Hatrack River Forum: Social Security screw up

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Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :

So, I get a letter today from Social Security saying they are reviewing my case.

No problem, they've done it before.

The major problem I have. . .

They sent me someone else's forms! I have his name, address and social security number!!!

And "someone" else has mine!

"We sent out about a hundred of those on Tuesday so we have no idea who might have yours."

[Mad]

Sure, why not just hand out social security numbers to everyone.

Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :

Um, how about starting with the person who's info you have? I'd think that would make an excellent place to start.

Dorks.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

My gosh, how does that happen? Sheesh. And they say they're worried about SS fraud...

Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :

Their solution was to send me out new paper work and for me to send them back his paperwork when I send mine in.

Like me sending in his paperwork is going to keep me from writing down his name, address and ssn and go out and steal his identity.

Or, like it will stop the person who has mine from doing it.

(And what a surprise they are in for. My credit rating is 0. Ha.)

I think they should change my ssn.

Posted by Dead_Horse (Member # 3027) on :

Oh, Joy! I figured I had this to look forward to with SS.

Last week a university I went to for a couple of years sent an email to everyone registered at my campus saying they had had computers stolen from a locked office containing everyones vital data. But they didn't think the thieves would even realize what they had. Umm..., yeah..., until they read the email you sent them saying they had stolen computers containing everyones data! I would think the odds of the thieves not being students is pretty low.

I too pity anyone who tries to use my identity. They deserve everything they (don't) get. Maybe someone will try to make THEM pay my bills.
Rain

Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :

quote:
Um, how about starting with the person who's info you have? I'd think that would make an excellent place to start.

Worse possible error: the envelopes (or labels) got misaligned by one. So Kayla got this guy's info, this guy got someone else, that someone else got another someone else, etc.

quote:
I think they should change my ssn.

That might be a LOT of trouble. If they screwed this up, imagine if they change your numbers. It could take years to get your benefits.

Ideally, they should be competent enough to change your SSN. But I wouldn't bet on it.

Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :

I think this screw-up just added to my paranoia.

Which is currently under medical review.

They want to fuel my paranoia so I'll drop my claim, assuming if I drop my claim they won't hand out my SSN to anyone else!

I get it, they are using my mental illness against me! The bastards. [Monkeys]

Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :

quote:
I think this screw-up just added to my paranoia.

quote:
Profile for Kayla
Member Status: Member
Member Number: 2403
Registered: August 24, 2001
Posts: 9540
Email Address: descolada11@hotmail.com
Location: Wouldn't you like to know?
Occupation: Telling people to be nice and searching out useless information
Interests: Duh. Hatrack

I think that what you have listed under "Location" is absolutely perfect for a paranoid person.

And I honestly don't the the Social Security Administration is out to get you. That would imply a level of focus, intelligence, and concentration that I believe is beyond them.

They're merely incompetent.

Does that make you feel any better?

Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :

No. I'm pretty careful about people not knowing where I am. They've sent my exact location and social security number to someone I don't know and I have no idea what they will do with it.

My rational mind says it's someone just like me. He has no idea who I am, nor does he care.

My paranoid mind, however, knows that I've changed my name and moved a dozen times in 18 months for a reason. And they just hand the information out to complete strangers. [Angst]

And, you know the funny thing. The phone number they give you to call if you have problems, when it answers, it says "This phone does not recieve incoming phone calls."

Then why are giving it out for people to call you?!? [Mad]

Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :

And who would you call to complain about something like this?

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

I would find a public number and keep calling, and asking to speak to someone higher up, until you get someone who can do something about it.

Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :

Oh, I got the number and called and talked to the supervisor person who apologized. [Roll Eyes]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

And gave you the right number?

Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :

The phone thing. When you call the number they give, it says it can't receive incoming calls and redirects you to a different number.

Honestly, she seemed more concerned about the phone being broken ("But we put that number all everything? I'll have to call the phone company and find out what's wrong") than she did about the fact that she gave a perfect stranger my name address and social security number.

Of course, I don't do well on phones, so. I don't even know how sane it is to be this angry/paranoid about it.

And I have no idea who to call to complain about it, if I ever got up the courage to do so. The first call, sure, I expressed horror, but the purpose of the call was to get the right forms to fill out so my benefits continue. I can call for a reason, but just to bitch at someone, I couldn't do that.

But, I'm really upset. I just don't know who to complain to about it. I'm probably just crazy. But I'll probably end up e-mailing my Senators. They like to fake concern for stuff they don't care about.

I'd call the newspaper, but I don't think they'd do a story about it without a usable source. [Frown]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Does your local news station have a consumer complaints department? They're often willing to go to bat on stuff like this.

Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :

I live in a town of 4,000. Social Security isn't even in town.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

What about the nearest national market?

Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :

See, I've spent 15 hiding from the world. I certainly don't want to go public. I could tell them the story, but if they don't have someone to put on camera, why would they care? I suppose I could give them the name of the guy that is on my paperwork.

Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :

Ouch. I sympathize.

Are you any better at complaining by writing? If so, I'd definitely do it by letter - letters are taken more seriously than phone calls anyway.

Good luck.