MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => Shutterstock.com => Topic started by: heywoody on November 14, 2010, 15:33

Title: Newbie question on SS ID policy
Post by: heywoody on November 14, 2010, 15:33

SS is now the only big 4 site I'm not submitting to.  I applied some time ago but was put off by the requirement to submit a scan of my passport (driving licence deemed not to be enough).  Am I being paranoid on the whole security / identity theft front?  Is is possible to submit with the number blacked out?

Title: Re: Newbie question on SS ID policy
Post by: molka on November 14, 2010, 15:43

Don't worry 'bout it, you have no security whatsoever anyways, thanks to broswer usage terms and crawler bots. They are probably crawling into your ass and out your nose right now as we type. Just go ahead it's too late alerady to cocoon.

Title: Re: Newbie question on SS ID policy
Post by: Eireann on November 14, 2010, 15:51

You're nowhere if you're not on SS :)
It's not for nothing they're number 1 in the polls.
Yes, you can black out the number.
I didn't, but you can if you want to. It's allowed.
Don't think twice, and good luck :)

Title: Re: Newbie question on SS ID policy
Post by: microstockphoto.co.uk on November 14, 2010, 17:12

I am a bit worried at submitting ID to new / unproven sites.

Otherwise, SS has been around for many years and no one ever reported any identity theft problem, so in the end we must trust them.

There are a lot of equally risky activities, such as leaving ID copies to the public administration or passing through airport security. SS is not the main issue for me.

Title: Re: Newbie question on SS ID policy
Post by: heywoody on November 14, 2010, 18:13

Thanks - guess I should go ahead. 

Title: Re: Newbie question on SS ID policy
Post by: helix7 on November 15, 2010, 10:12

I know it doesn't seem like it, but becoming a contributor at these agencies is similar to applying for a job at any company. You're applying to become a paid worker, only under a sort of freelance contract rather than an on-site salaried employee contract. In either case, you might be asked to provide personal information, identification, etc for tax purposes. Some jobs even require you to submit to a background check.

Basically if you want to be paid by a company, in any capacity, it's not unusual to be asked to provide personally identifiable information.

Title: Re: Newbie question on SS ID policy
Post by: james1968 on November 25, 2010, 08:35

It is actually becoming the norm for sites to require ID. Ebay now require it for new users, and almost all online betting companies do too.
The only problem I can see is that here in the UK, unlike the US, photo-licenses only came into being just over 10 years ago, so a lot of people (myself included) still have paper ones (without photos on). Also, what about those of us without passports?.

Title: Re: Newbie question on SS ID policy
Post by: microstockphoto.co.uk on November 25, 2010, 08:41

Quote from: james1968 on November 25, 2010, 08:35

Also, what about those of us without passports?.

I think SS is also accepting driving licences. And possibly other clearly identifiable documents.