Bought a car -- and Patriot Act required my SSN!

[mainer]

We just bought a new car. When we paid with a cashier's check, the dealer said he needed a SSN before he could complete the transaction. We asked why. "Patriot Act," he said.

So the U.S. government knows who's buying cars with cash? And that's supposed to make us all safer ... how?

[Imalittleteapot]

1. Outrageous.

SS #s should only be used for Social Security and IRS, period.
My homeowners insurance agent asked me for mine, saying it was to save me some money. ????? After further discussion I learned that they wanted to use it for credit modeling. Tough. I refused.
What on earth you SS# has to do with making us safer is a mystery to me. Maybe terrorists buy cars with cash. LOL.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. Actually that makes sense to me especially if the car is over $8,000

For years banks have had to report all deposits exceeding $8,000. I imagine if someone buys a car for cash, fills it with explosives and parks it near a crowded area, it helps to have a paper trail and even a false SSN will lead to some valuable clues.

Although often law abiding citizens deal with cash transactions, it is a method behind which criminals hide. I do think it is ineffective since it will simply make criminals go private party for their transactions.

[mainer]

4. I had to go through our bank for the check

Yes, it was a large check, for a brand new Subaru Outback. (Which we love, by the way.) Still, a bank had to be the intermediary in the transaction (the money came out of our account), so it bothered us that the car dealer still needed the SSN.

I just got irritated because I don't recall this requirement being the case when we bought our last car. And do terrorists really go hunting for brand new cars to blow up? Wouldn't they rather buy a cheap used car from a private party?

[CityZen-X]

11. I Would Bet.......

If you declined on the basis of submitting your SS # and told the dealer you will look elsewhere. I would be willing to bet that the dealer would have figured out a way around letting that check escape his car lot.

[Mairead]

15. I believe the requirement is for sums over $10K, not 8K

[yagotme]

3. Reply

Another invasion into our financial dealings. What business is it of the govt's if I buy a car, especially with cash? As easy as it is today to get a credit card, what is going to stop the local suicide bomber from purchasing a SUV on credit? He won't have to worry about making the payments, that's for sure.

[jburton]

5. Interesting

I paid cash as a "walk up" (no reservation) for an airline ticket a few weeks ago.

This was just for a 35 minute Southwest Airlines flight, no big deal.

Man, you would think I had sign around my neck saying "terrorist"

I got to go through the "special" line at security, and they made me take my tennis shoes off and put them in the bomb-sniffer machine.

Overall it was no huge deal, and the screeners were super nice, but geez.

[a_lil_wall_fly]

6. At the county demo central committee meeting last week....

an older gentlemen(retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer) stated that his refinance had a new piece of paper that required more detailed information about him too complete the refi. On the bottom it stated it was a section of the these lovely act that was the cause for it; since he was cashing out some money.

This is totally disgusting....

[Festivito]

7. I wonder what charges and penalties they would face.

It would be interesting to order the court on a reading of the law involved since the law itself is bunch of amending to prior laws. I bet the government would be quick to charge and slow to prosecute.

[matcom]

8. try refinancing your house!

i work for a mortgage company (i am their webmaster).

you won't BELIEVE the info you have to give under the Patriot Act!

:puke:

[Cocoa]

9. you should have bought a gun instead

gun buyers get special treatment in John Ashcroft's America.

[wuushew]

10. The Patriot Act is turning Amerika into one big Radio Shack

can't I use cash to buy anything anymore?

[SoCalDem]

12. The sad thing.. It's all overlapping information anyway

Everyone has your social security number by now.. If you have ever had a bank account or a credit card or registered a vehicle,or been to a hospital or doctor, or had insurance or sent a kid to school..

The only difference now, is that they are more open about it..

Years ago in Indiana your driver's licence number WAS your social security number..:shrug:

If our government ever gets a computer setup as good as most of us have, we are really in trouble.. They have so much information, they don;t even know where it all is.. Heaven help us when they finally get it all together :)

[ruralpro]

13. You do not need to inform

the dealership of your SSN. If you dont like the question get up and walk out. The law is expicit in the fact that your SSN only has one pupose. Just walk away and the seller will come to their senses

[Retrograde]

14. what about credit cards?

since my credit card company keeps raising my limit for no discernable reason.

My grandfather always paid cash for his cars. He also told me it was a sin to vote for a Republican, so there might be something there. Well, I paid cash for the last 3 I bought on the grounds that if I didn't have the money I really didn't need the car, and I've never voted GOP.

If you press the administration, the most likely explanation is "drugs".

linda

[Malva Zebrina]

16. I have a very small

believe me, very small, IRA account with Fidelity, that would not even pay for aspirin over a period of a year. I got a notice that because of the Patriot Act, I will have to supply Fidelity with my SS number, address and other things. I threw it in the garbage.