All that info

Luka · EVDO User Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 93

All this info is required, when applying for a Sprint u720...

First Name:
Middle Intial:
Last Name:
Date of Birth:
Social Security # :
Drivers License:
Email Address:
Company Name:
Years in Business:
Federal Tax ID :
Person authorized
to sign for Business:
Credit Card Type:
Credit Card Number:
Credit Card Expiration:
Credit Card Code:
Name on Credit Card:
Billing Address:
Address 1:
Address 2:
City:
State:
Zip:
Shipping Address:
Address 1:
Address 2:
City:
State:
Zip:
Contact Info:
Home Phone:
Work Phone:
Additional Info:
Computer
Information

~~~

Gee whiz, guys. Did you forget race, sex, fingerprints, retinal id, and grandmother's underwear size ?

Are we buying a card to gain EVDO or are we joining the CIA ?

Yeesh.

Michael · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:05 am Post subject:

Have you ever purchased a cell phone from any carrier? Same info is required. Not our requirement, but rather Sprint, which they need to perform a credit check.

Now, if you already have a Sprint account (which means you already gave all this info), you can actually purchase from us by giving your:

- Sprint Account Number
- Last 4 of your SSN (or last 4 of Business Tax ID or Account Password)

and skip all that other info (since, Sprint already has it).
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Luka · EVDO User Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 93

I was actually just giving you a hard time.

Laughing

However, I do have to admit that I find it awfully intrusive for Sprint to require enough personal info for someone to completely take over my life.

I mean,

First Name:
Middle Intial:
Last Name:

Ok, I can live with that. So what.

Date of Birth:

Ok, I can't see what my date of birth has to do with whether I can operate a phone or an internet connection, but that isn't too intrusive yet. Common info to be asked for, and I can see that they would want to know that I was old enough to agree to a contract.

But...

Social Security # :
Drivers License:

Just what the hey right do they have to be asking for that ?

They are not my irs agent. They are not my employer. They have absolutely no right to be asking for my social security number.

Whether or not I am legal to drive a car, has absolutley nothing to do with owning or operating a phone or an internet connection. My driver's license number is none of their business.

And down in the credit card area. They do NOT need the 3 digit code on the card. All they need is the card number and the expiration date.

With the card number and the expiration date, they can charge my card. With the 3 digit number, they can intrude into my credit card bill, and they, (or more precisely, one of thier employees, or ANYONE who hacks into their system...), can counterfeit other charges to my card.

I was joking. But if pressed, I'll call a pig a pig, and state that what they are demanding is almost criminally intrusive.

They do not have to have half of the information they are demanding. They really don't.

Most of the stuff, taken by itself is probably not that big a deal. But, taken in full, all the information they are asking for, gives them full access and control in pretty much any part of your life they might choose to do so...

It's bad enough that Sprint would have all that information.

The corporate abuse that is possible with that info is bad enough.

What of disgruntled employees ? What about hackers hacking into their system and finding enough info on you to completely take over or screw up your life ?

All when, in truth, Sprint does NOT need all that info...

Again I say... Yeesh.

HillCountryHero · EVDO User Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 66

Luka · EVDO User Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 93

Luka · EVDO User Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 93

Luka · EVDO User Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 93

Luka · EVDO User Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 93

Michael · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:25 am Post subject:

We get a *ton* of spam up here (or at least used to). Brand new users will go through some extra check for spam on their posts. Once, you are no longer considered a "new user", you no longer go through any checks. Unfortunately, I cannot post exactly what we do, but, it keeps spam off these boards.
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Luka · EVDO User Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 93

LOL

I figured it was because I probably sounded like I was going to start getting belligerant er sometin.

Wink

I really was just giving youns a hard time.

Come time to sign up, I'll probably ante up the info. But I thought the subject holds merit.

If the government came to you and asked the same questions, say for providing wifi in downtown... You could go to the ACLU and claim an invasion of privacy.

The questions are legitimate. So, why not ask them here, where someone from Sprint just might get a clue...

Or where enough people might read, and start asking the same questions... That it does get back to Sprint.

(And maybe some other companies as well ?) Wink

No company should be allowed to demand more personal information than the minimum they really need, to do business.

If Sprint needs this information to do a credit check on you, then they do not need your credit card info. If they are doing the credit check, then they can give you the credit themselves. They do NOT need your credit card.

If they are going to use your credit card info, then they can simply accept that as a credit check. You wouldn't have the card if you didn't have good enough credit to have it. You wouldn't have gotten the card without a credit check in the first place.

If they are not going to give you credit, then why do they need to do a credit check ?

Before you say they are giving you credit every month... When I was renting, my landlord did not ask for all that info. (In fact, if he had, I could have sued him.) And he was giving me the same "credit" every month.

My electric company doesn't ask for all that info. They give me the same sort of "credit" every month...

Etc...

They are selling a service. They are not selling you a line of credit.

Very Happy

deparson · EVDO Junkie Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 244

If Sprint needs this information to do a credit check on you, then they do not need your credit card info. If they are doing the credit check, then they can give you the credit themselves. They do NOT need your credit card.

The credit they are extending is only for the monthly fees and any overages you may charge. In some cases, you can bill equiptment to your account at least on the Nextel side in which case your 'credit' with Sprint would apply to that as well.

If they are going to use your credit card info, then they can simply accept that as a credit check. You wouldn't have the card if you didn't have good enough credit to have it. You wouldn't have gotten the card without a credit check in the first place.

Not true at all! You can get a credit card with NO credit check of any kind and just having a credit card does not give Sprint any indication of the quality of your credit. You might have a very valid CC with a high limit and a credit score of 400. Sprint has their own risk models that requires they run a full credit check. Based on your credit score (other things??) they will approve specific level of credit. e.g. none, 1 line, 2 lines, 5 lines, etc. etc.

Alex · Site Admin Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 1754

you're right that the amount of info, in the wrong hands, would be a very bad thing.

but so is passing judgment on one person's credit, when its the wrong person.
the carriers need to be sure they are dealing with the right person.

and as far as security goes, make sure you guys read this:
http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/1893/64/

we take security seriously.

find _any_ other company doing what we do that has done the same.

*doubt it* Wink

Luka · EVDO User Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 93

Michael · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:15 am Post subject:

When Sprint sells a card (or phone), they are selling it below their cost. For example, the PX-500, which is (currently) free, it actually costs Sprint a few hundred dollars. They "make it back" every month when they bill you.

Your original equipment purchase will be charged on your credit card, BUT all monthly bills will be sent to you (like a phone or cell phone bill). Once, you get your first bill, you can log into Sprint.com and setup autopay to your credit card, BUT if you don't do anything, they bill you (the reason for the initial credit check).
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Luka · EVDO User Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 93