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iPhone Personal Information Required to Activate

dirtdirt Posts: 398
edited July 2008 in All Encompassing Trip
I was just on Apple's site reading about the iPhone activation information. Why does AT&T need a person's social security number to activate a cell phone plan? I really want to know why they need this. I guess the next time I am by an AT&T store I will drop in and ask, but if anyone reading this that knows why, go ahead and explain please. SS numbers just seem a bit personal for something like this...
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Comments

  • chromiamchromiam Posts: 4,114
    for the same reason that EVERY cell phone company needs your SS number to activate an account: to check your credit record and identify the person they are opening the account for.
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  • rival.rival. Chicago Posts: 7,775
    i never remember giving sprint my SS #
  • DeLukinDeLukin Posts: 2,757
    You aren't the only one who is concerned (and justifiably so, it seems):

    http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9739118-7.html
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  • chromiamchromiam Posts: 4,114
    DeLukin wrote:
    You aren't the only one who is concerned (and justifiably so, it seems):

    http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9739118-7.html

    Article is a year old and talks about the 1st iPhone, so this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
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  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    They all ask before giving service... so do utility companies. They want to make sure you are somewhat credit worthy before providing you with service that they have to bill you for after the fact.

    Haven't you ever heard of people not being able to get phones or having to pay a deposit for the service because they have bad credit?
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  • DeLukinDeLukin Posts: 2,757
    chromiam wrote:
    Article is a year old and talks about the 1st iPhone, so this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

    It's still applicable. And Apple wants your SSN to even buy an iPhone WITHOUT activation - so I think it has less do with a credit check and more to do with Apple wanting to make sure you're not unlocking or reselling the phone, which to me seems a bit skeevy.

    EDIT: I just double-checked Apple's site. It doesn't appear that you can buy an iPhone without activating it at an apple/at&t store. So I stand corrected. I guess the SSN thing is just a credit check prior to activation...
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  • aNiMaLaNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    Yeah, this is not iPhone specific.
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