the Postal Service does not maintain a database of who lives where. I leave that to whatever neurotic agency that might be.
Bravo!
You are my hero. Best post of the day.
Prepare & Share the Message of Freedom through Positive-Peaceful-Activism.
similar experience
In the past month I changed mailing address to service address and got the same "last 4 of SSN". I refused and lady seemed upset.
I called a week ago, refused the request, and lady said "OK no problem".
If more of us politely say no, maybe they will stop asking. Alternatively, make up some random numbers and then write down those random numbers so you can pass the test the next time you call.
http://FlipFlopRomney.blogspot.com