Posted by RJE/MI on 12/15/08 9:21am
Msg #271949

Online Profile Question?

As I was checking for past due payments due me I went to the SS website that is late paying me to check how long they say payment will take. One thing that was not disclosed when accepting the assignment was that I would not get paid unless my SS# was shown on my profile. Now keep in mind they sent me a W-9, I filled it out and sent it back to them. I never ever give my SS# when signing up with a SS. I always let them know that I will send them my W-9 upon acceptance of 1st assignment.

I don't like the idea of my SS# showing up on my profile for any unscrupulous employee or hacker to have easy access to. I don't see the purpose of it when I have sent them my W-9 already.

My question is this: Do you post your SS# on your profile when filling one out for a SS?

I am thinking that maybe I should just write this one off and not do anymore signings for this company instead of taking any chances of putting my SS# on their website. This is a very hard thing for me because I am not the type to let not getting paid slide by. The only time I have not been paid in the past 5 years I have been doing this is when a company goes bankrupt (2x). I never ever let it go.

Does anyone know if they can get away with not paying me just because I do not want to put my SS# on my profile on their website?

Reply by MistarellaFL on 12/15/08 9:26am
Msg #271950

*I* would never allow my SS number to be shown on any profile or website.
I would also surmise that legally this would not be an acceptable reason for non-payment.
When you "write off" a debt for this reason, you are unjustly enriching the company who
hired you and is abiding by these practices.
Don't write it off. Attempt to collect. Take them to small claims if they refuse to pay you for that reason.

Reply by John/CT on 12/15/08 9:32am
Msg #271952

Taxpayer Identification Number

Rather than disclosing your Social Security Number, you can use an Employer Identification Number instead. Go to http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=97860,00,html

Reply by John/CT on 12/15/08 9:38am
Msg #271954

Re: Oops

That link is: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=97860,00.html.

Reply by Jim/AL on 12/15/08 4:27pm
Msg #271980

Re: Tax ID Number

What help is it to have an EIN or TIN? Does it just help hide your SS # or what?

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 12/15/08 9:36am
Msg #271953

Isn't it illegal for a company to post a person's SS number on their public database? I don't think they can publish it in your profile - they probably want to just keep it in their database.

And I agree - you should have a Federal ID number - 5 minutes online and you're good to go.

Reply by Trenton Hall on 12/15/08 9:38am
Msg #271955

You should have an EIN # by now, if not, get one. This is what you give instead of your SSN.

Reply by thnotary_NY on 12/15/08 9:50am
Msg #271958

just a test

Reply by MistarellaFL on 12/15/08 9:51am
Msg #271959

just a test ***did you pass, Trenton? LOL n/m

Reply by RJE/MI on 12/15/08 10:05am
Msg #271962

Thanks! Just got my EIN #! n/m

Reply by thnotary_NY on 12/15/08 2:14pm
Msg #271971

Re: just a test ***did you pass, Trenton? LOL

Well, we'll see. This was more on the alias user name question and which appears when and why. But now that I think about it, does anybody's profile name appear instead of the alias when you reply to messages, even though you didn't choose it to be.??

Reply by MW/VA on 12/15/08 1:38pm
Msg #271970

That's a new one in the long list of excuses for non-payment. I would never post or provide my ss# on any website or database. Who do they think they're fooling? Continue to pursue your collection efforts, and use their unacceptable request to your advantage. There are companies who won't pay without a W-9, but beyond that, that have no grounds.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 12/16/08 1:57am
Msg #272006

I imagine you mean that you wouldn't provide a signing service a social security # at all, website, database notwithstanding. Using the TIN should be sufficient for any entity that hires a notary and I'm sure the whole point of recommending it above is to encourage people to never give out their social security number! Period! (Just in case anyone reading the above message has any doubt...)