Fair question — and we're glad you're asking. When you see "Social Security Number" on an application, it's natural to hesitate. Especially when we say we don't run a credit check. So why do we need it? Let's break it down.
Identity verification, not a credit check
We use your SSN for one reason: to verify that you are who you say you are. That's it. We're not pulling your credit report. We're not checking your credit score. We're not reporting anything to the credit bureaus.
Here's the difference:
- A credit check (what carriers do) pulls your full credit report from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. It shows your credit score, outstanding debts, late payments, bankruptcies — the whole history. This is called a "hard pull" and it actually lowers your credit score temporarily.
- Identity verification (what we do) simply confirms that your name, date of birth, and Social Security number match a real person. It does not access your credit report and does not affect your credit score in any way.
Think of it like when your bank verifies your identity to open a checking account. They need to confirm you're a real person — not check whether you pay your bills on time.
Why we need to verify identity at all
We're handing you a phone worth $500 to $1,200 with just $50 down. We need to know you're a real person with a real identity. Without identity verification, anyone could apply with a fake name, take a phone, and disappear.
Identity verification protects you too. If someone tried to lease a phone using your name and information, the verification process helps us catch that before it happens.
What happens to my data?
We take this seriously. Here's exactly what we do — and don't do — with your information:
- Your SSN is encrypted — it's stored using industry-standard encryption. We can't even see the full number after you submit it.
- We never share it — your Social Security number is never shared with third parties, marketing companies, or anyone else.
- We never sell your data — period. We're a phone store, not a data broker.
- It doesn't go on your credit report — leasing a phone from us does not appear on your credit report in any way, good or bad.
What if I'm still uncomfortable?
We totally understand. If you'd rather not submit your SSN online, you can come into our store at 6571 Pearl Rd in Parma Heights and do the application in person. Some people feel more comfortable handing over sensitive information face-to-face, and that's completely fine with us.
You can also call us at (440) 306-3486 and ask any questions before you apply. We'd rather you feel 100% comfortable than rush through the process with doubts.
The bottom line
Your SSN is used to confirm your identity — nothing more. We don't check your credit, we don't report to credit bureaus, and we don't share your information with anyone. Your data is encrypted and protected.
We know there are a lot of scams out there, and we know asking for an SSN can feel sketchy if you don't understand why. Hopefully this clears it up. We're a real business with a real storefront, and we've been doing this long enough to know that trust is everything.
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Your information is encrypted and secure. No credit check, no impact on your score.
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Check out our other posts to learn more about leasing with bad credit, how lease-to-own works, or whether BuyCell is legit. Or just give us a call — we're always happy to talk.