[voiper1]

In the USA, of you want to use all the features, the IRS and many banks _require_ an cell phone registered in your name to prove your ID.

Assumedly, this number will not work for that...

EDIT:Bi previously said that the irs required you to have a phone in your name. That was incorrect. I meant to refer to the full secure online access: You can verify by phone or mail, and they disabled mail option during covid a while ago.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/secure-access-how-to-registe...

[thaumasiotes]

> In the USA, the IRS and many banks _require_ an cell phone registered in your name to prove your ID.

The IRS most certainly does not require a cell phone registered in your name, nor could they.

[gopalv]

> The IRS most certainly does not require a cell phone registered in your name

They don't but the alternative 2FA for them was a letter mailed through USPS.

I had to do that back in the day when Google Fi wasn't recognized by the IRS as a mobile phone.

[im3w1l]

Young people think they are clued into privacy, but it's all the old geezers who don't want to learn to use electronics who create demand for the the paper option. I wonder what will happen after they have died off.

[morpheuskafka]

None of the banking I have ever done has involved a phone number other than confirming that the phone I am calling from matches the number I entered in online banking, and receiving 2FA codes to that number.

When I opened the account in person, I needed a photo ID (driver license) and social security card (proof of SSN). Online, I surprisingly did not need the driver license at all, just had to provide SSN and e-sign a thousand forms. Phone number was not required and was not checked beyond confirming it was mine with a text code.

[morpheuskafka]

Update: I guess I spoke to soon--just received a notice about the following being added to the ToS for my brokerage account:

> “You also authorize your wireless carrier (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon, or any other branded wireless operator) to disclose information about your wireless account, such as your mobile number, name, address, email, network status, customer type, customer role, billing type, mobile device identifi ers (IMSI and IMEI) and other sub-scriber status, subscriber method and device details, if available, to support identity verifi cation, fraud avoidance, and other uses in support of trans-actions for the duration of your business relationship with us . This information may also be shared with other companies to support your transactions with us and for identity verifi cation and fraud avoidance purposes . See our Privacy Policy for how we treat your data .”

[justinc8687]

I use Visible (a Verizon MVNO), which doesn't participate in these systems. Recently I had to verify with the IRS. While I couldn't use my phone to instantly verify, I was still able to be verified by them sending me a postcard. Annoying, but certainly not required.

[voiper1]

During covid, they weren't offering the authorization by mail. Not sure of current status.

[rsync]

Can you contrast visible with US mobile? I chose US mobile over straight talk because they allowed tethering…

[RandomBacon]

StraightTalk allows upto 10GB of tethering on non-AT&T sim cards with the "unlimited" plan. On AT&T sim cards with a limited-data plan, they don't care if you tether.

[m463]

sounds like they want to do the "fraud location check ping on your phone" that seems to be happening on many carriers.

[koolba]

That sounds like it’s more secure.

[bbbbbr]

I hadn't heard of this carrier before and it made me curious what the rest of their privacy was like, and whether this part of a overall policy. I didn't see explicit mention of opting out of the systems you mentioned. Is that stated anywhere officially, or is it just unofficial?

Their privacy stance overall looks just ok, maybe somewhat above average.

It does make me wonder how strong of a privacy stance Purism will take, or will be able to take as a service provider.

Some emphasis added, and some info trimmed (noted with ellipses ...)

https://www.visible.com/legal/privacy/

... I. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION We collect information when you use our service. This includes information about the calls you make and receive, text messages you send and receive, ___websites you visit, mobile applications you use___, and wireless network and device information, including location, Internet protocol (IP) address and connection speed, mobile telephone number, ___device and advertising identifiers___, browser type, and operating system. Some Visible devices include Verizon-provided system applications that collect information about network and device conditions, which is used to secure and improve our network and services. ...

II. USE OF INFORMATION

... * Determine products and services that may interest you and market them to you, including on Visible sites and apps and on others’ sites, services, apps and devices as described in Section V below ...

III. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

* Authorized service providers and partners. We share your information with service providers and partners that help us with a variety of things, including development and delivery of our sites, apps and service. ... ... * Aggregated and De-identified Information. We may aggregate or otherwise de-identify information and use it for our own purposes or share it with third parties for their own purposes. ...

... Your Right to Say “Do Not Sell”

The CCPA gives you the right to say no to the sale of personal information.

We do not sell information that personally identifies you such as your name, telephone number, mailing address or email address.. We allow Verizon Media and third-party advertising companies to collect information about your activity on our website and in our app, for example through cookies and similar technologies, mobile ad identifiers, pixels, web beacons and social network plugins. These ad entities use information they collect to help us provide more relevant Visible advertisements and for other advertising purposes. This activity may be considered a sale under the CCPA. Visit the Digital Advertising Alliance's Consumer Choices page to learn more about how you can limit this type of advertising. App users can opt out by using your device settings to “Limit Ad Tracking” (for iOS devices) or “Opt out of Ads Personalization” (on Android devices) ...

(edit: formatting)

[dogma1138]

I’m not sure why it’s being downvoted, in the UK a phone account in your name is one of the most common forms of ID there is no universal government issued ID, not everyone has a drivers license or a passport and if you are living in a flat share or student accommodations you won’t have utility bills in your name.

[RandomBacon]

> the IRS and many banks _require_ an cell phone registered in your name to prove your ID.

That has not been my experience with the IRS and my banks.

[swiley]

So people with landlines can't pay taxes?

Last time I manually filled taxes this wasn't something I had to do.