Birthdates required information

A

Amethyst1

New Member
Location
USA
It seems that everytime I call a big business or bank or even a drug store, they ask me for my birthdate.
They say it is for security. This is probably BS--the official reason.
I tell them it is not their business! The real reasons are for marketing and to pry
into your habits, etc. I live in the midwest.

Have you heard this?
 

I know that they ask if you phone the bank for account information, or perhaps to check on a prescription at the drug store. I have heard of it in regular stores too, and I refuse...that's info on a 'need to know' basis. Like when I signed up for a Walgreen drug store card, because they no longer gave sale prices that were advertised in their flyer unless you had one. :rolleyes: I said no, they already had my phone number and home address for that.

I haven't been to one for years, but there was a Radio Shack electronics store that always asked you excessive information before you could even pay for the item. It was similar to a job interview, except for the SSN#. Anyhoo, one day I told the guy that I already gave my info numerous times in the past, and if I just couldn't pay for the item, he could keep it...well I paid for it without all the red tape (that day).

I bet there's lots of people that don't even question things, and give lots of unnecessary personal info to anyone and everyone...nowadays it seems to be pretty risky...too many people with bad intentions. :mad:
 
Radio Shack gave that up quite a while ago. I'm and electronics DIY'er so I've been in every few months for decades. It really got to be annoying and I just told them "I'm in there already, why else do you think I came in?" and they would just put the sale through.

Maybe they recognized me anyway.
 

This society has been taught to obey without question. That's why I think most of the times they ask for our birth-date or other info we spit it out like automatons.

Online it's a little different. There are laws that are claimed, such as the Children Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and other legislation designed to protect kids. But mainly I agree that it's for their databases.

It's a sad state of affairs when it's easier just to submit and give them what they want than to actively retain the info. :D
 
Actually, (please don't laugh) whenever I am asked for my birth date in a shop, I always give April 31st....
When they ask for the year, I always make myself 90 years old by giving 1923 and they have no clue..
One young girl actually told me there is NO April 31st.. I told her there sure was one in those days and she believed me.....

You would be amazed how many times it goes through, actually almost always.....
 
Hey, sometimes it pays off! A restaurant chain in our area, Marie Calendar's, sends out a free meal coupon for your birthday if you order two meals. Not bad.

We have an RV store nearby that wants to give me the 3rd degree when I visit - and uses your use of a credit card as their excuse. I don't visit anymore.
 
The poor representative who has to ask these questions has no idea why they're required. They are just doing as told. I try to remember that when asked for personal information and give them a break. But nothing changes if nobody protests, so sometimes we have to make some noise.
 
If I know it's for identification purposes, I give the information. Examples would be picking up a prescription or making a doctor's appointment. Other wise I don't. I've never had a clerk refuse my money when I tell them, "I don't give out any personal information."
 
Thanks for replies. Sometimes a rep says that it is the law, they must ask for birthdates.
I tell them they are wrong. Not here in Illinois anyway. I doubt very much that it is a federal law.
Not even a law for hospitals to ask for it, I checked here.
 
Amethyst1 said:
Thanks for replies. Sometimes a rep says that it is the law, they must ask for birthdates.
I tell them they are wrong. Not here in Illinois anyway. I doubt very much that it is a federal law.
Not even a law for hospitals to ask for it, I checked here.
Click to expand...

You might want to file a report on them with your local consumer protection agency, as well as any of the online "better business"-type sites. That's outright lying on their part and hopefully they'll get called on it.

I like Steve's idea for April 31st - I want to borrow that sometime! :D
 
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