Time Warner can kiss my butt!

[TexasBushwhacker]

I gave up my land line at home about a year ago because I found that all I use is my cell phone. No land line meant no Internet(s) but I figured since I work on a computer 40 hours a week, the last thing I need to do at home is spend more time in front of a computer.

I have a little more money lately and I thought I might splurge on a high speed connection for home, and what the hell, maybe even cable TV. I'm in an apartment, so Time Warner is my only real option here. They handle both RoadRunner and Earthlink here in Austin. So I call them, they tell me how much it will be - $19.99 for the first 6 months and then $44.99 thereafter. Basic cable (local channels only) is $10.50, but "standard" cable is $55 a month, and that doesn't even include H-B-fucking-O! So I said no cable TV, just the internet. She starts getting my info - name with middle initial, phone number, address - fine. Then she asks for my driver's license number, my birthdate and my social security number. All this for an internet connection? I told her I was comfortable giving her all that info and she said I could call them if I was worried that she wasn't really from Time Warner. But that's not the problem; I don't want TIME WARNER to have all that info and why the hell should they need it? In these days of identity theft, that kind of info, especially the SSN, should be considered very private.

Am I being too sensitive?

[Redstone]

1. Fuck no, you're not being too sensitive.

Never EVER give your SSN to anyone who you don't want to give it to. It's illegal for them to deny you service if you don't.

Redstone

[TexasBushwhacker]

2. thanks!

I was thinking about it last night on my way home. You know, people get HOME LOANS these days without SSN's. Granted, it's ridiculous, but I know it happens. I just can't think of any reason that they would need all that info. I mean geez, if I don't pay my bill, they cut me off.

[jane_pippin]

3. No. It fucking SUCKS that you can't get basic + HBO now.

AND it's inexcusable that they'd ask for all that personal information. There's no reason I can think of that Time Warner needs to know that just so you can watch some cable tv.

They're on my shit list for a variety of reasons. Now I have one more.