Question for UK

[andylegate]

Hey, I just noticed you guys don't have a forum for talking about NON writing and building stuff. Like a Off Topic forum.

So I'll put this here anyways.

I was thinking about something the other day, and the stupid thing is I used to live over in europe, in Naples, but I never learned about this.

Here in the USA, we all have a Social Security number. Not too long after I became a parent, the US Goverment started to make it mandentory to have a SSN assigned right when your kids are born now. Back when I was a kid, you didn't get a SSN until you got a job.
Now that number is very important for us here in the States. It's EVERYTHING. It's your whole life. It's used for credit and credit reports, to open bank accounts, to get a job, etc. Some states, like Virginia use it as your drivers license number.

What do people over in like the UK use? What I mean is, our SSN started out by our goverment back in the 1930's as a way to take money from people's paychecks and put back a savings for when you retire, you'd have something. It's a tax that you pay, whether you want to your not. Failure to do so can get you into all sorts of trouble. But later that number started to get used for EVERYTHING to identify you.
How does the UK do it for things like Credit Reports, etc. ?

Just something that I got curious about, and I'm too lazy to try and research it on the web.

[Tweek]

We have National Insurance Number, which is pretty much the same thing, issued at birth, used to get jobs apply for credit cards, passports etc.

[Trylon]

And in the NL's we have a Citizen Service Number that acts much like you describe it. It stared out as just a "Social-Fiscal Number", which was used for unemployment insurances, etc, but nowadays it's pretty much your interface to most government stuff. It's not as hyper-important (yet) as you describe the SSN though.

[andylegate]

Hmmmmmm.......

Guess what I read once a long time ago is true.....


It's all about numbers....

INteresting reading though! Thanks guys!

[Paradox]

In Canada, we have SIN*.






*Social Insurance Numbers

[Tweek]

SINNAH! I WILL CLEEEEEEANSE YOUR SOULAH WITH THE HOLY WAFFLE OF THE LORD

<squashes waffle on docs forehead>

COME OUTAH OF THE DARKNESS YOU HAVEAH BEEEEEEEN HEALED MY SON

can I get an amen.

[Nadnerb]

Amen.

[andylegate]

Did someone forget to give Tweek his meds????

[Tweek]

It's a joke that spilled over from Cyan Chat = CCQDB

[andylegate]

I see, hehehehehe