blogger.com stats

Message just sent to blogger.com about radicalbaseball.blogspot.com through its complaint process for its bloggers

Your stats seem almost random. I currently have almost as many pageviews in the Ukraine as the USA. And at 7 AM I have a spike  to almost 300 but the top ten top out at about 15, so how the heck could there have been 300? This uncertainty about the stats is persistent and there is ALWAYS a discrepancy between the totals and individual posts.
____________________________

Am I the only person wondering?

Note: Google bought blogger.com after I had been using blogger.com for years.

Texting madness: sending a message to initiate voice communication.

I've recently experienced this moronic stuff. Receiving a text message to announce or request a voice conversation, aka, phone call.

I'm about to call you.

It's OK for you to call me.

What am I missing? Why not just call?

If texting were eliminated, what would these morons do? Just sit there, wondering what their $500 iPhones were good for?

Texting: primitive form of writing on phones designed by geniuses to be used by idiots.

Rant I just sent to a friend:

I cannot tell you how much I hate texting. I noticed that you sent a video that way. It went to my mobile number. Had it at least gone to my Google Voice number I would have had access to it on all my devices, not just the mobile phone.

Please send the link via email. Thanks.

Someone else called me today using a different number than previously. It's impossible for me to send her a text message to that new number. The crappy little programs provided for texting are so deficient I could not find a way.

My theory is that texting comes from early use of mobile phones by 14 year old girls. Those flip phones had limited online access and functionality but that was all that they knew. And email seemed to old fashion, as in for employed people.

So now you have idiots using $650 iPhones as if they were $25 pagers from 1985. They don't even need the data packages they're paying big bucks for. And doing it while driving.

Smart phones designed by geniuses to be used by the aforementioned idiots.

Rant over.

blogger.com: am I the only one with font problems?

Excerpt from a post from my Radical Baseball blog hosted by blogger:

Thursday, March 31, 2016
1958 AL Home Run race. Who "led the league in hitting" ... home runs?

Techie note: I wasted an hour trying to make the fonts uniform. After a copy/paste of the baseball-reference.com list of the five players below, Google's blogger.com, which hosts this blog, behaved erratically. So please excuse the appearance and try to absorb the content. Thanks.
________________________

Geez, what a massive waste of time and still couldn't get it right. Yeah, I know, just go in and modify the html code. Yeah right. That would blow up the entire mess.

I tried every trick I could think of. And what you see in edit mode is definitely not what you get.

Google, come on, give me a decent editor. Is that too much to ask for? Come on.

"Abandoned" bank account: New York State Comptroller still needs to state policy and procedures.

Email reply from:

New York State Comptroller
Office of Unclaimed Funds

from:		NYSOUF@osc.state.ny.us
to:		ken
date:		Tue, Mar 22, 2016 at 7:22 AM
subject:		RE: New York Unclaimed Property Rules & Time Limits

We require more information to search of our database.  We require the
account owner’s full name and any current and previous New York State
addresses associated with that name...

Blah. Blah. Blah.
____________________

This is reply to

Chase Bank: "your account is considered abandoned". Say what? WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Obviously, the state employee who sent the reply didn't read my message ad/or didn't understand. Here is my reply to help clarify:

from:		Ken
to:		NYSOUF@osc.state.ny.us
date:		Tue, Mar 22, 2016 at 9:21 AM
subject:		Re: New York Unclaimed Property Rules & Time Limits

http://techthoughtsmatinale.blogspot.com/2016/03/chase-bank-your-account-is-considered.html

The New York State website was useless except for the happy state comptroller supplying information on how someone can get their confiscated money back but not the parameters for how the money can be taken...

... hope that the New York State legislature and Comptroller will fix this mess for all of us.

______________________

I stopped my account from being seized. What I want to know:

1. What are the New York State laws that cause a bank account to be declared abandoned?

2. What is a bank like Chase required to do in terms of notification?

3. Other than deposit and withdrawal, what constitutes activity? For instance a Chase person told me that these things did NOT count:

- transfer to/from another Chase linked account

- online access

- ATM access.

4. Specifically, how much advance notice must a bank send before it can have the state confiscate the money in an account? How many notices? Is the bank required to communicate digitally in addition to paper?

5. Doesn't my filing NYS income tax returns suggest that I am alive?

___________________

Chase Bank: "your account is considered abandoned". Say what?

You can't make up stuff like this.

I have an account with Chase Bank. I logged in last night to check on a matter and noticed that my previous log in was 12/21/15, less than three months before. Keep that in mind.

Yesterday, March 15, 2016, I received a PAPER letter from Chase Bank dated March 7, 2016. It states in part:

Service Center: 1-800-935-9935

Your account is in danger of being transferred to the state. Please contact us immediately.

Please act quickly ...

... Under New York law your account is considered "abandoned" because there has been no activity (deposits, withdrawals, etc.) for some time. As a result, we must transfer your balance of $... to the state's unclaimed property division.

You can stop the transfer of your money to the tate - but you must act now

- completing the enclosed ... form ... and returning it to us by 04/07/2016
- making a routine monetary transaction ... deposit or withdrawal at a branch ...

Sincerely,

Mark Gamble
Senior Vice President
Chase Telephone Banking
_________________________

The address on the letter is in San Antonio, Texas. I thought that was a nice touch, collecting for New York State from Texas. Adds to the utter stupidity of this.

Apparently an online log in does not count as activity. One can only wonder what is meant by "etc." when it seems only two actions ("deposit or withdrawal at a branch") matter. Very 1980s.

Since the letter from Mark Gamble must have sat in the Chase Bank mail room for several days, Mark Gamble has effectively given me only three weeks to save my account. Mark Gamble must be an idiot.

There was no digital communication, despite the fact that I have an active online account with Chase Bank. There was no message buried in my inbox at chase.com. NOTHING. Just a PAPER letter. One letter. No prior warning or indication of any kind. Nice, huh? The letter was the one and only notice. There was nothing in it that indicated, hey, we've sent you umpteen messages. No, just this one.

And what the heck is "for some time"? How the heck much time? Last night I tried to check. The New York State website was useless except for the happy state comptroller supplying information on how someone can get their confiscated money back but not the parameters for how the money can be taken. I looked elsewhere and sent this email message to the state:

from: Ken
to: NYSOUF@osc.state.ny.us
cc: David Buchwald <BuchwaldD@assembly.state.ny.us>

date:Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 9:56 PM
subject:New York Unclaimed Property Rules & Time Limits

http://www.bizfilings.com/toolkit/sbg/finance/basic-accounting/unclaimed-property/new-york-unclaimed-property-rules.aspx

Five years? Is that the limit on bank accounts? ​What am I a mind reader? There was no prior warning to the absurd letter I received today from Chase bank.

Today, I received a PAPER (good thing I wasn't traveling) letter stating that my savings account would be considered abandoned April 7 if I did not take action.

I logged into my Chase account less than three months ago and again today. 

Even if I did not withdraw or deposit, why doesn't online access constitute activity? ​And why didn't I get more than three weeks notice? What the heck is that?

My New York State income tax has been filed regularly and paper letters from Chase bank are not returned. Why presume abandonment?

________________________________

I ended with my full name, address and phone number.

Auto Reply:

from: OSCProduction@osc.state.ny.us
to:Ken
date:Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 9:56 PM
subject:Re: New York Unclaimed Property Rules & Time
Limitsmailed-by: osc.state.ny.us
encryption:Standard
Important mainly because it was sent directly to you.

Thank you for contacting the New York State Comptroller's Office of
Unclaimed Funds.  Your email is important to us and will be responded to by
one of our Communication Center Representatives as soon as possible.  Due
to the increased number of e-mails being received, response time may take 2
- 3 weeks.  Thank you for your patience.
_______________________________

Three weeks. Gee, that's how long Chase Bank gave me. Suppose I was travelling, maybe to somewhere with no Chase branches. Maybe to Phoenix, AZ to attend the baseball analytics conference. If I retuned after April 7 I would have had no idea that my Chase Bank account had been turned over to New York State.

But wait, there's more. Last night I found that my "abandoned" account was missing when I logged in at chase.com. What I could still see were two other accounts, which I share with another person. I then exchanged messages last night with a Chase person and was told that my account is:

currently in a "dormant" status due to inactivity.

To reactivate your account, visit your nearest Chase 
branch. If you're unable to visit a Chase branch please 
reply to this message or call us at the phone number 
below. We may need to send you additional information by 
U.S. Mail to complete this request.
_________________________________

Dormant and abandoned. My logging in last night made no difference.

I'll mail back the paper letter, which requires my signature, so it could not have been handled by another.

I'll also withdraw $20 from an ATM later.

I'll call and vent.

And I'll send the link for this post to:
NYSOUF@osc.state.ny.us
OSCProduction@osc.state.ny.us
BuchwaldD@assembly.state.ny.us
smrfs@emailonline.chase.com

And hope that the New York State legislature and Comptroller will fix this mess for all of us.

Note: I dumped Chase about 15 years ago as my primary bank because of unprofessional junk like this. I just spoke to a Chase person. She could not find Mark Gamble as an employee. Hopefully, Mark Gamble was fired.  Unfortunately, try as she might, nothing couid be resolved on the phone. My ONLY options are those in the PAPER letter;
- mail to San Antonio, TX the Chase form with my signature
- withdraw or deposit money at a Chase ATM.

Chase can/will NOT restore the online link from my account to the joint accounts until its status as abandoned and dormant is rectified.  Argh!

Burning out a CPU. Say what?

Central Processing Unit (CPU): what would cause it to "burn out"?

Predicting Tommy John Surgeries
By Bradley Woodrum  February 23, 2016 at 12:25am

... hundreds of thousands of lines of data ... The project also took, as a sacrifice, one of my computer’s CPUs, which burned out shortly after completing some herculean computations. Fare thee well, i7.
_______________________

There's the suggestion that this massive project was run on one or more personal computers, not a mini or combination of computers. My reaction to the idea that one of this guy's CPUs, not a hard drive, burned out: say what?

He indicates that his PC had an Intel Core i7 CPU, which was introduced in 2008 and has two to six cores. If one core stops functioning, can the CPU continue to work? Beats me.

Project Fi: Google needs to straighten out conflicting features and objectives.

from:		Ken
to:		Project Fi
date:		Thu, Jan 7, 2016 at 9:30 AM
subject:		Re: Service paused
mailed-by:		gmail.com

Since Google used a noreply email ID, I'll reply here:

I cancelled the day the Nexus 5X arrived because the setup stated I'd lose Google Voice as I now have it since it was Grand Central (a company bought by Google), including free forwarding to my mobile and home phone numbers.  I'm disappointed I could not even try Fi.  Google needs to straighten out conflicting features and objectives.
__________________________

I spoke to Google people both before ordering and after product arrival and got conflicting advice.  I had read multiple articles describing the problems for Google Voice users of subscribing to Project Fi but it seemed there was an inelegant way around: keep things as they are.  My Google Voice forwards calls to both my home and mobile numbers.  I wanted to get a new phone number from Google for Fi and had been told that would work but as it turned out, only if I used a new Google account, which, of course, was out of the question.  My intent was to test Fi for 15 days and then decide whether to keep it; if so, I'd have ported my current mobile number to Fi.  I never got started.  I had to back out of setup or I'd have lost my Google Voice.

Lionel locomotive fried ... again.

This link is for all my posts on problems with Lionel model trains:

http://techthoughtsmatinale.blogspot.com/search/label/Lionel

It's official: my powered Lionel Yankee subway car (locomotive) is fried.  Its symptoms were the same as its predecessor: lights lit but the train did not move.  I finally took it out of the closet recently and today took it to a local hobby shop to determine if there was a simple fix.  They put it on a test track and eventually we could smell it heating up and we switched off the power.  At least now I know it's not worth trying to fix or replace.  The replacement would be the same low quality.

What surprised me was the vehemence of the three repair men.  They were adamant that even though my train was way past its warranty I should still complain to Lionel and insist that this had ruined my Christmas.  I told them I wouldn't but they insisted ... repeatedly.  Instead I'm writing this post.

They described in detail the poor service and products that Lionel had.  They described Lionel as arrogant.  They said to call Lionel Monday.  I told them that the workers will be on vacation for the holidays.  They said that was a ruse to avoid all the outraged customers who would be disappointed in their Lionel products.  They said that the workers are there but that they are hiding.

I thought that it was quaint that the company let their employees enjoy the holidays at home.  I still do.  But those pros in the hobby shop do not believe it.

There was a lot more, including their urging me to ask Lionel why their products worked when they were made in the USA, not in China.  They were outraged on my behalf.

Tomorrow there's a Toy and Train show here in White Plains.  I'll probably drop by.  I usually do.

P.S. In the last year I've gotten into Kato N scale trains and especially like their double track product.  I have two double tracks with four trains running simultaneously.  Very cool.

Verizon FIOS login does not work in Chromebook.

http://www.verizon.com/?lid=//global//residential

Bad Request

Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand.
Size of a request header field exceeds server limit.
__________________

It worked for years but not the last couple of weeks.  Verizon FIOS support was not helpful, insisting it was the fault of my Chromebook or its browser, both of which work fine with the rest of the web and Internet.

Cablevision wrote that it requires Social Security Number only for "standard retail rates", i.e., rates NOBODY takes.

Cablevision (Mathew, of Corporate Executive Customer Relations (CECR)) wrote a paper letter to me dated June 30, 2015, post marked July 15, 2015, which arrived yesterday July 17, 2015.  You can't make up stuff like this.

I have written several recent posts on this topis, including:

Cablevision called but insisted on recording our conversation. I declined. SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2015

A couple of days ago a guy (Mathew, I think) from Cablevision called to discuss what's described in my previous post ...

There are two things that federal and state legislatures need to do:
1. Prohibit private companies, especially those providing utility and pseudo-utility services, from demanding that a customer provide them with his/her Social Security number.
2. Ban the recording of conversations unless a copy and/or transcript is made available to the consumer...

Unfortunately, when a company with monopoly or duopoly power in an industry asks it is really a demand.

I call upon my elected representatives to pass legislation to fix this.
________________________

Mathew did not provide a last name.  He did provide a phone number (631-846-5317), which I called yesterday about 7 PM.  It was answered by a person who had no idea who Mathew was.  She assured me that Mathew did not have a voice mailbox where I could leave a message.  She did, however, provide an e-mail ID for the group that Mathew is in: cecrdesk@cablevision.com.  It turns out I already had that for a guy named Thomas Hagzan.  I'll send a link for this post to that e-mail ID and also to:

James Dolan, Cablevision CEO: JDOLAN@cablevision.com

OK, here's what Mathew wrote:

... providing your Social Security Number to Cablevision is not a requirement. If a Social Security Number is not provided by a prospective customer, service would still be offered at our standard retail rates.  Please note, we do request a Social Security Number when a customer wishes to sign up for a promotional offer."
________________________

Nobody pays standard retail rates when switching to a company like Cablevision. NOBODY. To suggest that this policy is not an absolute requirement is to present a distinction without a difference. It is either ironic or a poor choice of words that Mathew wrote they "request a Social Security Number ... for a promotional offer".  If that's really true then there is no issue.  They request.  I decline.  Cablevision provides service at the rates for a promotional offer.  But that won't happen.

Mathew also mentioned the phrase "sign up".  I think part of the attraction of a Cablevision "promotional offer" is that there is no annual contract, so a new customer is not required to "sign up".

A Cablevision "promotional offer" is pricing intended to entice you to switch.  Then after the promotional period expires, maybe in a year, the rates increase to, I guess, "standard retail rates".  At that point a customer decides whether to switch and take a "promotional offer" from a competitor, in this case Verizon and its FIOS.  Mathew did not provide any rates, either "standard retail" or "promotional".  He should have.

In his opening sentence Mathew wrote:

"The complaint that you filed with the (New York State) Public Service Commission has been forwarded to my attention for investigation and handling."

New York State Public Service Commission complaint against Cablevision for collecting Social Security numbers. THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

Complaints have also been filed with the FCC, Social Security Administartion and a message sent to the New York State Attorney General.  Messages sent to both U.S. Senators and member of the House of Representatives.  Oh, and Executive Director White Plains Cable TV...

Communicated by phone and e-mail with Thomas Hagzan, Corporate Executive Customer Relations Cablevision: cecrdesk@cablevision.com 631-846-5317
____________________________

Let the "investigation and handling" begin! But do not record conversations without providing me with a copy. And I think that New York State requires that both parties consent to a phone conversation being recorded. Companies do not even come close to asking for consent. They don't even hedge anu more and state that it may be recorded. They tell you that it is being recorded and then plow ahead with their prepared telemarketing script and completely ignore any objection or question. This has to stop.

Cablevision record keeping sucks. And it wants my Social Security Number to provide service.

In January I had tried to switch from Verizon FIOS to Cablevision.  "Tax" on Verizon was causing my bill to be unacceptably high and Verizon was too inflexible to provide any meaningful price concession.  Part of the reason for that is that Cablevision's agreement with the City of White Plains has expired, which entitles Cablevision to not pay PEG, whatever the heck that is.  Nice system of regulation, huh?

I ordered service from Cablevision and scheduled an installation.  That day I received a call from the Cablevision installer who said I was next and that he'd be here soon.  After a while he called again and asked for directions.  Eventually it became clear that the Cablevision installer had an incorrect address.  It wasn't even close, not in any way, not even the street number.  Not the street.  Not the town.  In fact it was private house and I live in a large apartment building.

The Cablevision installer put me in contact with the the Cablevision dispatcher who did not help.  I said you must have someone either here or nearby but the dispatcher would not do the installation that day and asked me to reschedule.

Later that evening I tried to reschedule but Cablevision started asking me a lot of basic questions and it turned out that they needed to start the signup process all over again.  Why?  Bad systems.

Fast forward to the recent nonsense over:

Cablevision collects VERY personal data and it's OK with the local government. THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

"This call may be recorded for quality purposes." Who will give you a copy? THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

Which led to:

Cablevision called but insisted on recording our conversation. I declined. SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2015

A couple of days ago a guy (Mathew, I think) from Cablevision called to discuss what's described in my previous post:..

There are two things that federal and state legislatures need to do:
1. Prohibit private companies, especially those providing utility and pseudo-utility services, from demanding that a customer provide them with his/her Social Security number.
2. Ban the recording of conversations unless a copy and/or transcript is made available to the consumer...

Unfortunately, when a company with monopoly or duopoly power in an industry asks it is really a demand.

I call upon my elected representatives to pass legislation to fix this.
_______________________________

There was actually more to that aborted conversation.  Cablevision guy tried to check for a record of my having been a customer years ago.  Guess what he found?  The incorrect address from the failed installation in January.  I was shocked.  I assured him that I never lived anywhere near that location and might never have been in that town.

Then it dawned on me.  I wondered if I had been foolish enough to have provided my Social Security Number to Cablevision back in January to complete that installation order for new service.  Sure enough, I had.  I asked Cablevision guy to check and he was able to view it on his screen.  Oh, not the entire number.  Just the last four digits.  You know, the four that now serve as the universal mini ID that everyone and his uncle gets to request.  I asked Cablevision guy if he could remove my SSN.  He tried by backspacing the four digit value in the field and I guess saving.  Of course, that doesn't mean that it was deleted from the Cablevision database and I'd be very surprised if it was, especially since Cablevision preferred to lose me as a customer rather than provide me with its service without my SSN.  So when I tried to get Cablevision service a second time this year did Cablevision again ask for my SSN when it already had it?

Finally, I just received a second paper communication from Cablevision addressed to someone I have never heard of but to my mailing address, including apartment number.  Cablevision's database thinks that someone else lives here.

And Cablevision wants my SSN?  Again?

Social Security Administration replies to inquiry on use of SSN by businesses.

Below is the e-mail reply I received.  The only thing missing is an incomplete laundry list of "situations" which "require an SSN".

Emphasis added.

from:SSA.Comments@ssa.gov
to:ken
date:Sat, Jun 20, 2015 at 11:18 AM

The Social Security number (SSN) was originally devised to keep an accurate record of each individual’s earnings and, subsequently, to monitor benefits paid under the Social Security program.  However, use of the SSN as a general identifier has grown to the point where it is the most commonly used and convenient identifier for all types of record keeping systems in the United States.
 
Specific laws require a person to provide his or her SSN for certain purposes...

The Privacy Act regulates the use of SSN’s by government agencies.  When a federal, state, or local government agency asks an individual to disclose his or her Social Security number, the Privacy Act requires the agency to inform the person of the following:
 
-- the statutory or other authority for requesting the information;
 
-- whether disclosure is mandatory or voluntary;
 
-- what uses will be made of the information;
 
-- the consequences, if any, of failure to provide the information
 
If a business or other enterprise asks you for your SSN, you can refuse to give it.  However, that may mean doing without the purchase or service for which your number was requested.  For example, utility companies and other services ask for a Social Security number, but do not need it; they can do a credit check or identify the person in their records by alternative means. 
 
Giving your number is voluntary, even when you are asked for the number directly.  If requested, you should ask why your number is needed, how your number will be used, what law requires you to give your number, and what the consequences are if you refuse.  The answers to these questions can help you decide if you want to give your Social Security number.  The decision is yours.
 
For detailed information, we recommend our publication, “Your Social Security Number and Card,” at the following Internet address:
 
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10002.html
_________________________________

Replies on complaint to New York State Public Service Commission, FCC, etc.

My New York State Assembly representative (David Buchwald) replied with a personal e-mail message.  My New York State Senator (ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS) has never replied.

No response from either the New York State Public Service Commission or FCC.

No reply to my message sent to James Dolan, CEO Cablevision, and posted here.

I did get a reply from the Social Security Administration. I'll deal with that in the next post.

Message sent to James Dolan, CEO Cablevision.

from:		Ken
to:		JDOLAN@cablevision.com
date:		Sun, Jun 28, 2015 at 8:52 AM
subject:		Tech Thoughts - New York State Public Service Commission complaint against Cablevision for collecting Social Security numbers.

http://techthoughtsmatinale.blogspot.com/

​There are two things that federal and state legislatures need to do:

1. Prohibit private companies, especially those providing utility and pseudo-utility services, from demanding that a customer provide them with his/her Social Security number.

2. Ban the recording of conversations unless a copy and/or transcript is made available to the consumer.​

___________________________

Cablevision called but insisted on recording our conversation. I declined.

A couple of days ago a guy (Mathew, I think) from Cablevision called to discuss what's described in my previous post:

THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015
New York State Public Service Commission complaint against Cablevision for collecting Social Security numbers.

Complaints have also been filed with the FCC, Social Security Administartion and a message sent to the New York State Attorney General.  Messages sent to both U.S. Senators and member of the House of Representatives.  Oh, and Executive Director White Plains Cable TV.
_____________________________

I think Cablevision guy was referring to my complaint with the New York State Public Service Commission. No sooner had he announced the reason for his call he informed me that the call was being recorded for quality purposes. Note:
1. Cablevision guy informed but did not ask permission.  I know because I asked him about that later.
2. Cablevision guy did not say what is usually said by any company when the make a similar statement: that it might be recorded.  Cablevision guy stated flatly that it was being recorded.

I asked if I can have a copy of the recording.  No.  I asked for a transcript.  No.  We then engaged in some back and forth, during which Cablevision guy stated that my request for a copy was being denied because the recording was proprietary.  Stuff like that reinforces the distinct impression that they're just making it up as they go along.

I pointed out that I was on the call, so what could be proprietary but Cablevision guy was firm on this.  The call didn't last too long but since I don't have a copy of the recording I can only provide my best recollection.

There are two things that federal and state legislatures need to do:
1. Prohibit private companies, especially those providing utility and pseudo-utility services, from demanding that a customer provide them with his/her Social Security number.
2. Ban the recording of conversations unless a copy and/or transcript is made available to the consumer.

Here is part of a reply I received from the Social Security Administration:

from:SSA.Comments@ssa.gov
to:ken
date:Sat, Jun 20, 2015 at 11:18 AM

The Social Security number (SSN) was originally devised to keep an accurate record of each individual’s earnings and, subsequently, to monitor benefits paid under the Social Security program.  However, use of the SSN as a general identifier has grown to the point where it is the most commonly used and convenient identifier for all types of record keeping systems in the United States...

If a business or other enterprise asks you for your SSN, you can refuse to give it.  However, that may mean doing without the purchase or service for which your number was requested.  For example, utility companies and other services ask for a Social Security number, but do not need it; they can do a credit check or identify the person in their records by alternative means. 
 
Giving your number is voluntary, even when you are asked for the number directly.  If requested, you should ask why your number is needed, how your number will be used, what law requires you to give your number, and what the consequences are if you refuse.  The answers to these questions can help you decide if you want to give your Social Security number.  The decision is yours.
___________________________________

Unfortunately, when a company with monopoly or duopoly power in an industry asks it is really a demand.

I call upon my elected representatives to pass legislation to fix this.

New York State Public Service Commission complaint against Cablevision for collecting Social Security numbers.

Complaints have also been filed with the FCC, Social Security Administartion and a message sent to the New York State Attorney General.  Messages sent to both U.S. Senators and member of the House of Representatives.  Oh, and Executive Director White Plains Cable TV.

New York State Public Service Commission Office of Consumer Services Three Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12223-1350 Voice: 518-473-0229

You Have Submitted The Following!

You are: Mr. Kenneth Matinale
If you are complaining for a business, the business name is: 
Your address is:
The utility you are complaining about: Cablevision of Westchester
You have also provided your account number: none
You have given your phone number as: 914.
You have provided a daytime reach phone number of: 914.
You provided us with your email address: KEN

The problem you are experiencing is ..
Communicated by phone and e-mail with Thomas Hagzan, Corporate Executive Customer Relations Cablevision: cecrdesk@cablevision.com 631-846-5317

The resolution(s) you are seeking ..
Private companies, including Cablevision and Verizon, should be forbidden from collecting personal information, especially Social Security number. The data that Cablevision states it has a right to collect includes: "date of birth, Social Security number, driver's license number, credit card number and expiration date, bank account number" (from Cablevison's privacy agreement with White Plains).  Note: Cablevison's franchise  agreement with White Plains has expired.

This can be used for identity theft.

The resolution they offered you ..
None. I could subscribe at a much higher rate than that offered to other new subscribers, which is obviously intended to coerce the Social Security number, which they want for debt collection by overbearing collection agencies. 

Cablevision collects VERY personal data and it's OK with the local government.

From "Cablevision's annual privacy statement" with White Plains, NY supplied by the Executive Director White Plains Cable TV:

Subscriber Information may include information which you

provide to us such as your name, service address, billing 

address, work address, email address, home telephone number, 

work telephone number, mobile phone number, date of birth, 

social security number, driver's license number, credit card 

number and expiration date, bank account number, and other 

financial information.

"This call may be recorded for quality purposes." Who will give you a copy?

As mentioned in a previous post about my travails with Cablevision, they would NOT provide me with a copy or a transcript.

I just got a sales call for solar panels and I asked if I could have a copy of the recording.  The sales person put the supervisor on and the supervisor said: "Why not?".

Indeed.

When you hear that warning, ask for a copy.  If they say no, end the call.

Cablevision denies service without Social Security number.

Are private companies collecting the Social Security numbers of individuals along with other personal information that could easily lead to identity theft?

Message sent to:
- Corporate Executive Customer Relations Cablevision
- Executive Director of White Plains Cable TV

from:		Ken
to:		Thomas Hagzan , "James D. Kenny"
date:		Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 10:08 AM
subject:		Service denied without Social Security number.

Just got a call from a Cablevision sales person who stated that it's needed for a soft credit check and for me to qualify for a new customer promotion of lower charges.
_____________________________

I had spoken to Cablevision executive Thomas Hagzan the day before and he said that I would be contacted by a person from Cablevision's sales team.  That person was polite but firm that I must provide my Social Security number.  I declined again.  At the end of the call I was thanked for choosing Cablevision.  I do not recall hearing the perfunctory "this call may be recorded for quality purposes".

Ironically, when I tried to switch to Cablevision in January I had foolishly provided my Social Security number but Cablevision did not realize that when I tried again in June and I had forgotten.  The reason I did not actually get Cablevision service in January was that the installer had my address as being in Ossining, not White Plains.  I have never lived in Ossining.  When I mentioned this to Thomas Hagzan two days ago he was able to view my Social Security number on his internal Cablevision computer screen.  I asked him to delete it and he did on the screen.  Whether that deleted it from Cablevision databases is unknown.

I emphasized to him that it was bad enough to enter one's Social Security number on a computer screen but that I am blocked from applying for Cablevision service on its website, maybe because of the Cablevision screw up in January.  Telling a Cablevision sales person my Social Security number on the phone is that much worse.  Now for sure that individual knows it along with all the personal information that Cablevision requires, including means of payment.  And how long had that person worked at Cablevision and how much longer would the employment last?

This week I also received a call from the someone in the office of Nita Lowey, my representative in the House of Representatives; that person contacted Cablevision on my behalf trying to provide constituent service and help me get service from Cablevision.

The point here is simple.  Are private companies collecting the Social Security numbers of individuals along with other personal information that could easily lead to identity theft?  This seems especially serious if communications companies like Cablevision are doing this since they provide vital communications that should be treated as a fundamental utility.

The previous posts on this blog also deal with this subject and should be read for additional context.

To regulators, legislators and law enforcement people: what are your positions on this?

Cablevision: three different reasons for wanting your Social Security number ... so far.

Chronologically:

1. Security

2. Debt collection (my personal favorite)

3. "new promotional discount"

Like many companies Cablevision informs you that your phone conversation to them may be recorded for quality purposes.  I called the executive office this afternoon.  When the person answering made the perfunctory statement about the conversation being recorded I asked if I could have a copy.  No.  Can I have a transcript?  No.

Does anyone know what happens to these recordings?  How long are they kept?

Cablevision does not seem to understand why it should not collect Social Security numbers.

Read the two previous posts.  I just received this message and replied:

rom:		Cecrdesk <CECRDESK@cablevision.com>
to:		"ken"
date:		Mon, Jun 15, 2015 at 3:56 PM
subject:		RE: Optimum complaint

Good afternoon Mr. Matinale,
We would like to inform you that we are in receipt of your recent e-mail, which was forwarded to us from the Executive Director of White Plains Cable TV. From the information provided, I am unsure if you wish to proceed with creating an account with us here at Optimum. I have partnered with our Executive Sales staff to investigate the policies and procedures for creating a new account and any misinformation or unprofessional behavior will be handled internally.  If you would like to provide me with your contact telephone number, I would be happy to speak with you by phone.
Please be assured that resolving this situation to your satisfaction is my highest priority. Should you need to reach me while I work on your behalf, please don’t hesitate to contact me at CECRDesk@Cablevision.com or (631) 846-5317 between 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM, seven days a week.
Respectfully,

Thomas Hagzan
Corporate Executive Customer Relations
Cablevision

Reply:

Thanks for reaching out.  I'll call you.  However, the reason I contacted the White Plains municipal body as well as my Congressional representatives was not merely to get service but to raise awareness of a larger issue: private entities collecting individual Social Security numbers.

This is about the right to information and the ability to communicate, especially when service could or would be denied if a customer (citizen) refuses to supply the Social Security number as I did with Cablevision, a service provider.

To make this even do I get your Social Security number or that of James Dolan?

Cablevision wants Social Security numbers so that it can collect what it views as unpaid bills.

Online chat:

Arthur K.: Having your previous address helps us to identify that as well.
Kenneth Matinale: Why would Cablevision need my Social Security number?
Arthur K.: We use it strictly for identification purposes.
Arthur K.: We do NOT run credit checks.
Kenneth Matinale: None of my other accounts asks for Social Security number. I log in using ID and password.
Arthur K.: Once your service is set up, we would also suggest that you create an Optimum ID and password.REE/
Arthur K.: Plus, we are not asking for your Social Security number.
Arthur K.: We are only asking for your contact phone number and your previous address.
Kenneth Matinale: Again, why did Cablevision need my when I called two days ago?

Arthur K.: Kenneth, I'm sorry but I do not understand your last question.
Kenneth Matinale: My Social Security number was absolutely required by the Cablevision order taker I spoke to a couple of days ago when I tried to switch from Verizon. When I refused, I was denied service.
Arthur K.: Kenneth, I cannot speak to your earlier experience, but I do apologize for any inconvenience or unpleasant experience.
Arthur K.: Sometimes we do need a Social Security number when the phone number and previous address do not specifically identify the potential customer.
Arthur K.: In this instance, I'm fairly confident that we will be able to proceed with just your phone number and previous address.
Kenneth Matinale: The other person was polite but insisted that Social Security number was required for security reasons.

Kenneth Matinale: I concluded that Cablevision wants Social Security numbers so that it can collect what it views as unpaid bills. It certainly could not be for security.

Arthur K.: Kenneth, part of trying to identify new customers is, in fact, an attempt to identify past customers who have unpaid previous balances.
Arthur K.: We do try to collect past due balances for service we have provided.