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Illegally using SS#?
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ALABAMA
I recently took an aptitude test for employment. SS# was required on the test as an ID. There was no choice but to give it (or not take the test). There were no papers signed giving them permission to do any checks. Regardless of whether or not this company I tested with did/will run a background check, I'd like to know how I can tell when this is done and who did it. Does something appear on the records that are checked saying that someone pulled a copy or ran an inquiry against a particular SS#?
I recently took an aptitude test for employment. SS# was required on the test as an ID. There was no choice but to give it (or not take the test). There were no papers signed giving them permission to do any checks. Regardless of whether or not this company I tested with did/will run a background check, I'd like to know how I can tell when this is done and who did it. Does something appear on the records that are checked saying that someone pulled a copy or ran an inquiry against a particular SS#?
cbg
I'm a Northern Girl
Not in the sense you mean. If they run an check, nothing is going to sit as a flag on your record saying they have done so. You can't call the SSA and ask if anyone has run a check on your number - they won't have a clue.
Do you have a reason for thinking they are going to run a check without telling you, other than the fact that they asked for the SSN?
Do you have a reason for thinking they are going to run a check without telling you, other than the fact that they asked for the SSN?
J
justathought
Guest
When you say background check, do you mean credit, criminal, prior employment...what?
If it was a credit check, the bureaus are required to keep a log of all inquiries and disclose those to you when you pull your reports. Some states allow you one free per year, otherwise it is a small fee (usually about ten bucks per bureau) and you always get a free one if your credit report was the reason for not getting a job, apartment, car, etc.
But as to the other records, I haven't the faintest... Good luck!
If it was a credit check, the bureaus are required to keep a log of all inquiries and disclose those to you when you pull your reports. Some states allow you one free per year, otherwise it is a small fee (usually about ten bucks per bureau) and you always get a free one if your credit report was the reason for not getting a job, apartment, car, etc.
But as to the other records, I haven't the faintest... Good luck!
ALABAMA
I can't think of why a company would ask you for your SS# in any instance if they didn't intend to use it in some way. There is no reason that another kind of ID couldn't be assigned to the test, and your name is on it anyway. I don't have a criminal record, nothing other than a couple of traffic tickets. With all the talk in the last few years about protecting your SS#, I am concerned about entities that attempt to get it who really don't need it (at least not at that point). I've seen a few horrific news stories about this. I know that there are companies who say they monitor your credit reports and tell you when there is activity (for a fee). I'm not sure what this buys you since credit card companies seem to pull this info all of the time and send pre-approval letters. When I say background check, I guess I mean it in the broadest sense, since I'm not sure exactly what it entails. I'm wondering if I had a background check ran on myself would that tell me what they're doing?
Thank all of you very much for your input!
I can't think of why a company would ask you for your SS# in any instance if they didn't intend to use it in some way. There is no reason that another kind of ID couldn't be assigned to the test, and your name is on it anyway. I don't have a criminal record, nothing other than a couple of traffic tickets. With all the talk in the last few years about protecting your SS#, I am concerned about entities that attempt to get it who really don't need it (at least not at that point). I've seen a few horrific news stories about this. I know that there are companies who say they monitor your credit reports and tell you when there is activity (for a fee). I'm not sure what this buys you since credit card companies seem to pull this info all of the time and send pre-approval letters. When I say background check, I guess I mean it in the broadest sense, since I'm not sure exactly what it entails. I'm wondering if I had a background check ran on myself would that tell me what they're doing?
Thank all of you very much for your input!
T
tboyer
Guest
SSN
Alot of companies these days file documents electronically. Some of these documents could be employee files and a common index vaule is your SSN because everybody has their own SSN. If you filed these electronically by your name ex. John Smith, when the employer wanted to look at your file the could find multiple John Smiths, however if they looked under your ssn they would see one file. I am begining to notice alot of companies starting to use a unique randomly generated ID# instead of your SSN. This way it's still a unique number like your SSN but unlike your SSN it's useless anywhere else. This is a possible reason they would ask for your SSN...
Alot of companies these days file documents electronically. Some of these documents could be employee files and a common index vaule is your SSN because everybody has their own SSN. If you filed these electronically by your name ex. John Smith, when the employer wanted to look at your file the could find multiple John Smiths, however if they looked under your ssn they would see one file. I am begining to notice alot of companies starting to use a unique randomly generated ID# instead of your SSN. This way it's still a unique number like your SSN but unlike your SSN it's useless anywhere else. This is a possible reason they would ask for your SSN...