Comments on: Why do I need to provide my social security on merchant application

By: Maria Vale

Maria Vale — Sat, 07 May 2011 15:23:07 +0000

Why is it necessary to provide the last four digits of my sodial security number when checking
on the status of my existing credit card account. I only want to check on my balance, account activity and amount and due date. I have asked if I could provide any other form of Identification
(mother’s maiden name, pet’s name, elementary school/high school attended, etc…..but was
told that only my SSN would be acceptable! Our social security numbers were never intended
to be used for identification purposes! It is understandable for payroll purposes by an employer,
and possibly for medical records, but why credit card companies and banks??

By: kevin

kevin — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:16:09 +0000

I think they require an individual to provide an SS # when applying for a business account so they’ll have someone they can hold responsible if your business should default on the loan / account balance. The Patriot Act gives them the legal excuse and opportunity to do so, face it folks the banks have us by the balls. I recently noticed that my business account info, credit balance, has started to show up on my personal credit report. When I contacted them, I was told that they have the right to link your business and personal account info due to the Patriot Act. Why bother to incorporate if I can’t be protected under the same laws of the big corporations and lending institutions… Total BS if you ask me…

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 04:44:53 +0000

Sorry for the double post, but maybe with my passport or something? Out of principal Id rather not comply, by using SS to identify me. All the banks keep requiring it, and saying its becuase of the patriot act, and the social security act, and privact act of 72′ are irrelevant therefore. Even though theyve been requiring it well before the patriot act at banks. I just dont understand why voter registration, drivers license, and passport wouldnt work. Why use social security for something it was never intended for? Seems very sneaky to misguide SS to what it has become….a national ID #.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 04:29:35 +0000

Is there any way to open an bank account in the US with out using SS to identify you? I find it appalling, and total undermining everything Roosevelt intended for SS.

By: 3D Merchant admin

3D Merchant admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 01:04:52 +0000

Sorry, susan but that’s off topic. My specialty is the merchant side of things. The Indian answering doesn’t surprise me. The situation does seem unusual. I recommend looking up the card issuing bank on the internet. The issuing bank should be on the back of the card. Contact the support number listed there. You could also call back the number you called again and ask for a supervisor to ask more detailed questions.
You do need to present that information to open a bank account in the US. What happened at Party City has no relation to the card since there is a financial instituion involved in the actual card issuance. Good Luck. Feel free to post what happens back here.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:20:58 +0000

My daughter worked at Party City about a year ago and was paid through a pre-paid Visa card. When she quit last year, there was still a balance remaining of approximately $175. Throughout the year, she has used it and even used it just two weeks ago. Today she tried using it and it was declined. When she called the 1-800 number, someone from India answered and told her that it was put on hold due to the Patriot Act and that before they could release the hold on the card, she would need to fax over a copy of two forms of identification (drivers license & social security card)! She already provided that when she started working at Party City! Does this seem right?

By: 3D Merchant admin

3D Merchant admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:29:30 +0000

Shellie- I feel exactly the same way. Unfortunately, this is the way financial institutions have chosen to comply with the regulations. Is it the quickest, easiest way. If there’s ever any pushback later, they can always say “Hey, the USA issued the Social Security number and we verified it was valid!”
In my experience, it’s been effective to a certain point. Foreigners call all the time wanting to set up merchant accounts but with the Social Security number and actual site visit to verify the business location it’s gotten a lot harder for the criminals.

By: Shellie

Shellie — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:43:18 +0000

i am trying to get set up as a credit card processor for my Corporation. I do not understand why the credit card company is requiring my corporation information as well as my personal information. Whats the point of being incorporated?

By: What do I need to open a retail merchant account? | credit card processing

What do I need to open a retail merchant account? | credit card processing — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:43:09 +0000

[...] Common question- Why do I need to provide my social security on the merchant application? [...]

By: 3D Merchant admin

3D Merchant admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:14:10 +0000

I’m with you Karen- it’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard.

First, the elements of the Patriot Act referred to above are not relevant to your story. A business applying for a merchant account has no relationship to your situation. There are similar rules when a consumer APPLIES for a credit card.

Second, what happened to you?
You don’t say whether this is a private label card (store brand card) or a Visa or Mastercard. That could make a difference as to what happened at the counter. For Visa, Mastercard etc, ONLY THE ACCOUNT OWNER can make changes to a customer credit card account. A merchant should have no record of who the card issuing bank is on any given transaction, nor should they be able to contact the card issuing bank to make changes. A merchant cannot require a drivers license simply to process a credit card. They can require a drivers license to verify the identity of a person such as to release a car at an auto repair shop, or in certain rental situations.

If this occurred with a store brand credit card (no visa or mastercard logo) I have no idea what their rules are, but you should have a information on that. In any case, this is clearly an incident that I would document what happened and send it in writing to the company.