Kansas wants my SS number!

[KyDan]

We're planning a trip KY to Colorado and that means a stop in Kansas.
I found a state park near the interstate and logged into my reserveamerica account and proceeded to reserve a site.
Got all the way thru to the click here to pay and a window popped up saying it needed this "missing information". It wanted my birthday and whether I'm a US citizen and it wanted my full social security number!!
I thought "that can't be right". We've visited 46 out of the 50 states and I can't remember having to give up that much personal information ever.
I online chatted with someone at reserve america and they didn't think I'd have to give my SS number but then I found this--
https://ksoutdoors.com/License-Permi...ecurity-Number on the Kansas parks website.

We're still going to Colorado and we're still driving through Kansas but we won't be staying in a Kansas state park!!

[Formula1fan]

Guilty until proven innocent?

[KyDan]

Something about checking for missing child support.
Never lived in Kansas. My "kids" are 35 and up.
There's no missing child support.

[Formula1fan]

Might be time to use Jr Samples number. BR549...

[KyDan]

I tried *** ** 1234 (I used my actual last 4 numbers) and it wouldn't accept my invalid entry.
I'll find a private CG.
Kansas parks doesn't want my money.

[Formula1fan]

No kidding. Cross that one off my list.

[curtiscapk]

I live camp and boat in KS. I didn't have a choice.....

[PhilFromMaine]

I also would not give my SS. IMO, it is probably a mis-reading of the quoted federal law. We just booked state sites in Maine and it is clear they are not interpreting the law the same way as Kansas.

[NavyLCDR]

Wow, as a non-Kansas resident, I would not give that either, that is ridiculous. What are they going to want next, criminal background checks, fingerprints?

[PhilFromMaine]

Originally Posted by NavyLCDR

Wow, as a non-Kansas resident, I would not give that either, that is ridiculous. What are they going to want next, criminal background checks, fingerprints?

While looking for next Winter's FL campground, I did find some that wanted seasonal campers to pay for a criminal background check.

[yukongold]

Big brother strikes again. I refuse to participate in crap like that.
While in Kansas last spring we camped at a COE campground on Milford Lake near Junction City, KS. It's about 125-130 miles west of KC right off of I-70. Ft. Riley Army Base is on the other side of the lake. We have the America the Beautiful Pass and it only cost us $11 per night.
My suggestion is to get the pass (if you don't have one) and search out federal parks of some kind - - US Forest Service, COE, US Fish and Wildlife, National Parks, BLM, etc..

On our six week trip last year, we stayed almost exclusively at some type of federal park and our camping spot costs averaged just $12 per night for the entire trip.

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by PhilFromMaine

I also would not give my SS. IMO, it is probably a mis-reading of the quoted federal law. We just booked state sites in Maine and it is clear they are not interpreting the law the same way as Kansas.

I’ve about given up on Oklahoma and Texas state parks because of other issues but they’ve never asked me for my SS number. Yes, it seems like a one-of-a-kind interpretation of the federal law. We use COE parks almost exclusively now.

[TitanMike]

When it comes to my SS Number, the government gave it to me and I've had to leave it in a ton of places as I've gone through life. Employers, various federal agencies for security clearances, etc. My Insurance Co, doctors, bank, mortgage co, etc all have this number. Might as well be listed in a directory.

As for "Identity Theft", apparently I'm not interesting enough as I'm still stuck with it. (FWIW, there are a whole lot of other safeguards one can use but are often overlooked).


Without getting into the underlying topic, one government agency requires the filling out of a "Form 4473" for purchasing certain things. There's a blank for SS# and a lot of people refuse to fill out this line--------and then complain because their purchase is delayed. I fill it out every time and the only delay I've ever encountered is the time it takes for the clerk to check "approved" and ring up the sale.

I guess it's a matter of how much one wants to do/buy something.

[PhilFromMaine]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

When it comes to my SS Number, the government gave it to me and I've had to leave it in a ton of places as I've gone through life. Employers, various federal agencies for security clearances, etc. My Insurance Co, doctors, bank, mortgage co, etc all have this number. Might as well be listed in a directory.

As for "Identity Theft", apparently I'm not interesting enough as I'm still stuck with it. (FWIW, there are a whole lot of other safeguards one can use but are often overlooked).


Without getting into the underlying topic, one government agency requires the filling out of a "Form 4473" for purchasing certain things. There's a blank for SS# and a lot of people refuse to fill out this line--------and then complain because their purchase is delayed. I fill it out every time and the only delay I've ever encountered is the time it takes for the clerk to check "approved" and ring up the sale.

I guess it's a matter of how much one wants to do/buy something.

Yep, and if they (unnecessary entities) want my SS, I will go elsewhere.

They only ask for SS because they think they have you by the nuts! Screw them! (rant over)

[Chuck_S]

Block 10 on that form -- Reside in City Limits? -- always confuses me because neither me nor anyone else who lives in my 371,000 population county lives in any of the 39 cities in Virginia. Nor do any Virginia counties contain any cities. I check Yes and fill in the optional numbers in Block 16.

-- Chuck

[Sunseeker16]

Kansas really likes to suck everything out of you. To stay in a state park they charge a daily fee for a mortorized vehicle. The motorhome is motorized so there is a daily fee even though I drive it in and park itand never move it. There is a daily fee forf my toad along with the campsite fee. If the guy next to me tows his trailer into the site there is anly a daily fee for the tow vehicle along with the site fee. Then there are other fees like boating, trail fees etc. A little out of hand in my opinion.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by PhilFromMaine

Yep, and if they (unnecessary entities) want my SS, I will go elsewhere.

They only ask for SS because they think they have you by the nuts! Screw them! (rant over)

A lot of "them" KNOW they have you by the "McNuggets".

I just checked a list of times one needs to provide a SS # to our state agencies starting with applying for a Driver's License.

[jimmarako]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

When it comes to my SS Number, the government gave it to me and I've had to leave it in a ton of places as I've gone through life. Employers, various federal agencies for security clearances, etc. My Insurance Co, doctors, bank, mortgage co, etc all have this number. Might as well be listed in a directory.

As for "Identity Theft", apparently I'm not interesting enough as I'm still stuck with it. (FWIW, there are a whole lot of other safeguards one can use but are often overlooked).


Without getting into the underlying topic, one government agency requires the filling out of a "Form 4473" for purchasing certain things. There's a blank for SS# and a lot of people refuse to fill out this line--------and then complain because their purchase is delayed. I fill it out every time and the only delay I've ever encountered is the time it takes for the clerk to check "approved" and ring up the sale.

I guess it's a matter of how much one wants to do/buy something.

I was going to say the same thing. Your SS number is used many many places. The STATE of Kansas wants it for what ever dead beat dad check they do.... so what? Are they going to take that number and get credit cards in their names? I would never give my SS number to a PRIVATE campground, department store, guy at the gas station,..... As much as I dislike big government and their interference in our lives, needing an SS number to reserve a campsite is just not a hill worth dying on.

Jim M.

[NavyLCDR]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

I guess it's a matter of how much one wants to do/buy something.

At some point, doesn't a person just need to say NO though? I know, it does not make any difference. So John from Oregon won't stay at a Kansas state park because they want to use his SSN to see if he owes child support. Not like that is going to put Kansas State Parks out of business. But still.... it's a shame that this country was founded upon the doctrine of government by consent of the governed - yeah, that lasted maybe a couple of decades.

I've had two recent opportunities to just say no. I used to have a life insurance policy with American Income Life. They started calling me once or twice a day wanting to do an insurance review that I did with them the first time they called. On day six of the phone calls, I told them, "You have 1 chance. If I get 1 more phone call from you in the next 6 months, I am cancelling all my policies with you." Day 7, the next phone call came in. I cancelled all my policies with them.

Second occurrence, I got a cash rewards credit card - 2.2% cash back on everything. Then I discovered they offered a different card that was 3% cash back on all utilities. Sign me up! Called them - can you change my basic cash back card to the life cash back card, please? Nope, no can do, sir. "Ok. Thank you! Cancel all my accounts with you, please."

I know they don't care, I know 1 person's business isn't going to hurt them, but it makes me feel better.

[nvs4602]

To get a fishing license in Kentucky you have to give your SS# as well. Or no fishing license. What ever no big deal. I've spent all my kids inheritance so not going to get much.