Reply to post: Don't lie -- just refuse to do business

Theft of twenty-somethings' IDs surges

Graham Cobb Silver badge

Don't lie -- just refuse to do business

I wish that more people would just refuse to do business with companies that want intrusive information.

If a company asks for date of birth, or a phone number when they don't need it, I refuse to do business with them. I don't make something up. More often than not, I tell them that I would have done business with them but am not because of their nosy data gathering.

I started this when I got my first bank account in the 1970's. In those days, some shops wanted me to put my address on the back of a cheque, even if it was guaranteed (young'uns can ask their parents about something called "cheque guarantee cards"). I refused and, if necessary, walked away from the transaction.

If fewer companies were asking for personal data it would improve general "data hygiene" and people would be less willing to share.

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