1984 - to get travellers checks they want ss num and now -

[2Design]

they are tracking every move you make

went to AAA today to get travellers checks and they want name address ss# and I asked why all the information - pointed to write up of security and money laundering protection for our government -

they are looking in all the wrong places for the thiefs - they are in the republican rank and file and many in rw - and even more in wh

[UL_Approved]

1. This parallels with the new rider that passed Congress

There was a recent rider to allow certain people unrestricted access to tax records and other tax-related information. They want complete control over the money that we have.

[DS1]

3. That was taken out

AFAIK

[amazona]

2. they've been doing this for years

Under the money-laundering act of 1986, they should have been collecting this information from you for many years. Perhaps you bought more traveler's checks than you have in the past, or perhaps you had your SSN on your driver's license in the past, so you didn't realize that they had collected the data when they were making copies of your driver's license.

As a part of the money laundering act, they are ALWAYS required to file a CTR report to the Treasury Department when you buy more than $10,000 in traveler's checks. They are supposed to file a suspicious transactions report when you buy an amount that looks like you are trying to get around the CTR report -- say you bought $8,000 or $9,000 worth. Really blatant offenders have been known to buy $9,999 worth of traveler's checks at a clip, why not just hang out a sign stating, Yeah, me, I'm a money launderer, yep, just trying to get around the CTR requirement here. However, even if you buy as little as $3,000 worth of traveler's checks in cash, then the federal government recommends that AAA or any other seller make a good faith attempt to get your information, such as a copy of your driver's license and/or your SSN.

In some situations, for example, you got cash from Western Union or another "wire service," a CTR must be filed for as little as $750.

From the point of view of the federal gov't, traveller's checks are the same as cash -- they are cash that only you can use -- and they have been subject to the same requirements as cash since the late 1980s. I used to be in a cash business (gambling), and we ran up against this law sometimes every single 24 hour period.

It is nothing new, although it may be new to you.

If you don't want to comply with the federal laws regarding cash instruments, then I strongly recommend using credit cards/ATM in your travels instead. If you are traveling to a casino resort, it may be worth your time to arrange for a line of credit to avoid carrying traveler's checks or cash. Outside of North America, traveler's checks are really becoming a thing of the past anyway.

Don't forget to enjoy your vacation. AAA is not trying to "track" you, they are trying to keep their clerks out of federal prison for failing to negotiate a rather tricky paperwork requirement. I'm sure if it were up to AAA, the casino industry, and others in the travel industry, this hassle would have been repealed years ago.

My local office of AAA has been in compliance with federal law for at least 10 years, although they try to make compliance "invisible" so that most people don't notice that their driver's license has been photocopied as proof of who is buying the checks.

[SoCalDem]

4. Or just leave the money in your account, and use your ATM

We used ours in Tahiti..not a problem at all.. Our son went to school in Italy, and just had me deposit money here so he could use an ATM there..

[Gruenemann]

6. You bet!

ATMs all over Europe--and THEY DON'T CHARGE YOU TO USE THEM (although your bank will...)

[2Design]

10. I don't use ATM or haven't - with charges to use them - I just never

do - I either charge what I am buying or go get some cash every other week

since I was going to be away - I felt I needed to get some cash out - plus like they say - if you have power outage or hurricane or run on the bank - having some cash around is a good idea

I need to get a atm number

when I first came here I had a bank account - but they started to charge just to have the account - I closed it

I used a credit union service center - my credit union is in another state

[2Design]

9. i wasn't think AAA tracking me - but government - I only got 1000

and I have gotten 250 before and never been asked - but you are right my license at one time had ss# so maybe I just didn't know

felt like we are moving to electronic ankle braclets to keep track of us

I was thinking how all kids have to have ss# now and that the government has slowly and surely been finding all kinds of ways to track us - and it is getting worse - this was new to me

[Zorra]

5. You are correct. Using financial tracking is their #1 sure fire way of

invading your privacy.

We are one or two steps away from having an electronic tracking "bank" chip implanted in our bodies - without which we will be unable to buy or sell anything.

I left the country immediately after Bu$h was selected. I knew that Big Brother was about to take up residence in every American household when the SCOTUS chose their dictator.

IMO, it is time to set up an underground alternative economy.

DU Economic Activism Forum:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=255

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. For the past several years

it has been unnecessary to take travelers' checks to Japan.

All post offices have ATMs that accept American bank cards.

I've used my ATM card successfully in Canada, as well, and I hear that the same is true in Europe.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

8. i have not had problems with my ATM

in Asia or Europe. Much safer than cash and just as easy at traveler's checks...and about equally painful if lost or stolen...just wait for replacement time. With ATM's you usually get decent exchange rates and even better ones when you use a credit card...just pay it off as soon as you get home...

theProdigal