I think I was with their service once a long time ago and I did an application to see if I could get a phone plus service package. This probably got my social in the process for credit score reasons.
They’ll give you a $1000 phone under the guarantee of a 2-year contract. That can be considered a type of loan and they can repo the phone if you stop paying.
If you stop paying monthly bills, they can only really force you to pay the balance if they have your SSN and can affect your credit score.
I’m not endorsing the practice of ruining people’s chances of buying a home over unpaid phone bills, but it’s a pretty good deal from AT&T’s perspective.
Sadly its legit…
Edit: It was the at&t data breach
That sucks. I made an edit.
why does a phone company need your social security?
I think I was with their service once a long time ago and I did an application to see if I could get a phone plus service package. This probably got my social in the process for credit score reasons.
I’m not endorsing the practice of ruining people’s chances of buying a home over unpaid phone bills, but it’s a pretty good deal from AT&T’s perspective.
Hmm dang I got an email from ATT about this, and the last I had them was for a landline in 2013… Can’t believe they keep data for this long.
Sorry this happened to you.