social security card info to get cable tv

Here's the simplest explanation: Just because we are OWNED by the United States, doesn't mean we ARE the United States. We do things differently here. The way we do things here is the way we've always done them, and it's the way we will always do them. It's just part of what makes us unique. Youo will find MANY more things in the months to come that will make you ask that big question "Why?". Your best bet is to just let it go...JMHO, of course.

"The way we do things here is the way we've always done them, and it's the way we will always do them."

you dont REALLY believe this do you?

Federal guidelines apply here exactly as they apply on the mainland and the social security number issue just happens to be of one of those whose import hasn't filtered down to all areas of VI business. You are NOT required, nor should you even be asked, to give either a copy of your Social Security card or its number verbally under any circumstances.

Innovative is a prime example of one major business here which hasn't yet "got the message" to its employees and when they ask for it you simply say "no" and tell them that their request is against Federal guidelines. If the particular person who asks you gets testy, speak to a supervisor.

The same happens in several supermarkets and, for instance, just a couple of weeks ago I stood up for an aged lady who presented her USVI government-issued senior citizen card as identification. The cashier rudely told her that that wasn't good enough and she had to give her her social security number. I nicely told the cashier that this was wrong and finally called over one of the managers who quickly advised the cashier that the VI Government-issued ID was more than enough and that she wasn't to ask for any sort of SS ID.

With the plethora of (often) illegal immigrants here working in low-paying positions, the last thing I would do is give anyone my SS#. The last four digits are fine, but that's it. Passport info, driver's license info, proof of residency either via property ownership deed or lease agreement are fine and more than sufficient.

Hope this helps explain!

And they still ask for it for Food Handlers Card which is dead wrong as well.

RL

They love that SS Card down here. I lost mine when I was 19 and have not had a physical card since. Whenever I went through the H.R. process of being a new hire I simply gave them my Passport which trumps the SS card and drivers license.
Now I need to get my SS Card so I can get a V.I. drivers license. In the post 9/11 world New Jersey DMV ask for 7 points of contact or forms of I.D. to get a drivers license so it could be worse. I dont mind showing them a SS card but I always hate when they write the number down anywhere because once someone steals that they can easily wreck havoc on your credit and finances.

David,

Are you saying that a passport is NOT an acceptable substitute for a social security card when getting a driver's license? Crazy!

🙂

Kimberly

New Federal guidelines require all states to ask for s Social Security card when applying for a driver's license.

The Feds are trying to make state driver's licenses a defacto national ID card.

Jim

When I first moved here 7 years ago, I wrote a check at the grocery store and they asked for my driver's license. Of course, it was a stateside license. I wrote the # on the face of my check and the clerk told me my number was not correct. I showed her my Texas driver's license number and she started to argue with me. Ended up being that she wanted my social security number. Apparently the VI uses the S/S for everything from driver's license number to everything else. You can't fight the system. Just "Go Wid De Flo Mon!"

Yes, TXSissy, you CAN fight the system by saying no. Up until a few years ago, one's VI Driver's License number was one's SS# and that has now changed.

Jim Dandy, I'll absolutely stand corrected given proof but I believe that the last four digits of the SS# are required, not the whole number. And the whole issue of the defacto national ID card has been raised many times in Congress and has quickly sunk like a zinc cupcake.

Again, Ronnie, as far as the Food Handler's Card, I haven''t physically had a social security card for donkey's years and have had no problem renewing mine, again just in the last couple of years just giving the last four digits of the number.

On the same subject, I received a letter a few months ago from my bank. Apparently according to new banking laws and in order to update information in accordance with new guidelines, they wanted several pieces of paper from me. Notarized copies of two official IDs with photographs, new signed bank cards and a couple of other things requiring my signature. I had no problem with any of it since I had, after all, first opened the account two decades ago. What really caught my attention, though, was that they wanted either a financial statement or a copy of my last income tax return. Hello? A small business owner doing a d/b/a with a simple checking account? Absolutely toadally NOT. None of their bloody business.

In timely fashion I provided them with notarized copies of two official IDs and all else that they'd asked for but enclosed a letter to them documenting the enclosures and ending up nicely advising them that I wasn't prepared to either give them a financial statement or a copy of my last tax return. Months later I've heard nothing further from them and all is well.

If I were applying for a loan or something like that I'd expect a lot of paperwork would have to be provided but to provide such personal information just to maintain a checking account? Nonsense!

And on that note, cheers and good night all!

LOL "Absolutely toadally NOT. None of their bloody business."
"toadally" oh my STT, you're so droll! I got a kick out of that! That just made my day. Now I know I have to visit the Toad and Tart next time in STT.

STT, when I get my Food Handlers renewal, they don't ask fo anything but the old one. When someone applies for it the first time, is when they ask for it.

RL

Robert,

Yes, I really DO believe what I wrote. That's why I wrote it. That has been my experience here for almost nine years. As STT Res shows, it CAN be fought, though...