| Pages in topic: < [1 2] |
| User | Thread poster: islander1974 Giving out my social insurance number to agency in Spain |
|---|
Vikki Leung 
Canada
Local time: 01:41
 Member
Chinese to English
+ ...
| | Good advice about using the driver's licence number | Sep 19, 2010 |
In Canada, I have seen people from government agencies take my SIN, make some phone call to some automated service, to obtain and confirm very personal information such as my date of birth. I don't know if that is a restricted service, but I would be very hesitant giving away my SIN. I work with agencies in Europe (none in Spain, though) and was never asked for it.
By the way, it was only earlier this year that I had a close call with identity theft, so obviously even my safe practices were not good enough.
| | | |
John Rawlins
Spain
Local time: 07:41
 Member (2007)
English
+ ...
|
I feel that Neil is right to say that the Spanish agency is almost certainly acting in good faith - even if it is asking for unnecessary information. Nobody who wanted to collect identities for fraudulent purposes would go about it that way. Fortunately, identity theft is not a common problem here in Spain.
Jessica's suggestion of offering a driver identification number is cute and may well work.
| | | |
Vikki Leung
Canada
Local time: 01:41
Member
Chinese to English
+ ...
|
John Rawlins wrote:
I feel that Neil is right to say that the Spanish agency is almost certainly acting in good faith - even if it is asking for unnecessary information. Nobody who wanted to collect identities for fraudulent purposes would go about it that way. Fortunately, identity theft is not a common problem here in Spain.
|
|
I would also consider the possibility of hackers into the agent's server, for example. Not one of my agents, but one of the merchants of which I am a regular client, recently told me they got hacked, with some lower-risk personal details stolen. It gives me peace of mind to know that I don't have too much sensitive personal information sitting in somebody's database that has an unknown level of security.
| | | |
John Fossey
Canada
Local time: 01:41
Member (2008)
French to English
| | Agree with Driver's License | Sep 21, 2010 |
I work for quite a few Spanish companies and have never been asked for my ID number. I have been required to put THEIR tax number (VAT) on the Invoice.
The driver's license sounds like a good idea. It doesn't give them access to any other information - drivers license records are confidential in Canada and only the police have access to them.
| | | |
Meezermex
Canada
Local time: 00:41
Spanish to English
| | Driver's License number would be best | Oct 21, 2010 |
I understand your desire to keep your SIN to yourself. It does not seem necessary for them to have it. You pay your own taxes here in Canada after all.
| | | |
islander1974
Canada
Member (2007)
French to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER |
In the end, I decided to give them something to chew on by providing my driver's license number. They appear satisfied with it for now.
| | | |
Neil Coffey
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:41
Member (2009)
French to English
+ ...
| | Give them a random number...? | Oct 22, 2010 |
If they just require "a number", then rather than giving them your driving licence number, you could always just give them a random number.
A random number would not provide any authority on your tax situation. Just like your driving licence number...
| | | |
| Pages in topic: < [1 2] |
The translation workplace 
Translation news in Canada