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| Hi,
I've read in Consumer Reports that you should never provide your Social Security Number to an automobile dealer unless they are arranging financing for you. However, when I went to pick up my new car last week (credit union check in hand) the finance guy asked me for my Social Security Number and when I refused to give it to him he said he had to have it for Homeland Security purposes. Since my car had been on order for more than 2 months and all I wanted to finish the paperwork and get out of there, I gave in and provided my SSN. Since then I've been beating myself up wondering if he ran a credit check on me which, according to CR, can affect my credit score. I haven't checked my credit report yet because I just checked it (free) recently and I don't want to pay for another report unnecessarily. But I want to determine whether or not I was scammed before I complete any 'customer satisfaction' surveys. Of course, I also want to warn others. Thanks for any insights you can offer, Laura |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by don_1_2006 (My Page) on Wed, Sep 2, 09 at 13:06
| What's to keep you from giving a bogus number. Just transpose the last 4 digits. Happens all the time on job applications especially in the states that border Mexico. |
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| If you're worried about it, subscribe to a service such as LifeLock. |
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| I believe it’s standard practice here in CA. Even though I paid for my car at the dealership with a personal check, they insisted on having me fill out a huge credit app and ran my credit report anyway. Part of it is Homeland Security and part of it is so they can sell your personal information to marketers. I made the mistake of giving the dealer my cell phone number and the telemarketers drove me nuts. |
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- Posted by christopherh (My Page) on Tue, Sep 15, 09 at 8:08
| If the dealer where I pay for a car runs a needless credit check, I would walk. They do NOT need to run any credit check on a cash sale. Even if you arranged your own financing, to them it's a cash sale. Unless I REALLY wanted that particular car, I would tell him if he runs an unnecessary credit check I'm not buying the car. And so my SSN is none of his business. Heck, I don't even give out my cell number to anyone. |
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