No, it is not safe to share your SSN and DOB with an ISP.
No, it is not safe to share your SSN and DOB with an ISP.
I’m trying to arrange internet access because my roommate, who handles the plan, hasn’t been home for three weeks and hasn’t paid the bill. He’s canceled or stopped paying. I pay him for the internet portion while he covers the cable costs. I contacted Spectrum in Southern California to open a new account, but they asked for my Social Security number and date of birth for a pre-check. Before that, I checked if the plan was contract-free; they confirmed it wasn’t. Based on my past experience, previous free ISPs and mobile carriers didn’t request SSN or DOB. I’m a bit cautious since my credit and debit cards have been stolen several times in the last three years. I’m careful about sharing personal info.
I also learned he might charge a $50 pre-payment if I can’t provide my SSN. He suggested calling me back in an hour, but I didn’t have my card ready. Is this process legitimate?
You might want to reach out to the supervisor at the call center to confirm you’re required to provide your DOB and SSN. Your father usually manages those details, and according to our provider, you shouldn’t need to share your SSN or DOB unless necessary. It could be someone trying to misuse your information or it might be standard procedure.
You generally only need to provide this info when it might impact your credit score or when they’re checking if you’re reliable. If it’s a contract-free, no-commitment situation, they probably shouldn’t be asking. You could simply tell them to stop or visit a local branch to complete the setup and verify your ID with additional documents. Most major ISPs have physical locations nearby, offering services like setup kits, modems, and more—especially for cellphone plans.
I regularly perform credit checks for my role, treating this process very seriously. However, for prepaid or contract-free services, it seems quite unusual.
It really depends on the regulations in your area. Regarding my SSN, a firm named Equafax misused my information and shared it with hackers across much of the country. If you have worries, here’s what you can do: register online, provide your SSN, and pay $10 to each credit bureau to place a freeze on your credit. Doing this prevents companies from accessing your credit report. Any business you already deal with will still be able to pull reports as usual. This at least helps protect your credit score.