Synchrony branded credit cards do the same thing, they use your SSN to obtain phone numbers from one of the Transunion skip trace databases. So even though I’ve only ever given Synchrony my dummy number, when I try to change my password I get a selection of phone numbers that they want to send a verification code to, and those numbers only exist in that Transunion database.<p>You can’t correct or remove anything from the Transunion database, because it’s not used for credit decisions there is no way to force them to do it.<p>So instead I’ve made it a game to try and see how many phone numbers I can get added to the database. My goal is to request a free copy of my file one day and have it arrive on a pallet.<p>Maybe if I fill out a credit card application and list Kevin Bacon’s address as a former residence then they’ll add him to my list of known associates...
Some mobile apps have two account creation options: Facebook login or phone number.<p>I recently chose phone number (because screw FB) but then noticed that the SMS verification is performed by Facebook anyways.<p>What the hell are App developers thinking? If I choose <i>not</i> to use my FB login in your app it's because I don't want FB snooping on me.<p>But then you turn around and use Facebook to validate my phone number without proper consent?
For some unfathomable reason Google no longer allows Google Voice clients to forward their calls to Project Fi numbers. So my new layer of abstraction is a $3/mo Call Centric number routed to a $12 SIP deskset.<p>Call Centric lets you whitelist so step one is to upload your contacts to them and then drop any calls not in your list. Goodbye telemarketers. Second step is to leave the phone unplugged altogether unless you need to use it since anyone you know has your mobile number anyway. :-)<p>If you really need it, you can add the Call Centric number to your cellphone via a SIP client but in my experience that's a bit of a battery sucker and call quality can be poor with noticeable voice delay.