For most of you these are hard times and you are probably donating plasma because you need the money. I had other reasons.
I was told by the Norman, Oklahoma plasma center on Lindsey street that I would be required to give my social security number to donate. I ask if it was for tax purposes and they said NO. They (cslplasma) were required by the FDA (food and drug administration) to ask for social security numbers for tracking purposes. I told them I did not want to give them a social security number because of the rash of identify theft of this number that I no longer use.
I called the FDA and was told by them that there is no requirement to ask for a social security number. The requirement is that they record a unique identification number. I asked if a driver's license with my physical address would suffice. And Laura from the FDA said YES.
I then called and talked to Randy Furby, general manager in Boca Raton, Florida. He told me the policies were set by their plasma association. I asked him couldn't they make an exception and accept a driver's license instead. I explained that they had no valid reason to request a social security number as explained to me by the FDA. He replied that they were not going to change the policy either now or in the near future. Which begs the question, why won't they protect the consumer. Any computer connected to the internet can be hacked into nowadays. Assurances by Mr. Furby that they employ extreme measures to ensure the protection of this data is not reassuring. Especially in light of the fact they have been very misleading in their responses to my queries.
I have filed a complaint with the FTC (federal trade commission) in regards to their false statements for asking for social security numbers from donors without a valid legitimate reason.
I ask everybody who has had the same problem to file a complaint with the FTC. It is easy to do. Just click on the Consumer protection link and then the file a complaint link.
Let's take back our social security numbers for use only for our social security and not as a tagging system for every dingo out there.
I am also looking for attorneys in Florida who think that a class action lawsuit will speed up this necessary change.
0 comments