Terry wrote:
1) Can't get a credit card without one.

fair enough, but that's because they check
your credit history and these bozos of the credit
bureaus keep using SSN#...

Note that you can protect yourself a bit here, by
putting a freeze on your credit history (you have
to contact all credit bureaus and ask for it, and
they'll charge you money for the privilege, ten
bucks each); so even if someone's steal your SSN#,
you can limit the potential damage to some extent.

3) Most hospitals require it.

you tell them no. and it works, there is nothing they
can do about it. All they need to know
is your insurance information (which shouldn't mention
your SSN#); it might take some arguing -- some people
just don't like to do things differently if they have
'always done it that way' -- but just keep smiling,
be polite, and stand your ground.

Now the health insurance demand the number as well, and
it is also possible to tell them no, but it is tricky; I
didn't manage there... but I got them to abide by the
California Civil Code Section 1798.85 and they don't
use it as a ID number... that's the best I was able to
obtain here...


5) Phone company (cell and landline require it)

you can tell them no, and it works too. I used
pre-paid plans for my cell phone, and the only number
they care to know is that of my credit card :-)

but you are right: there are far too many people who
demand this number even though they have no legitimate
reasons to know it.

--Sylvain